2A | OBITUARIES THE JOPLIN GLOBE | SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2018

NTSB: Coast Guard to help in probe

FROM 1A Duck boat accidents said she was unable to see
whether the passengers
witness@ntsb.gov,” the were wearing flotation
statement said. RECENT FATAL ACCIDENTS in the devices while they were on
After all of the boat’s 29 U.S. involving tour duck boats — the boat. Afterwards, she
passengers and two crew amphibious vehicles that travel in said, some survivors were
members were accounted water or on land. wearing life vests and oth-
for Friday morning, Stone • HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, 1999: ers were not.
County Sheriff Doug Rader 13 people die on Lake Hamilton “It’s just surreal,” she
said the NTSB, with help after their duck boat’s drive-shaft said. “It’s just one that —
from the U.S. Coast Guard, seal dislodges, allowing water you can’t explain the eeri-
would handle the investiga- to flow into the hull, sinking the ness. Looking in that water,
tion into how the accident vehicle. it’s indescribable. It’s some-
occurred. • PHILADELPHIA, 2010: A duck boat thing I hope I never have to
Divers quickly located that had stalled in the Delaware see again, but the image is
the vessel on Friday, which River is struck by a barge. in my head for a long time.”
came to rest on its wheels Two people — both Hungarian Malaske estimated the
on the lake bed. Authorities exchange students — drown. A boat eventually sank a mere
said they planned to recov- tug boat driver pleads guilty to 100 feet from the shore.
er it at some point in the manslaughter and admits to being Brayden Malaske, Sonja’s
next few days, possibly on on his cellphone when the crash son, said there were two
Monday. The boat sank in occurred. duck boats out at the time
about 40 feet of water and • SEATTLE, 2015: Five international and that one of them was
then rolled on its wheels students are killed and 69 are in- able to get to safety before Handwritten notes and flowers are left Friday on the windshields of the cars left by
into an area that was 80 feet jured in when a duck boat on land the worst of the storm. victims of the duck boat accident in Branson. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
deep. Investigators had no collides with a bus. Mechanical “We saw both the ducks
information about whether failure and improper maintenance out there on the water, part of a ministry through day “out of respect for the and, according to a news
passengers were wearing are blamed. crashing through the her church, Woodland Hills tragedy,” a sign on the tick- release from his office, met
life jackets or whether they • PHILADELPHIA, 2015: A woman is waves,” he said. “The sky Family Church, intended to et window said. with some survivors of the
were stowed onboard, the struck and killed by a duck boat as was getting darker, and the share comfort with victims. Deeply saddened accident. Rader said Friday
sheriff said. she is crossing a city street. wind was getting worse. Stephanie Torti, of St. Ride the Ducks posted a that most of the passengers
Rader announced about • BOSTON, 2016: A woman is killed And we see them trying to Louis, accompanied a message on its social media on the boat were tourists
10:30 a.m. Friday that the and a man is injured when their get towards the ramp — you softball team in town for a pages Friday, saying the visiting Branson.
bodies of four missing boat moped scooter is run over by a noticed it was getting a lit- tournament. Team mem- business and its employees “What happened here
passengers were found, duck boat. A woman is injured in tle lower, and eventually it bers also laid flowers on were “deeply saddened” by (Thursday) night was a
bringing the total death a similar incident later that same sank.” cars and prayed alongside the accident. heartbreaking tragedy, and
toll from the accident to 17. year in Boston. Brayden Malaske said he Ireton. “This incident has deeply we must all work together
Thirteen fatalities had been SOURCE: CNHI NEWS and his family feel lucky to Brayden Wells, 8, of affected all of us,” the post to support the victims and
reported by the end of the have been spared, partic- Sedalia, and his family also read. “Words cannot con- their families,” Parson said
day Thursday. Some sur- than 40 years of operating ularly given that they had placed flowers on wind- vey how profoundly our in a release. “The coura-
vivors were treated at Cox on Table Rock Lake. He said ridden the same type of boat shields, marking the end of hearts are breaking. We geous efforts of emergency
Medical Center Branson. the boat entered the lake earlier. their vacation. His parents will continue to do all we responders and civilian res-
As of Friday evening, au- about 6 p.m. The storm, he “If we would’ve chosen said the act was his idea. can to assist the families cuers helped avert an even
thorities had not released said, hit a half hour later. that time and that location, Dunning, who is in Bran- who were involved. The worse tragedy, as people
the names of the deceased, In an interview with that could have been us,” he son on vacation, said she safety of our guests and em- rushed to help in extremely
but Rader said the ages of “CBS This Morning’’ on Fri- said. “Everybody wants to had planned to go on a Ride ployees is our number one dangerous conditions. I
the victims ranged from 1 day, Pattison said the storm ride the ducks in Branson.” the Ducks tour last night priority. Ride the Ducks was inspired by the stories
to 70 years old. Nine of the that resulted in the boat’s before deciding at the last will be closed for business I heard from some of those
17 victims in the accident sinking was “fast-moving” BRANSON MOURNS minute to go to a show in- while we support the inves- who were part of the rescue
were members of one fam- but that the boat “shouldn’t When Delvia Dunning stead. tigation, and to allow time effort and tremendously
ily. They were from India- have been in the water.” saw Charlana Bryant, 33, of “I give it all to God,” she to grieve for the families encouraged by the strength
napolis, Indiana. Two other The boat was one of Hollister, standing alone in said. “That’s my feeling; and the community.” of the family members of
members of that family two that were returning the parking lot of Ride the God was with me this time, Gov. Parson was on site victims I met with today.
