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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 29, 1937, page 1

W. NIEMELA SUCCUMBS IN AUTO WRECK
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Fatal Injuries Received by Well Known Centerville Young Man; Three Injured
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One young man died, and three others were injured in an auto crash Thursday afternoon about 4:30, six miles north of Goldendale along the Satus highway when a coupe, driven by Wilbert L. Niemela, 26, Centerville, was rendered uncontrollable and careened off the highway.
The occupants were Robert Niva, Alvin Randall, and Niemela, all of Centerville, and George Richardson of Klickitat. Niemela succumbed at 11:30 that night at The Dalles hospital where he was rushed by the Chapman ambulance. Emergency treatment was given here.
The young man's head and scalp were lacerated and examinations following the trip to The Dalles revealed a skull fracture and chest injuries, a combination of which resulted in death.
Niva suffered deep scalp wounds. Richardson severed tendons in his left arm in the crash and Randall received skin cuts and bruises on his left arm and back. All were severely bruised.
No coherent story could be obtained from the young men as they stated the crash occurred so quickly they little realized their plight.
One of the youths believed that a front tire blew out, forcing the car off the road. On leaving the highway, the car turned over several times, demolishing it.
Niva, Randall and Richardson were thrown out of the vehicle but Niemela, driving, was with a car when it halted. The young men were picked up by passing motorist. Niemela was unconscious and his friends help to place him in the passing sedan and rush him to Goldendale.
Funeral rites for the deceased young man were conducted Sunday afternoon from the Chapman chapel with Rev. S.C. Eshelman officiating. Interment was in the Centerville Grange cemetery. The obituary will be found elsewhere in this issue.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 29, 1937, page 8

NIMELA SERVICES HELD SUNDAY P.M.
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Great Crowd of Relatives, Friends Attend Last Rites for Centerville Man
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Last rites paying tribute to the memory of Wilbert Lorence Niemela of Centerville, young man fatally injured in an automobile accident last Thursday evening, were conducted Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Chapman chapel. Rev. S.C. Eshelman of Centerville officiated.
Interment was in the Centerville Grange cemetery. A profusion of the flowers banked the fore part of the chapel, a token of the esteem in which the young man was held. The chapel was overflowed with friends who came to Goldendale up to pay their respects to his memory.

Obituary

Wilbert Lorence Niemela, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Niemela, was born November 20, 1909, at Centerville, Washington, and passed away at The Dalles hospital, July 22, 1937, at the age of 27 years, eight months and two days.
His first years of schooling were at Warwick, and he graduated from the Centerville high school in May, 1928.
He was united in marriage to Bernita Ahola, at Yakima, Washington, October 2, 1933, to which union was born a son, Robert James.
He spent his entire life in the Centerville community and was employed at the Klickitat Pine Box Company for the past three years.
Wilbert was respected and deeply loved by the many friends he made and held, because of his kind and loving disposition. He was a devoted husband and father and was highly respected by all his friends and associates.
Surviving the well known young man is his wife, Bernita; a son, Robert James; his mother and father; one sister, Mrs. Frank Adams; one niece; two nephews; and a great host of other relatives and friends.