Loss
It’s hard to believe that my sister-in-law, Rachel Schulenberg, has been in Heaven for five years now. Rachel married my brother-in-law, Ron Schulenberg on June 12th, 2010, and with her came three children, Cassie Franklin, Riley Birky, and Tucker Birky, who Ron later adopted. Rachel was with is for 10½ years before she went home to be with her Lord at the very young age of just 45 years. While we only had Rachel with us for a fleeting moment, her impact far outlived her presence. Rachel was working at her church when she and Ron were introduced by her friend, Susan Griffith, who happened to be Ron’s niece. That introduction was the best thing that ever happened to my brother-in-law.
Rachel was very dedicated to our Lord and told everyone she met about Him. She was loved by everyone who 
met her. She had a kind and loving heart, and a sweet spirit. The 10½ years were the best years of Ron’s life. They were very happy. Before Rachel, Ron was adrift. She completed him, and her passing was a devastation to him. We all lost a very dear friend and family member that day. Rachel’s passing was very unexpected…a massive stroke too her from us before she knew anything was wrong. By the time Ron could get her to the hospital, the damage to her brain was irreversible. It was a terrible loss.
We all think of Rachel often, and we miss her a lot. Her passing is especially hard on Susan and her sister, Machelle Moore, because they knew Rachel the longest. At the time they introduced her to Ron, she was living in Powell, Wyoming, which is where Susan and Machelle live as well. Ron made a lot of trips from Casper to 
Powell in those early days. He was taken with her from the very start. It was probably the most the girls saw their uncle in years, but they were happy about that. They knew that Rachel was perfect for Ron, and he for her. Not all matchmaking works out so well, but this matchmaking event certainly worked out well. Today would have been Rachel’s 51st birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Rachel. We love and miss you very much.
mom
As another year passes, I find myself thinking a lot about my mom. It seems impossible that she has been living in Heaven for eleven years now. I know that, at some point. most people outlive their parents and go on to live the rest of their lives without them, but you are simply never ready for that day to arrive. You don’t want that day to arrive. And when it does, you are sure it must be a nightmare. Loving 
parents should be in your life well into your 70s anyway, but that was not to be.
Mom was a deeply devoted Christian who worked hard to learn and live by God’s ways and His Word. As I walk my own path with the Lord, I often think about all the people she inspired to give their lives to Him. My parents were strong spiritual leaders; they didn’t travel the world preaching, but they spoke to those around them, and their clean, upright lives spoke volumes. After Mom’s funeral, I was amazed by how many people shared how my parents had touched their lives. In their quiet, humble way, they drew many hearts to the Lord.
Mom was also a fun-loving and really goofy woman. She did her very best to make our lives happy and full of God’s joy. She sang to us, cheered us on, comforted us, and encouraged us. We never doubted her love for us. I miss my mom every day, and I know that I will see her again when I go to Heaven. Still, I can’t say that makes it any easier to think of eleven years without her. She will always be in my heart and on my mind. I love and miss you so much, Mom, and I’m thankful that you are in my future.
As the new year begins, we find ourselves thinking about our mom, Collene Spencer, as we do every New Year’s Day, because this would have been her 90th birthday. It’s hard to believe that she has been in Heaven for almost eleven years now. I know that she is celebrating with all the family who have gone before us. Of course, time means nothing in Heaven. Eternity knows no breakdown of the years. One second is the same as the next…pure blissful happiness. It doesn’t get better than that. They are all so very happy, and it makes it easy to be happy for them.
Nevertheless, it also accentuates the loneliness we feel here when we think of them. Sometimes, during the year, when we get busy with our lives, we are able to cope with their absence, at least until something reminds us of them or of a moment, and we miss them all over again. Then comes their birthday or death day and missing them becomes the main focus. Today, as we celebrate the new year, I am also thinking about how 
much I miss my mom. I cant believe that eleven years have come and gone since her went home. She had done all the things she had on her “bucket list” and she was ready. She had told us several times that she was ready, so while her leaving was shocking in one way, it wasn’t in another. They couldn’t even find a cause of death. She just left. That fact still amazes me, eleven years later.
