Parents thankful to community

The past four days have been the four darkest, saddest and most agonizing in the lives of the Gogolak family.

Four days after the death of our David in the Fiberglass Hill avalanche, we have seen, experienced and felt the heart and soul of the community of Whitefish.

Thanks to the quick action of Ted Steiner, Marty Olson and Maynard Denna, your search-and-rescue team gathered, and within minutes, hundreds of trained personnel and volunteers were in action. When our David was found, his wife, Nicole, was treated with the utmost respect and gentleness.

On Monday evening, a search-and-rescue team member sought us out to offer condolences, answer questions and share our pain.

Friends, as well as unknown members of the Whitefish community, showered us with food and kindness.

The staff at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake anticipated our needs and quietly and efficiently made the hotel work just as the community had. The Holiday Inn donated rooms to relatives and friends.

The Rev. Schmidt performed a loving and caring funeral service. In short, we saw small-town values and warmth in action. We have come to understand why our beloved son, David, chose to move to this beautiful and soulful place.

Some of us are first- and second-generation Americans. After seeing Whitefish in action, we are proud to be Americans and thankful that you treated us and all our friends who came from around the country as members of the Whitefish family.

We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Anthony Kollman, who was also lost on that tragic day.

We know we are joined by David's wonderful wife Nicole and her parents, Debbie and Lynn Nagel, when we send each of you in the community our heartfelt thanks.

Whitefish, we could not have gotten through this without you. Our thanks and our love go out to all of you.

Kathy and Peter Gogolak are residents of Darien, Conn. Their son, David Gogolak of Whitefish, died in an avalanche in the Canyon Creek drainage on Jan. 13.