A tragedy of the economy

Erik Andersen loved his family enough to leave them, but it wasn't supposed to be forever.

The 40-year-old husband and father of four was killed March 6 in an auto accident more than 800 miles away from Medimont, where he and his family lived.

Andersen was working in the oil fields of North Dakota. It was the first time he was so far away from North Idaho, the rugged paradise he loved.

"He just kept saying, 'I miss my family. I wish I was home,' yet he was a big enough person to make that sacrifice, to be separated from them so he could take care of them," said Heather Melville, Andersen's niece.

Andersen's death struck the small, tight-knit community hard, and they have rallied around his wife Audrey, and children Austin,13, Tanner, 11, Hannah, 7, and Mason, 5.

More than 900 people attended a standing room only March memorial service at Kootenai High School, the place where Andersen played football, basketball and track before graduating in 1988.

"One of the teachers told me that was the most people they have ever had in that gym," said Melville during a phone interview from her home in Oregon. "It was very amazing and heartwarming."

Melville grew up "practically next door" to Andersen in the Medimont area.

"What's amazing about it, it's not that we grieve because he's a family member and we share a last name, we grieve because we're a very closeknit family and there's a void," Melville said. "The Medimont community feels the same way because he was such a big part of their lives. It's been amazing to me how we have such an extended family and friends."

They're wrapping their arms around the family again this weekend, by holding an auction and meal to help establish a fund through Harrison Community Baptist Church to help Andersen's wife and children.

The Erik Andersen Memorial Benefit begins at 11 a.m. today at Kootenai Junior High School, 13030 E O'Gara Road in Harrison. It features a sloppy joe and salad meal ($5 per person or $15 per family), live auction, silent auction and pie auction.

Kriste Maitland, one of the organizers, said Andersen was "like one of my own kids."

"He was doing everything he could to provide for the family," said Maitland. "It was a tragedy of the economy."

Denise Layton, another friend helping plan the benefit, said that's what made it particularly sad.

"There but for the grace of God go all of us," Layton said. "And he's not the only one who had to go out of state. There's several of them that had to do that."

Layton said Andersen, like many of the men in the community, was always in the woods, and "just couldn't keep up" as logging jobs became non-existent.

When the wheels fell off the rest of the economy, all work became scarce.

Melville said her uncle tried several different things before taking the far-away job. He drove a log truck, and did some long haul trucking out of Spokane.

Leaving the Medimont and Black Lake area also meant Andersen had to give up being an active part of it.

The community's youth lost a beloved sports coach.

"Erik was a person, the first time you met him you had a friend for life," said family friend Alisha McDevitt. "He loved where he lived, and he was like a big kid at heart."

For information or to make a donation, call 689-9233.