Schuster Children Laid to Rest | Video

Valley News Live | 11/29/2012

Heartbreak in a small town. Three of Kevin and Rebecca Schuster`s children were laid to rest today in the town of Warsaw, about 30 miles north of Grand Forks. Ben, Julia and Luke Schuster, along with their grandmother, Martha Johnson, were shot and killed in the Johnson home in New Town on November 18. The suspect in the killings, Kalcie Eagle, took his own life as authorities closed in on him.

Understandably, Father John Kleinschmidt said before today`s service that he`s never had to deal with anything like this. He says everyone will just have to face it with a lot of prayer. Family and friends filed by three caskets at the front of the church and moved on to offer their condolences to Kevin and Rebecca Schuster.

One of their sons survived the incident by playing dead. A second daughter survived because she happened to be out of the house sledding when it happened. But Ben, 13, Julia, 10, and Luke, 6, were all taken, just as their lives were beginning.

Just before the service started, Rebecca Schuster kissed three of her children goodbye for the very last time.

"For those children, the minute they go to the next life they`re being thrown onto this ocean of life and love. For the, it`s not seen in the same way as we see it from this side, because we feel the separation," said Kleinschmidt.

While Kleinschmidt, family and friends do what they can, one family is left with scars that will likely never heal, and terrible memories that will last a lifetime.

A benefit fund has been set up to help the Schuster family with expenses.

Donations can be sent to:

The Kevin J. Schuster Family Benefit

c/o Koda Bank

P.O. Box 315

Minto, ND 58261

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