How to help the family

COEUR d'ALENE - Friends and family of Veronica "Roni" Rutledge, who was accidentally killed at Walmart in Hayden Tuesday, have established an online memorial fund to help her husband with funeral expenses.

Melissa Giese, Roni's sister-in-law who lives in Bend, Ore., has established an account for people who would like to donate to her brother, Colt, who will be needing help with the funeral and other expenses.

"I have been getting a lot of calls from all over the country from people who want to help," she said. "I live in Oregon, so I thought this would be a good way to help."

Roni's father-in-law, Terry Rutledge, said he wanted to start a memorial fund at US Bank, but he needs a tax number from the Internal Revenue Service to start one, and its website is down until Jan. 5.

"But I will start one up after that and I will let the media know," he said.

Until then, people who want donate cash can do so at the customer service counter in Albertson's on Prairie Avenue.

Those who want to donate online can access the website from a link on the Veronica Rutledge Memorial Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/veronicarutledgememorial