“While Kalispell sits surrounded by beautiful mountains and pristine water, a harshness exists in our midst as tragedy occurs regularly, and at times brutally.” -Chaplain Drew Buckner

While sitting in my office yesterday, I was somewhat startled to hear responders dispatched to a homicide. Besides the fact that we still live in a smaller community, the part that stunned me was the harsh reality that one person willingly killed another one. The brutality involved is sobering. 
Earlier in the day, I had been to a serious automobile accident whereby both drivers were taken to the hospital. I helped several people who were either directly related or were witnesses. 

Beginning on July 4, I have been connected to a series of severe motor vehicle accidents. On our recent national holiday, a man died from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident and a mother and adult daughter were killed in a head-on collision. I provided support for the motorcycle rider’s friends at the medical center while he received treatment. For the head-on, I was on scene, assisted with the notification to the family, and have provided follow up care to family members on several occasions since then.
Still another accident involved a pick up which struck a loaded dump truck at highway speeds, resulting in the rolling of the larger vehicle. All four occupants of the pick up were transported to the medical facility. 
I was also called out to an early morning unexpected death at a residence to console a distraught family member. 

Two days later I went to a local hotel where a woman had ended her own life. I have been engaged in serious conversations with numerous people who personally knew the deceased or her family. All of them felt very connected to the family and now a prominent loss. 

While Kalispell sits surrounded by beautiful mountains and pristine water, a harshness exists in our midst as tragedy occurs regularly, and at times brutally.  Again, I am reminded of the ongoing need for chaplain services throughout our community and county.

https://www.dailyinterlake.com/breaking_news/20190715/authorities_investigate_death_of_kalispell_man