A joint funeral service was held Tuesday for three members of a western Minnesota family who died after accidentally inhaling toxic fumes in a grain silo.

The tragic farm accident on Dec. 21 in Millerville Township killed 11-year-old Alex Boesl; Alex's father, Curt Boesl, 47; and an uncle, Steven Boesl, 49.

Alex and his father were working in the top of the silo on the dairy farm on NW. Gravel Pit Road when they were overcome by the fumes, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Another son noticed the two were down and called 911; he also called his uncle, who lived nearby and who, upon arrival, climbed into the silo to try to save his brother and nephew.

Steven Boesl was then overcome himself and died at the scene. Curt Boesl died the morning of Dec. 22, and Alex died days later at a Minneapolis hospital.

A funeral service for all three was held at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville.

The family requested no media coverage of the service.

Family members say that in lieu of flowers, they plan to plant trees in memory of the three.

Community members in Millerville, a Douglas County town of about 100 residents, have rallied around the Boesl families as they mourn. A GoFundMe account set up to be split between the two families had raised about $103,100 by Sunday night.

Paul Walsh