A family with ties to the St. Paul/Elk Point community is mourning the loss of a man who is being remembered as “the rock that kept his family going,” following a fatal collision near Rocky Mountain House on Nov. 11.
Efforts are now being made to support Patrick Friesen’s family through online fundraising, initiated by his niece, Leslie Atack.
According to an RCMP media release, Rocky Mountain House RCMP responded to a triple fatal motor vehicle collision at 7:15 a.m. on Nov. 11. Preliminary investigation indicated that a westbound pickup carrying two occupants lost control of the vehicle and crossed the path of an eastbound pickup carrying three occupants.
The two occupants in the west bound truck, along with the driver of the east bound truck, were pronounced dead at the scene, while two occupants in the east bound truck were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“At the time of the collision, highways were very icy due to the recent snow fall, cold temperatures and wind gusts over the past few days,” said the media release.
Atack confirmed that her uncle and his close friend were two of the deceased in the collision. Shortly after the collision, Atack, who is currently overseas in Australia, decided she wanted to help out the family. So, she set up an account through GoFundMe and by Friday morning had already raised $6,655. The money will be used to help cover funeral expenses, and support Friesen’s family.
“My aunty would never ask for help, especially in a financial way,” said Atack, via email with the Journal. “This fund was set up without her knowledge initially because I knew it wasn't something she would be comfortable in asking for.”
Atack says her uncle was always ready to help anyone who needed his help, and feels now is the right time for others to give back to his family.
“I want my aunty to be able to mourn the passing of her best friend, without the worry of the expenses currently coming in,” said Atack, adding, Friesen was “a family man above all else.”
Friesen and his wife, Brenda, met when they were in Grade 7 and married in 1986. They had three children, but sadly lost their oldest daughter in 2005, says Atack.
Both Patrick and Brenda grew up in the St. Paul/Elk Point area, where their children also attended school. The family owned Friesen Radiator Repair for over 10 years, and later owned Lakeland Exterminators until they moved in 2013.
Online donations can be made to www.gofundme.com/h5mgwc, or cheques can be mailed directly to Brenda Friesen, at P.O. Box 715, Eckville, AB, T0M 0X0.
