Three schools mourn deaths of students

Students and faculty at schools from Columbia Falls to Libby are reeling from the deaths of three youths in a crash Saturday on U.S. 2.

“Though the time doesn’t seem right for her to go, God has chosen to take her up. So fly Jade, let the clouds take you in. You will forever be in our memories,” stated a Facebook page created in memory of Jade Ulrich, a student at Columbia Falls Junior High.

Ulrich, 12, her cousin, 13-year-old Jeremy Sanders, and Jacob Colclough, 17, of Libby died in a two-vehicle crash west of Kalispell. Ramona Bauer, 59, of Columbia Falls, the grandmother of Ulrich and Sanders, also died in the collision.

Libby High School students have transformed Colclough’s locker into a memorial, placing flowers, photos, letters and poems from friends and teachers. Students who worked with Colclough part time at McDonald’s wore their work shirts to school Tuesday.

A memorial set up in a conference room at Columbia Falls Junior High provided students a place to write and draw and express their sorrow for the loss of Ulrich and Sanders, a former student. A counselor followed Ulrich’s schedule to provide moral support.

A team of counselors was available for walk-in sessions at the Kalispell Middle School Library for students to grieve Sanders. The school will host a half-day memorial during the week of March 22 for Sanders.

“It’s been very emotional for the students,” said Dave Wick, principal of Columbia Falls Junior High. He said counselors will continue to be available to help students through the difficult time and the faculty will be as accommodating as it can. “Obviously, we’re heartbroken,” he said.

Individual Facebook pages have also been set up by friends and family.

“Today in Columbia Falls Junior High we had groups of people mourning of her death, making posters, letters, poems; anything in their minds that they could get off their chest — how much they loved and cared for her, how much they wished that she were still here,” stated a page for Ulrich created by Lindsey Landell.

Wick said this is the first time in his 13 years in the district that Columbia Falls Junior High has lost a student during the school year.

The school sent a letter home with students Monday to give parents tips on how to help students cope with loss and provide additional resources to parents should they be necessary.

Colclough was heading home to Libby from Kalispell shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday when his vehicle collided with Bauer’s. Bauer was bringing Ulrich and Sanders back from Libby to the Flathead Valley.

“I watched the kid grow up and I had him in class as a senior,” said Linda Shilling, Colclough’s neighbor and teacher.

Those who knew him described Colclough as a typical boy who bucked bales in the summer and built hide-away forts in the woods near his home. He worked on cars and often sparred with friends using medieval-style weapons created with PVC wrapped in pipe insulation foam and tape.

He was planning to attend college at Washington State University Tri-Cities and work at his grandfather’s winery, financing his education by serving in the National Guard.

Full military honors will be bestowed upon Pfc. Colclough at his funeral Friday at 10 a.m. in the Libby High School gymnasium. Colclough, a split-option soldier, had attended basic combat training and was to complete his initial soldier training this summer. He was assigned to the 639th Quartermaster Supply Co.

Sanders, a member of the Kalispell Middle School wrestling team, had competed earlier Saturday in the Kootenai Classic Little Guy wrestling tournament in Libby. Although he had started out as a fairly “green” wrestler, he had made strides on the team, beginning to win matches and becoming confident in the sport.

According to teachers, although Sanders was new to Kalispell Middle School, he was well-liked, outgoing and had a great sense of humor. He was a top chef in culinary class, always was smiling and ready to cook and eat anything.

Ulrich has been described as a silly, vibrant young woman who had a great passion for horses and enjoyed writing, poetry, singing and being with friends.

Bauer was known as an expert gardener and enjoyed hunting and camping.

Funeral services for Ulrich, Sanders and Bauer will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the commercial building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell.

For obituaries of the crash victims, see page A9.

Reporter Melissa Weaver may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at mweaver@dailyinterlake.com