Eugene B. “Ben” Speck and his four-year-old grandson, Chad Speck, both of Moorefield, were killed on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1974, in a truck-train accident at Wallace.

Ben was born at Moorefield July 30, 1917, and was a lifelong resident of that community. He attended school at Moorefield, farmed in that area, and was a soil conservation contractor. He was a member of the Methodist Church, the I.O.O.F. Lodge of Farnam, and a charter member of the Nebraska Land Improvement Contractor Assn. He was also a member of the Cattlemen’s Assn., and the Soil Conservation Society of America.

Surviving him are his wife, Alberta, three sons: Robert and Richard of Farnam, and John of Moorefield; one daughter, Sharlene, Mrs. Dan Briggs of Imperial; his mother, Mrs. Mary Speck of Moorefield; one brother, Jim Speck of Gothenburg; two sisters: Mrs. Mae Nelson of North Platte, and Ada Speck of Moorefield; and nine grandchildren.

Chad LeMoine Speck, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Speck of Moorefield, was born August 3, 1970, at North Platte and was four years old when he lost his life in the accident.

He is survived by his parents; his brother, Jason; his grandmother, Mrs. Eugene Speck, of Moorefield; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Fear of Sutherland; and his great-grandmother, Mrs. Mary Speck of Moorefield.

Joint services were held Friday morning in the Church of the Nazarene, conducted by Rev. Leonard Clark, pastor of the United Methodist Churches of Farnam and Eustis. Interment was in the Farnam Cemetery.

The accident occurred just east of Wallace at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, the cattle truck in which the two were killed being followed by a second truck load of cattle driven by John Speck, father and son of the crash victims. A Burlington Northern engine and caboose, enroute to Wallace to pick up loaded grain cars, struck the truck and overturned it into the ditch, where it burst into flames. The crash derailed the engine. The Speck trucks were taking cattle to winter feed grounds near Wallace.

The Gothenburg Times 68(19):1 Thursday, November 7, 1974