survived, according to Mis- to shore when the storm Ducks, she could tell she as always. It’s just horrible. in the morning. He held a We pray for all those who
souri Gov. Mike Parson’s struck on the eastern edge was close to a breakdown. It’s just horrible.” news conference alongside were affected by this terri-
office. of the lake. The sinking was “She needed some arms The business closed Fri- Rader at the Branson Belle ble tragedy.”
observed by passengers around her,” Dunning said.
HAZARDOUS aboard the nearby Branson Dunning didn’t know it
WEATHER FORECAST Belle Showboat. at the time, but Bryant’s
In the wake of the trage- According to the Ride the husband had been assisting MEMORIALS DEATH NOTICES
dy, Jim Pattison Jr., presi- Ducks Branson website, with the search efforts in
dent of the parent company the company operates tours Table Rock Lake. The two
for Ride the Ducks Branson, that depart every 30 min- women didn’t know each Arnetha Dreibelbis Betty Rae Wellesley Joplin
said the storm that struck utes from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. other before Dunning, 61, Arnetha “Williams” Betty Rae Wellesley, 87,
the Branson area Thurs- A tour lasts about 70 min- of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dreibelbis, 84, passed Neosho, Mo., passed away Kathie L. Spain
day evening “came out of utes, with about half of that approached Bryant offering away on unexpect- JOPLIN, Mo. - Kathie L.
nowhere.’’ That statement on land and half on water. an embrace. July 19, 2018 edly on Spain, 69, a retired
was challenged on Friday The company was ac- “This doesn’t happen here at Mercy July 18, Ducommun LaBarge
by meteorologists who mon- quired by Ripley Enter- in this town,” Bryant said. Hospital, in 2018. Betty Technologies employee,
Joplin, Mo. was born passed away Tuesday,
itored the situation, accord- tainment Inc., of Orlando, “Nothing like this happens. Aug. 30,
Arnetha was July 17, 2018.
ing to a report on Friday in Florida, last year. And then you hear there’s born on Jan. 1930, in Cremation arrange-
The Washington Post. kids that are under 18 18, 1934, Stark City, ments are under the di-
Local meteorologists had EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT among the (17 people) that near Mo., to Ray rection of Parker Mortu-
been tracking the storm for The driver of the boat that had passed — kids are in- Berryville, and Bertha ary, Joplin.
hours, and their forecasts capsized was struggling to volved, there’s elderly cou- Ark., to R.D. and Ruby (Wogoman) Embrey.
offered considerable lead get the vessel to safety as ples drowned. It was, from “Filbeck” Williams. She was a telephone op-
time for the hazardous he fought high winds and my understanding, it was The family moved to ru- erator for Southwestern
weather. harsh waters, a woman who like out of a horror movie. ral Carthage in 1941 and Bell Telephone, in
The National Weather witnessed the event said … It’s hard. You don’t ex- Arnetha graduated from Neosho, after high school.