When I think of Mom and Dad back together again, I smile. They were best friends. They never tired of being together. They loved to travel, taking their girls to many amazing places. Our travel was mostly in the United States, because they loved this country…and they wanted my sisters and me to know how wonderful it was. We saw many places in many states, and we knew how blessed we were. Not many kids in those days were as “traveled” as we were. From those trips came favorite places, and places we saw only once. From those trips came history lessons and simple fun times. While the trips were varied in many ways, there were many 
common parts…like the Oregon Trail markers. Those dreaded Oregon Trail markers…at least they were dreaded then. These days, because I love history so much, those markers are interesting, and I wish I could remember each one we visited and its location. They mean more to me now that I am older. I wish I had told my parents that. They would have loved it. Today would have been my mom’s 90th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Mom. I know you and Dad, as well as Alena, are having a great celebration. Someday we will all celebrate together again. I look forward to it.
During my childhood years, my sisters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, Allyn Hadlock, and I always knew where we would spend New Year’s Eve…and where our parents, Allen and Collene Spencer would spend theirs too. New Year’s Day was our mom’s birthday, and Dad loved to make it all a big deal. So, they threw a party and invited their friends and family. Because my sisters and I were there too, our cousins also came with their parents. That way it was fun for everyone, and no one needed a babysitter. Our little house was jam packed full of people and the party often flowed out into the yard, both front and back.
Those New Year’s Eve parties continued for the rest of Mom’s life, and beyond too. While there have been a few years without them, most years we had some kind of a party, but after mom passed, and since Dad had been 
gone for eight years by then, the parties were different…even while she was still with us. I remember one party in particular, when Mom was feeling a bit sad. You see, she and Dad always danced on New Year’s Eve, but Dad wasn’t there to dance anymore. Enter Jason Sawdon, my niece Jessi’s husband. Standing was difficult for Mom without a walker. That didn’t matter to Jason. He held her up in his strong arms so, she could have her New Year’s Eve dance that year. It was such a precious moment…one that my sisters and I will never forget.
These days, both Mom and Dad are in Heaven, as is our sister, Alena, so the party will be different again. Alena didn’t always come to the New Year’s Eve parties, but we always knew that she was here, on Earth. Now, she isn’t. Nevertheless, I know that she is watching the festivities with Mom and Dad from Heaven. The party will 
be different again, because that is just the way it is as time marches on. Things change. People are added to the family, and people leave to go to Heaven. Nevertheless, we are still a family, and I know that Mom and Dad are very pleased to see their descendants gathering together to bring in another year. While it’s different, it is always worth looking forward to. Each new year is worth looking forward to. It is a gift from God. So, here’s to 2026. Happy New Year everyone!! May the coming year be better than the last year.
When you lose a loved one, you somehow, logical or not, think that it will get easier as time goes by. Actually, you just get used to them being gone…until their birthday or their death day comes around. Then, it hits you all over again. That’s where I find myself today, missing my dad, Allen Spencer on the 18th anniversary of his passing. My dad was my hero, as is the case for many little girls, but he was also in the Army Airforce in World War II, and every one of the men who fought in that, or any other war is a hero. It takes guts, sacrifice, and much courage to fight in any war, and I am thankful that my dad made it home.
My dad always thought of others before himself. During the war, he wrote letters home, and while he knew that he was always in danger, Dad tried to reassure his mom that he’d come home safely, talking about the brand-
new B-17 Bomber assigned to him and his crew. You could feel the excitement in his words, as if he were speaking them directly to you. He described how the plane flew “so smoothly” and why “they call it the flying fortress.” He loved the beautiful new aircraft, but he also knew exactly what they would be flying into. He had hoped for a furlough before heading overseas, but that didn’t happen, and he still didn’t know where he’d be stationed, but he didn’t want his mom to worry. Flying into an uncertain future, unsure if he’d return, his thoughts were still for her and her feelings. That was just who he was. With determination, he promised he’d “return home in the same condition as he left,” protected by the plane built to be the “dread of the airways” and by God’s watchful care…and so he did. He was not even wounded…and we are grateful.
