Original news reporting at 'the pit' where Wade and Ellen were killed. (audio only on left channel)
McIntosh Co. Sheriff Milton Wiest
Ellen (Thompson) Zick was born near Berlin, ND WW
When family members of the Zick's learned that Wade and Ellen were missing, they traveled to Zeeland to help with the search. Many gathered outside of the McIntosh County Bank were Wade worked.
When family members of the Zick's heard that Wade and Ellen were missing, they traveled to Zeeland to help with the search. Many gathered outside of the McIntosh County Bank were Wade worked.
Ellen (Thompson) Zick was the youngest of nine children. Her parents, Thomas and Emma were both born in 1869 in Norway. They were married at the age of 26 in Webster, Iowa. They moved to North Dakota sometime around 1902.
Wade and Ellen Zick (far right) likely met in Fargo where Wade's sister Dorothy lived. Ellen was wade's second wife. Wade's first wife, Leia, passed away on November 16, 1956 at the age of 44.
Ellen Zick is pictured here with her son Gerald Mammel.
This portrait of Ellen's family (the Thompsons) was taken before her birth. Ellen was the youngest of 9 children.
Present-day photograph of the main street in Zeeland. The McIntosh County bank (brick building) can be seen on the right just beyond the parked vehicles.
North Dakota BCI special agent Norbert Sickler assisted Sheriff Wiest in the investigation of the Zick murders.
Ellen grew up on quadrant #25 on the 'Thomas Thompson' plot.
Several BCI investigators assisted in the investigation in Zeeland.
Fredrick and Augusta Eckelberg, Wade's Zicks maternal grandparents. Wade's mother was named Alice.
Undated photograph of Ellen Zick with family.
Ellen Zick with her son Gerald "Jerry" Mammel.
Paul Rueb was Sheriff Wiest's deputy. Both responded to Zeeland on July 11, 1976. Sheriff Wiest had to send Rueb to the outskirts of town to pick up a radio signal to state radio.
Family and friends of the missing Zicks gather outside of the Zeeland branch of the McIntosh Co. bank on July 11, 1976
Ellen and Wade's wallets were found near the junction of US HWY 83 and SD 12 near Selby, South Dakota. The three perpetrators tossed the wallets from the car. The wallets were later returned to the family of the victims.
This photograph, taken by BCI agents on July 13, 1976 shows the "gravel pit" were the Zicks were slain.
As law enforcement and residents searched for Wade and Ellen, friends and family gathered outside of the bank.
Wade was the choir director at the Zion Lutheran church in Zeeland. The couple's absence from church service on July 11, 1976 was the first sign that something was not right on that Sunday.
