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In Memory

Ann Christensen (Smith) - Class of 1961

Ann Christensen was born in Soda Springs, Idaho January 2, 1944, the daughter of Edgar Koefed and Laverne Allenback Christensen. She graduated from Montpelier High School in 1961. She married Shane Smith August 3, 1963 in Georgetown, Idaho. She was killed three months later in a car-train accident just north of Soda Springs. She was pregnant at the time of her death, November 12, 1963. She was buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs.

The accident, according to reports, happened at 7:30 PM, Monday, two miles north of Soda Springs. The car, driven by Mr. Smith, hit a slow-moving railroad tank car at the Monsanto Chemical Company crossing.

Thrown from the automobile, Mrs. Smith fell under the car. Mr. Smith had both legs broken and internal injuries. In 1961 Mr. Smith was seriously injured and hospitalized for a period of months when struck by a car while he was pulling a carcass of a deer off a road.

James D. Grunig, a brakeman, was on the tank car struck by the car. He signaled the engineer, Cloyd Miner to stop the train.