Dad was the perfect “girl dad,” always making sure his girls were happy and had what we all needed. We didn’t make life easy for Dad…especially in our teen years. Dad had to get up pretty early to get in the bathroom ahead of his five daughters and his wife, our mom, Collene Spencer, who didn’t get much chance in there either. Even with all the drama of teenaged girls, they were a team, and they were always there for us. We were so blessed with the parents we were given, and they day each of them went home to Heaven was the worst day ever. It’s so hard for me to believe that my dad has been in Heaven 18 years now. I can’t say it has become easier to face that fact, because it really never gets easier. You don’t get over this, you just get on with it. It’s what our dad and mom would want us to do, and so we have. We love and miss you all, Dad. Give Mom and Alena a hug from all of us.
My mom, Collene Spencer, had a lot in common with her older sister, Evelyn Hushman. While she was close to all her sisters, she and Aunt Evelyn had a special bond, possibly because their husbands got along so well. Even before my mom married, my parents, Al and Collene Spencer, would double date with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle George. After both couples were married and had children, we spent a lot of time together. I remember playing with the Hushman kids, who, being a bit older than me, often set the tone for our games. It didn’t matter, though…it was always fun.
Later, my parents joined the same bowling team with Aunt Evelyn and Uncle George on Monday nights. They bowled together for years until they decided to stop, except for Aunt Evelyn, who continued bowling for many more years. I even got to substitute on her team when she bowled with her daughters, which I enjoyed because it kept our families connected in an enjoyable way.
Over time, as life got busier, I saw Aunt Evelyn less and less, which made me sad. Time seems to slip away so 
quickly, and before you know it, loved ones age and life changes. Eventually, I only saw her at family events like Christmas parties and picnics, and then not even those. When Aunt Evelyn passed away on May 4, 2015, just over two months after my mom, I felt a deep sadness and loneliness. Losing them both so close together was hard, but I like to think the sisters, who had so much in common, are together again, enjoying their new chapter. Today would have been Aunt Evelyn’s 97th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Aunt Evelyn. We love and miss you dearly.
Our uncle, Eddie Hein, spent most of his life in Forsyth, Montana, except for the years he worked in Casper, Wyoming, at Rocky Mountain Pack while attending night classes at Casper College to earn his mechanics degree, and the time he served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1966, which was when he met his future wife, Pearl Krueger. They married on July 15, 1967…a day they always cherished as the happiest of their lives. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Larry Hein and Kim Arani, and three grandchildren. One of those grandchildren, Destiny Hein, was born on Eddie’s birthday, creating a unique and special bond between them. They were best friends for the rest of his life. It’s so hard for me to believe that Eddie has been in Heaven for just over six years now.
On my first trip to Forsyth, Montana, with my husband and Bob Schulenberg’s family, I was introduced to his 
relatives there, including Uncle Eddie, Bob’s uncle and his dad’s half-brother. That initial visit turned into an annual tradition for many years. We loved those trips, always feeling warmly welcomed. Eddie was a quiet, soft-spoken man with a big heart, who made everyone feel accepted. His big smile and contagious laugh were unforgettable, and he truly loved to laugh. I will always miss his smile and his kind, generous nature. There was never the formality of calling Eddie and Pearl “uncle” and “aunt” since they were close in age to many nieces and nephews. Although we hadn’t seen them as often as the years went by and the grandparents went to Heaven, it was always nice to know Eddie was there. Then, suddenly, six years ago, he was gone. It was and still is such a shock to me. He had always seemed so vibrant and full of life.
On October 16, 2019, Uncle Eddie suffered a heart attack while working in his yard. Despite the efforts of friends, neighbors, his wife Pearl, and their grandson Dalton, it was too late. Eddie passed away, but his memory will live on with his many friends and family. Eddie was a kind man with a heart of gold, always willing 
to help those in need. He loved vintage cars and had his own 55 Chevy that he thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn’t just the cars either, because he loved old tractors too. The people of Forsyth, Montana, knew Eddie well. He was a friend to everyone, always offering a wave as he drove by. Eddie was known as someone you could always count on, no matter the situation. Whether it was a smile, a hug, a wave, or a helping hand, Eddie was there. Someone once said Eddie was one of God’s great ones, and I couldn’t agree more. Today would have been Eddie’s 82nd birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven. We love and miss you very much.
