Otsego County Newspaper - The Advance - (Submitted by Kim DePew) February 20, 1917 ESTIMABLE YOUNG WOMAN WAS STRICKEN BY DEATH The Wife of Bruce Durfee Succumbs to an Acute Attack of Peritonetis at Mercy Hospital Bay City Mrs. Bruce Durfee was taken seriously sick last Wednesday, February 14th, at the George Durfee home where she was visiting. Dr. L.A. Harris was called and pronounced the trouble peritonitis. Her case grew more alarming and it was decided to take her to Bay City for treatment, and there she was taken Sunday night accompanied by her husband who had been summoned from Alpena and her father-in-law Mr. Geo. Durfee and Dr. Harris. On arrival at the hospital she was given immediate attention, but the doctors gave but little hope of saving her life, as she was too weak to undergo an operation and the next morning she passed away. Her maiden name was Agnes Lagesen and she was born in Denmark, 24 years ago. At an early age she came to this country with her parents. She was a graduate of the Pentwater high school in 1911, and three years later graduated from Western State Normal at Kalamazoo. After teaching a couple of schools in southern Michigan she was called to the Hillman high school where she taught up to the time of her marriage to Mr. Bruce Durfee of this city, which event took place at the home of the groom's parents here December 11, 1916. Her remains were brought home for burial, the funeral taking place from the family residence this Thursday afternoon, Rev. R.J. Fields of the Baptist church preaching the sermon, assisted by Rev. Frank Mitchell of the Congregational Church. Interment was in Fairview cemetery. The parents of the stricken young wife Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lagesen who reside at Pentwater came the first of the week to attend her funeral, and also her four surviving sisters, Miss Thrine Lagesen, Miss Thira Lagesen, Miss Erna Lagesen and Miss Esther Lagesen. The entire sympathy of the Community goes out to the stricken family in this sad bereavement. Their wedded life was very brief, as it was just ten weeks from the time of their marriage to the day of her death. And to have her young life so suddenly sundered from all earth's ties is hard to contemplate. The fond ambitions and cherished hopes lie shattered in the grave.