MONTANA TROOPER'S FUNERAL
On Tuesday, September 2, 2008, Honor Guard Troopers Holly Branch, Michael Keys and John Ferriss traveled to Kalispell, Montana to attend the funeral services for Trooper Evan Schneider of the Montana Highway Patrol. Trooper Schneider was stationed in District 6 in Kalispell and was on duty on Tuesday, August 26 and working on US Highway 2 near Bad Rock Canyon. Trooper Schneider was attempting to stop a vehicle when an on-coming pickup truck crossed the highway centerline and struck the trooper’s cruiser head-on. Tragically, Evan died at the scene as a result of the vehicle crash. He is the second MHP trooper to have lost his life in an automobile crash in a single year.
Joining Evan’s wife, family and close friends were 140 troopers of the Montana Highway Patrol and Montana’s Governor, Brian Schweitzer. Also in attendance at the Christian Center were several hundred law enforcement officers and various other personnel from fire, medical and rescue services. Trooper Schneider was eulogized by his mother, two close family friends and the commander of the Highway Patrol, Colonel Paul Grimstad.
In often emotive parts of the eulogies, Evan was described as a friendly and compassionate young man who was ready to help and assist anyone in time of need or distress, and that his caring and considerate attitude left such a favorable impression on friend and stranger alike. Evan was remembered for his love of animals and his passion for the great outdoors. A photographic tribute was shown on screen during the service, remembering the young boy, the growing teenager, the graduate and the proud Marine serving his country in Iraq. It was, however, his marriage to his wife Carrie that seemed to complete his world and make it perfect.
Trooper Evan Schneider joined the Montana Highway Patrol in January of 2004. Colonel Grimstad praised the young trooper for his enthusiasm, dedication and exemplary service to the people of Montana. Evan’s brother James, also works as a Montana Highway Patrol trooper.
At the conclusion of the service the hearse bearing Trooper Schneider’s remains left the Christian Center followed by a long motorcade of law enforcement and other emergency vehicles. City traffic was at a standstill as the procession made it’s solemn way through intersections and along the highway. Along the route people could be seen standing at the side of the highway, silent and holding the American flag, others with hand over heart in a final gesture of respect for the fallen trooper.
The motorcade made it’s way in to the Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. In front of the drawn-up ranks of law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, along with family and friends, the Montana Highway Patrol Honor Guard rendered final honors to Trooper Evan Schneider, who, just a few days short of his thirtieth birthday, made the ultimate sacrifice for his agency and his State.
03/20/2009