Service issued a severe Friday. pect this to happen in your Sarcoxie High School in She also worked at Kraft
thunderstorm watch, sig- Sonja Malaske, of Harrah, town.” 1951, where she met and Foods for many years and
naling conditions were Oklahoma, said she and her Dunning and Bryant were fell in love with “Gene” after retiring there,
favorable for dangerous family boarded the Branson among dozens of people Dreibelbis. They were worked several years in ARNETHA DREIBELBIS
the cafeteria at Teledyne. Age 84, Carthage, Mo.
storms in the region, at Belle Showboat at 6:59 p.m. who had gathered in the united in marriage in Funeral Service 10 a.m. Monday
1952. Betty moved to Neosho Visitation 2-3 p.m. Sunday
11:20 a.m. Thursday, near- Thursday and watched the parking lot to see and offer from Goodman in 1971. Ulmer Funeral Home
ly eight hours before the amphibious tour boat at- various memorials as a Arnetha worked at Burial Sarcoxie (Mo.) Cemetery
Ramsey's Department She was a member of the
storm struck. The watch tempt to get to shore for 11 morning search operation Store in Carthage, a shirt Church of the Brethren For online condolences and
obituaries visit www.ulmerfh.com
said widespread damaging minutes before it complete- turned into an afternoon of factory in Pierce City, the and attended Goodman
winds were likely “with ly sank at 7:10 p.m. mourning. election office in Olathe, First Baptist Church.
gusts to 75 mph possible.’’ “The storm just came in People placed flowers, Kan., JC Penney in An- Betty loved her cats, flow-
As the storms drew clos- that quick,” she said. “It teddy bears, balloons and derson, Ind., and various ers, gardening, canning,
er, the NWS issued a severe was just there. And that other items near the busi- other places during her and sewing. But her main
thunderstorm warning at boat was getting lower and ness’ entrance, throughout career. She retired in love was her family, chil-
6:32 p.m., indicating a vio- lower, and then it just went the parking lot and on the 1987. Arnetha became a dren, grandchildren, as
lent storm was imminent. straight down.” windshields of some cars. Christian in 1948 and was well as her extended fami-
That was about 30 minutes Malaske, who is in Bran- Marie Ireton, of Branson, a member of Emanuel ly. Betty was a Sunday
school and Vacation Bible ROSELYN MARY SEIDL
before the boat capsized. son with her family this brought a teddy bear and Baptist Church on County Age 79, Joplin, Mo.
Pattison said this was the weekend as tourists, said placed it among flowers on Road 110 in Carthage. School teacher, assisted Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday
She later joined the First with Cub Scouts, and was St. Mary's Catholic Church
first such accident at Ride they had gone on the same the concrete base of a park- a 4-H leader in Foods 1.
Rosary Service: 6-6:30 p.m. Friday, M-W
the Ducks Branson in more ride earlier in the day. She ing lot light. The bears are Baptist Church in Sarcox- Visitation: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, M-W
ie, then joined the First She also did extensive re- Family owned and operated
Baptist Church in search with her love of For online condolences
and obituaries visit
family genealogy.

CANOPIES
FROM 1A
canopies on duck boats that
shield passengers from the
sun and rain because they
can impede evacuation and
even trap individuals on a
sinking boat.
The fateful Branson duck
boat had a canopy. NTSB
investigators were on the
scene in Branson, but had
not yet determined if it con-
tributed to the loss of life.
The NTSB also recom-
mended after the Arkansas
drownings that all passen-
gers aboard an amphibious
excursion boat be required
to wear life jackets from the
outset of the tour. No vic-
tims aboard the Arkansas
duck boat were wearing life
jackets, authorities said.
But the U.S. Coast Guard
did not implement either
recommendation, leaving
it up to duck boat operators
to decide whether to adopt
the safety suggestions. Tour
companies considered them
adverse to the experience
aboard the duck boats.
Duck boats weigh about
7.5 tons and were built for
the military in World War
II as troop carriers for wa-
ter-to-land missions. They
were notably used during
the Normandy invasion in
France. Years later, they
were converted for use as
land-and-water sightseeing
boats. The Coast Guard is
required to inspect them
annually.
Carthage.
