Person:Lloyd Tinker (1)

From the January 5, 1964, edition of the Winona (MN) Sunday News

Oxygen Lack Kills Three In Fishhouse

AITKIN, Minn. (AP) -- Three Minneapolis area persons including a man and wife died in their fishhouse on Mille Lacs Lake early Saturday - presumably from lack of oxygen.

Aitkin County Sheriff Fred Erlandson identified the victims as:

Ralph Gerdesmeier, 40, 3212 Hopkins Cross Road, Hopkins.

Mrs. Ralph Gerdesmeier, 41, same address.

Lloyd Tinker, 61, 1315 4th Ave. So., Minneapolis.

Tinker was believed to be Mrs. Gerdesmeier's father, but this could not be confirmed immediately.

The Gerdesmeier's two boys, Gary, 12, and Ronnie, 7, were brought to a hospital here.

Coroner Ivan B. Sorenson said cause of death probably was lack of oxygen in the tight fishhouse, where a butane gas heater was used for the overnight stay. However, blood tests were being made to determine cause of death.

From the January 6, 1964, edition of the Albert Lea (MN) Evening Tribune

Died in Fishing House --

Await Autopsy Report Into Deaths of 4 Persons

AITKIN, Minn. (AP) -- An autopsy report was awaited today in the death of four persons stricken in a tightly built fishhouse on Lake Mille Lacs.

Ralph Gerdesmeier, 40, Hopkins, Minn.; his wife, Marion, 41, and Lloyd Tinker, 61, Minneapolis, were found dead Saturday morning. The Gerdesmeier's son, Gary, 12, died at a hospital that night.

The Gerdesmeier's younger son, Ronald, 7, is hospitalized here, the only survivor of the persons who had been together in the 11 by 13-foot fishhouse.

Ivan B. Sorenson, Aitkin County coroner, said it was "very likely" the victims did not have sufficient oxygen in the fishhouse, which was heated by gas.

Ralph Gerdesmeier's brother, Marvin, told Sheriff Fred Erlandson he and the other three adults had played cards in the fishhouse until about 4 am Saturday. Marvin then went to another nearby fishhouse, returned to his brother's shack about 9 am and discovered the tragedy.

The sheriff said Tinker apparently had struggled to get out of the shelter. His body was partly off the bed and he held a lighted flashlight.

Blood tests were made in an attempt to determine the cause of death.

Huge Mille Lacs is a popular ice fishing spot in east-central Minnesota. The lake is about 20 miles long and 15 miles across.