SPRINGVIEW HERALD
April 02, 1942
Springview
Keya Paha County
Nebraska
VALENTINE RANCHER DIES IN TRUCK ACCIDENT
Valentine Monitor - William Ballard, 69, rancher living west of Wood Lake, was killed last Wednesday night when his truck went off the road and struck a guard rail post, overturning down a steep embackment. The accident occurred on highway 83, about a mile from the end of the oiled paving as Mr. Ballard was going home from Valentine in his light truck with a load of feed. Authorities said that death probably occurred instantly, although the body was not found until Friday afternoon when G. C. Young passed by and saw the overturned car. He immediately called authorities.
Mr. Ballard was a member of an old ranch family in this vicinity and still operated his ranch about 25 miles south of here. He was the father of fifteen children, thirteen of whom are lving, one son having died in infancy and the other, Tom, was killed when his plane crashed near Rawlins, Wyoming, in November, 1939. Four of his sons are with the armed forces of the United States. One son, John, was on duty with the Navy in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack on December 7. He was not injured and recetly returned to a west coast port for a short time. Another son, Lynn, was with the Navy in Hong Kong but was evacuated from there before its surrender to Japan. A cabled message on December 24, revealed that he was then at manila. He has not been heard from since.
His son, Neal, is serving in the Navy and is stationed in Maryland and the fourth son in the service is Billie, with the air corps of the Army at Stockton Field, California.
Surviving him besides his wife, Cassie, are eight sons and five daughter. The sons; Edward, Gordon and Walter of Valentine; William Lynn, John, Neal, and Billie, all in military service; Dudley, Portland, Oregon; and James, San Diego, California. The daughters; Mrs. Mary Morgan, at the home ranch; Mrs. George Johnson, Kennedy; Mrs. Vera Gray, Chadron; and Mrs. Ruth Fritz and Helen Ballard of Valentine. Two brothers, J. L., of Homestead, Florida, and Chas. of Whiting, Iowa, also survive.