My uncle, Jim Richards was a gentle man with a quiet, sweet spirit. He was always soft-spoken, and those who knew him were likely to say that he was a big teddy bear. Nevertheless, he was also a strong man with a fierce sense of responsibility for his family. While he was soft-spoken in life, I know he would have fought to the death, anyone who would have been stupid enough to threaten any part of his family. He was a family man to the end. Uncle Jim lost his dad when he was very young, just nine years old, as a matter of fact, but that didn’t stop him from fulfilling his self-imposed duties to his family, and he never stopped fulfilling those duties.
Uncle Jim was also a friend to all. I don’t think he ever met someone who didn’t become his friend before long. His friends at school all remembered him fondly and always had kind words to say about the man who helped them out on more than one occasion, even making sure they got home safely from a party in which they over indulged. Uncle Jim cared about people, and he was always willing to give 110% to help them out. To say that he would give the shirt off his back, was not an exaggeration, because he most definitely would do just that.
Uncle Jim was a sports fan. He played sports in high school and never lost his love of the game. Whenever my aunt, Sandy Pattan and I went out to their house for visits, you could be sure that you would find Uncle Jim watching a football game. He was a die-hard Broncos fan, and boy, you had better not damage his Broncos shirt. One time, when he had to be rushed to the hospital, the emergency personnel cut his Broncos shirt off of him to give him medical attention. The fact that they saved his life did little to win them points when he found out that they had sliced his prized shirt off of him. He said that there was nothing wrong with that shirt, and it 
didn’t matter that his family would gladly buy him another one. He wanted his shirt back. I suppose he eventually forgave the EMTs, but I’m sure the family knew to “try to make sure” that didn’t happen ever again. While the situation was very serious, it also had a bit of a funny undertone…once he was ok, that is. Today would have been Uncle Jim’s 88th birthday and it’s his first in Heaven. Happy birthday in Heaven, Uncle Jim. We love and miss you very much.
The morning of September 20, 2002, dawned as any other day in the North Ossetia area of Russia, but by the end of the day, things would definitely not be the same, and more than a hundred people would lose their lives. In June 2002, North Ossetia faced severe flooding, which, combined with an unusually early and hot summer, foreshadowed a major disaster in September. The town of Vladikavkaz lies below large glaciers, and the higher-than-average temperatures that year caused increased water runoff, proving that the glaciers were starting to melt and weaken, but the little town had no idea what further disaster was headed their way.
On the fateful afternoon of September 20, a massive 490-foot-thick chunk of the Kolka Glacier and tumbled 
down the mountain. The avalanche gained speed as it went, reaching nearly 100 miles per hour down the Karmadon Gorge and Koban Valley, and traveled an incredible 20 miles, leaving destruction in its wake. The village of Karmadon was completely buried under tons of ice and rocks. Rescue operations began right away and continued for weeks. Twenty-seven people were rescued alive, but recovering the remains of those who died, proved far more challenging. Even weeks later, fewer than half of the 150 missing people had been found. The main deposit settled 11 miles from the face of Dzhimarai-Khokh. The outflow of mud and debris measured 660 foot wide and 33 to 328 feet thick. Two villages along the gorge were under surveillance as flood waters backed up along the choked rivers. The avalanche finally came to rest in the village of Nizhniy Karmadon, burying most of the village in ice, snow, and debris. It was a devastating event.
On September 25, a first round of explosives intended to break up the avalanche flow was unsuccessful in reducing flood waters lapping through the village of Gornaya Saniba. The avalanche had two distinct flows. In total, the avalanche caused $20 million in damages. Had it traveled just a few miles further and hit Vladikavkaz, the death and damage toll would have been far worse. In the end, the avalanche and mudflow killed more than 120 people, including a film crew of 27 people, among them Russian actor and director Sergei Bodrov Jr.
