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Died in the Field

Several missionaries laboring in different fields have been recently made victims of the Spanish influenza.

In a communication from Mary Smith Ellsworth of the Northern States Mission, the Era is informed of the death, October 31, 1918, of Elder Walter H. Anderson who was born, May 31, 1897, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Anderson of Pima, Arizona. He was stricken with the Sanish influenza on Monday, and passed away on Thursday morning, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before retiring to bed that night, he offered the evening prayer. Neither he nor any one present realized that the end was so near. He arrived in the mission field June, 1918, at the age of twenty years, and during the time he labored, he rendered exceptional service. He was six feet two inches in height and weighed 180 pounds. He was the only and a promised son of his parents, his mother, who had six daughters previously, having been given a promise by a patriarch that their home should be blessed with a son; Walter was that son. He was ordained a deacon at eleven years of age, and at fourteen, a teacher. He was president of each of his classes at High School and was exceptionally brilliant and blessed. His sister Nora had labored at Milwaukee for the past seventeen months, and was at the bedside of her brother at the time of his death. She has taken particular interest in genealogical work, having assisted the Saints in sending 955 names to the Temple since last June; and during her entire time in the mission field sent in about 2,000 names. Nora and Elder Charles E. Standage, of Mesa, Arizona, accompanied the body of Walter home to Pima, where funeral services were held.

Elder Taylor Giles, a missionary in the Minnesota conference of the Northern States Mission, for the past nineteen months, died of influenza at the hospital in St. Paul, November 4, 1918, at 6:30 p. m. The city health physician and a private doctor attended him. He was born January 21, 1898, in Heber City, Utah, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Giles. He arrived in the mission March 17, 1917. He was a faithful laborer, and spent all his time in the Minnesota conference. His body was sent home for burial, accompanied by his missionary companion, Elder Christensen.

Sister Margery Stevens, of Enoch, Parowan stake, Iron Co., Utah, died at the Mercy hospital, Denver, Colorado, Tuesday, November 5, 1918, of pneumonia, following an attack of influenza. She was born at Orderville, Kane county, Utah, April 4, 1894, and left for the Western States Mission, April 27, 1917. She had recently been transferred from Alamosa, Colorado, to Denver, and before leaving for Denver had been unselfishly assisting others who were sick. She is the first lady missionary to die of pneumonia, as far as we are aware. Her father left at once for Denver, and was to take the body home for burial.