Arnetha is survived by
her husband, Hadley Eu-
gene Dreibelbis; four chil-
dren and their spouses,
Linda and Jay Scrivner,
Debra and John
Duquaine, David and
Shana Dreibelbis, Donald
and Anna Dreibelbis; 15
grandchildren and 18
great-grandchildren; one
sister, Faye Sjorlund and
husband, Ray; one broth-
er, Hershel Williams and
wife, Nancy. Arnetha was
preceded in death by
three sisters, Hazel Hud-
son, Wilma Jean Aubrey
and Dorothy Dixon; two
brothers, Roland
www.masonwoodard.com
Betty married Ervin
Wellesley on April 18,
1953, in Fairview, Mo. He
survives.
She is also survived by
her children, Janet Talbot
and husband, Brian,
Joplin, Pam Dougherty
and husband, Doug, Mc-
Gaheysville, Va., and ELDON R. (BUD) EZELL JR.
Galen Wellesley and wife, Age 59, Mount Vernon
Visitation Saturday 1-3 p.m.
Debra, Platte City, Mo.; Parker Mortuary Chapel
two sisters, Cathryn Tay-
ESTA L. BUCKLIN
lor, Granby, Mo., and Age 71, Joplin
Shirley Kassner, Graveside Service Saturday 2 p.m.
Union Cemetery, Stella, Mo.
Carthage; five grandchil- Visitation Saturday Noon-1 p.m.
dren and five great-grand- Parker Mortuary
children. DOROTHY NORTON
Services will be held at
Age 86, Joplin
Graveside Service Monday 10 a.m.
1 p.m., Friday, July 27, at Osborne Memorial Cemetery
the Clark Funeral Home,

TOURISTS
FROM 1A
that bent traffic signs.
“I hope it won’t tarnish
Branson,” she said with
tears in her eyes. “About
80 percent of our income
comes from tourists. We
love them.”
The risk of heavy weather
was apparent hours before
the boat left shore.
The weather service sta-
tion in Springfield, about
40 miles north of Branson,
issued a severe thunder-
storm watch for its immedi-
ate area Thursday, saying
conditions were ripe for
winds of 70 mph. It followed
Williams and Donald Granby. Interment will DR. MUKUND SINGH
than 40 years of operation. Williams. Age 76, Joplin
Twenty-nine passengers follow at the Dice Ceme- Private Family Services
Services will be held at tery, Fairview. Weston
and two crew members 10 a.m. Monday, July 23, KATHIE CAMPBELL SPAIN
were aboard for a pleasure Brandon, Matthew Bran- Age 69, Joplin
at Ulmer Funeral Home. don, Travis Wheeler, Cremation
up at 6:32 p.m. with a severe cruise. Seven of the 14 sur- Visitation will be held Chris Wheeler, Wade PATRICIA A. MADDEN
thunderstorm warning for vivors were hurt when the from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Wellesley, and Dan Teix- Age 59, Joplin
July 22, at Ulmer Funeral Service Arrangements Pending
three counties that included vessel went down. At least eira will serve as pall-
Branson and the lake. The two children and two adults Home. Burial will be at bearers. The family will CHARLES WOMACK
warning mentioned both lo- were still hospitalized Fri- Sarcoxie Cemetery, in receive friends on Thurs-
Age 88, Joplin
Service Arrangements Pending
cations. The boat went down day afternoon. The captain Sarcoxie, Mo. day, July 26, from 6-7 p.m.
about 40 minutes later, survived, authorities said. Online condolences at Clark Funeral Home,
shortly after 7 p.m. Brayden Malaske, of may be made at Granby.
“When we issue a warn- Harrah, Oklahoma, boarded www.ulmerfh.com. Memorial contributions
Arrangements are un- may be made in honor of
ing, it means take action,” a replica 19th-century pad- der the direction of Ulmer
Fourstatecremation.com
meteorologist Kelsey Angle dle-wheeler known as the Betty to the Faithful Simple Cremation
Funeral Home. Friends Animal Advo- 417.825.4323
said. Branson Belle on the same
Suzanne Smagala with lake just before the storm cates, in care of Clark Fu-
neral Home, PO Box 26,
Ripley Entertainment,
which owns Ride the
hit.
At the time, he said, the
Granby, MO 64844. Death Notices
Online condolences
Ducks in Branson, said water seemed calm, and no may be posted at and Memorials
the company was assist- one was worried about the
ing authorities. She said weather.
clarkfuneralhomes.com. may be viewed at
Services are under the
this was the company’s “But it suddenly got very direction of Clark Funer- www.joplinglobe.com
only accident in more dark,” he recalled. al Home, Granby.