Three snowmobiling fatalities over the weekend
By Dan Dockstader on Jan 14, 2008 in Featured
Funeral services will be held this week for three Star Valley snowmobilers who were killed in a massive avalanche on Saturday.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Alan Jensen, 55, Kim Steed, 51, and Dr. Scott Bennett, 42, all residents of the Smoot area, were trapped and died in an avalanche in the Cottonwood Lake area of the Bridger Teton National Forest.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a snowmobiler in the Cottonwood area that three snowmobilers were trapped in an avalanche.
Star Valley Search & Rescue and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. A search was conducted of the slide area and all three victims were found. Two of the three victims were wearing beacons which assisted in the recovery. The avalanche was estimated to travel a half-mile from the top of a ravine and settled in at the bottom of the ravine where it was estimated to be approximately 10 acres wide, with an average depth of 10 feet.
Jensen, Steed and Bennett were all experienced snowmobilers and had snowmobiled in the Cottonwood area on regular basis.
The bodies were transported to Lincoln County Coroner’s Office Saturday night. Lincoln County Coroner Mike Richins determined that all three victims died as a result of compression asphyxia.
Funeral services for Alan Jensen will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at noon in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held Tuesday evening at Schwab Mortuary from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the church.
Funeral services for Kim Steed will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Schwab Mortuary and Thursday from 9-10:45 a.m. at the church.
Funeral services for Dr. Scott Bennett will be held on Friday, Jan. 18 at noon in the Smoot LDS Church. Viewings will be held on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 6-8 p.m. in the Smoot Ward Relief Society Room and Friday from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services.
A memorial fund for the families of the men who died has been set up at the Bank of Star Valley.
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Our prayers are with each family. While serving here at Ft Stewart, Georgia as Military Relations representatives for our church, we’ve learned some valuable lessons attending the many memorial services for our fallen heroes of 3rd Inf Div. I pray that the families & friends can find strength and comfort in this thought: “Watching unmasked grief and pain is a soul-wrenching experience. Sometimes we forget that the ATONEMENT is for these occasions as well.” As with these fine families, may I thank you for your sacrifices and service. The memory of these good men will stand tall in Star Valley.
I would deeply like to thank everyone personally for their hard work and efforts in bringing these men home.
Thank you Ty, Van and Cole. You tried your best, but Heavenly Father had other plans for these men.
The overwhelming support and love from the community has lifted our spirits and has given us hope that we can go on and get through this tragic loss.
Thank you Star Valley, we have our own Eden here on Earth.
Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the families. My husband and I both had the pleasure to work with and be friends with Scott Bennett. Darin and Scott spent 3 years working together while completing their residency in Maine. In those three years, we got to spend a lot of time with Scott and his family. He will be sadly missed; but always fondly remembered as a doctor and a friend.
My parents live in Smoot. During my trips to visit them, I became acquainted with all of these men.
Thank you Brother Steed for your friendship and leadership in the Smoot Ward bishopric. Thank you Bro. Jensen for all your hard work on my parents home and property over the years. I will never go to my parents home again without thinking of you. And finally, thank you Dr. Bennett for providing such wonderful medical care to my parents these past few years, you will be greatly missed. You touched the lives of many people, not only through your medical care but your kind and gentle nature. My oldest sons benefited from your inspired teaching during a priesthood lesson you taught when they attend the Smoot Ward.
Our thoughts and our prayers go out to their families. May the Lord bless you and comfort you to know that you will be with your loved ones again.
To the families of these fine men, we would like to express our sorrows to you. We didn’t personally know Bother Steed or Brother Jensen, but we did know Brother Bennett. We are going to miss him greatly, he put my husband back together when he had his 4 wheeler accident, he has nursed us back to health many times in the last three years and best of all he just delivered our first grandchild (the new year baby) a couple of weeks ago. Dr. Bennett also helped us through a few hard times with his wonderfull advice. We will miss you so much Dr. Bennett. Our Heavenly Father must have a great plan for you three men, because he took you all off this earth to be with him. I look forward to seing you again is his devine house someday. We love you Dr. Bennett.
Ralph & Tina Fife
Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of Mr. Jensen, Mr. Steed and Dr. Bennett. We are extremely saddened personally to lose our family doctor, Scott Bennett. Although we have only known him for just over a year and a half, he has profoundly touched our lives with his kindness and understanding. He made us feel welcome from the moment we met him as new patients and residents to Afton. We are so glad for the opportunity to have known him but wish he didn’t have to leave so soon. Let your warm memories help to sooth the pain in your heart, soon those same memories will help you to smile again.
Mick, Karen & Millie Costantini
I am deeply saddened to hear of this tragedy. Dr. Bennett was my physician, & I found him to be one of the most patient, caring, concerned doctors I’ve ever known. I will miss him greatly. One of the wonderful things about living in Star Valley is the quality of medical care and services we have. Dr. Bennet was certainly a part of it for me. My condolences to his family.
Susan Joahnsson, SVR