DSU mourns softball players
Afton Williamson
Ashley Neufeld
Kyrstin Gemar
November 5th, 2009
The Blue Hawk Softball Team filed into Dorothy Stickney Auditorium just before the memorial service for three of their teammates began on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 5 at Dickinson State University. Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson died Sunday night when they drove into a stock dam northwest of Dickinson while out stargazing.
During the memorial service, DSU president Dr. Richard McCallum presented the families with the girls’ framed jerseys. Their numbers will be retired.
Pictured left to right: DSU Athletic Director Roger Ternes; Assistant Softball Coach Jamie Jung; Former Head Softball Coach Guy Fridley; Head Softball Coach Kristen Fleury; Phil & Bev Neufeld; Lenny & Claire Gemar; and Afton Williamson’s cousin Jody Teague & stepfather Fred Hutton.
Following the memorial service, mourners headed for the Student Center where a reception was held to honor Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson. More than 1,000 people attended the service.
Tears and hugs were shared at the reception in the DSU Center following the memorial service.
DSU students look at a memorial display for classmates Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson in the Student Center after the memorial service Thursday afternoon.
Bunches of flowers and candles have been placed by friends and strangers alike outside the Student Center in an outpouring of support for the families and teammates of Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson.
November 4th, 2009
Thursday memorial service to be webcast on KXnet.com. Visit this website or
KXnet.com prior to 2 p.m. MST on Thursday for a link to the webcast.
DSU classes will be cancelled on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 1-5 p.m. to allow students and faculty the opportunity to attend
the Thursday memorial service. Offices will be closed for the service and reception at the discretion of unit supervisors.
Shanna Shervheim, Associate Director of Communications (701) 483-2595
DSU to hold memorial service for students Nov. 5
Dickinson State University will hold a memorial service in honor of Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m.
MST in Dorothy Stickney Auditorium, May Hall. A reception in the Student Center Ballroom will follow the service. The public is invited to attend both the service and the reception.
Gemar, Neufeld and Williamson passed away on Sunday, Nov. 1, after driving into a stock pond northwest of Dickinson. All three women were members of the Blue Hawk softball team. Law enforcement officials found the women Tuesday afternoon after an extensive search.
Pastor Scott McKirdy will serve as celebrant for the service, which will include comments from DSU students, faculty and staff. Special music will be provided by soloist Leah Walters and accompanist Colleen McKirdy.
DSU classes will be cancelled on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 1-5 p.m. MST to allow students and faculty the opportunity to attend the service.
The Dickinson State University Student Senate has set up an account to help defray the expenses incurred by the families of Kyrstin Gemar, Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson. Donations can be made in the Neufeld Gemar Williamson Account at any Wells Fargo bank nationwide.
For more information: Constance Walter - (402) 560-6116
Cards may be sent to:
Office of University Relations
May Hall 318
291 Campus Dr
Dickinson, ND 58601
Dear Campus Community:
In light of the tragic loss of three of our students, many have expressed a need for personal grief counseling services. Others have indicated that there are many students that they would like to refer for such assistance.
My office has been inundated with support from throughout the region and state offering such services. Please feel free to make any referral to my office so that we can make the appropriate connections of support for students, faculty and staff.
Plans are underway for a campus wide memorial service.
Thanks for your help and our hearts and prayers continue to go out to the families and friends of our three students.
Sincerely,
Hal Haynes, Jr
Vice President for Student Development
November 3rd, 2009
Wednesday Classes Cancelled
All classes will be canceled for the DSU main campus on Wednesday November 4th, 2009 as a day of mourning and remembrance. All DSU offices and support services will be open to assist students and the general public.
Shanna Shervheim, Associate Director of Communications (701) 483-2595
The three Dickinson State University students who have been missing since Sunday, Nov. 1, have been found dead in a 1997 Jeep Cherokee submerged in a stock pond northwest of Dickinson. Kyrstin Gemar, 22, Ashley Neufeld, 21, and Afton Williamson, 20, all members of the DSU softball team, were last heard from at 11:18 p.m. when a call for help from one of the women was received by a friend, who then called police. The women were found Tuesday afternoon.
DSU will hold a prayer service Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. Grief counselors will be available to students, faculty and staff at the prayer service and throughout the week. All classes and other campus events have been cancelled for Tuesday evening.
DSU officials wish to express their sincere appreciation to all law enforcement involved in the search and to the community for its support.
The Dickinson Police Department will hold a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 5 a.m. Mountain Time at the Dickinson Armory, 46 Museum Dr., Dickinson.
Our hearts are filled with sadness. The death of our three students is a great tragedy,” said Dr. Richard McCallum, DSU president. “Our prayers and sympathy go out to the parents, families and friends of Kyrstin, Ashley and Afton. A special thanks to everyone who has expressed kind thoughts and prayers and a special thanks to all the law enforcement officials who helped find our students.”
At approximately 2:45 MST searchers notified members of law enforcement that vehicle tracks were found leading into a stock pond with oil residue floating on the surface. The dive team investigated and a vehicle was located in the pond.
At approximately 4:25 MST the 1997 white Jeep Cherokee was pulled from a stock
pond North West of Dickinson. The three women that law enforcement had been
searching for were located in the vehicle. The three women were deceased.
The incident continues to be under investigation. At this time, foul play is not
suspected.
The Dickinson Police Department would like to thank all the agencies and
individuals that were involved in the search for the three women.
Because of the unfortunate deaths of the three missing students, the evening classes for DSU will be cancelled
tonight in order that those faculty, staff, and students who want to attend the
7 PM prayer service at the Student Center can do so.
The Stoxen Library and the computer labs will remain open tonight for their usual hours.
The Brass Ensemble performance scheduled tonight in Stickney Auditorium has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date.
Rich Brauhn, VPAA
Shanna Shervheim, Associate Director of Communications (701) 483-2595
DSU to hold prayer service for missing students
Dickinson State University will hold a prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Student Center Ballroom for three DSU students who have been missing since Sunday evening.
Kyrstin Gemar, 22, Ashley Neufeld, 21, and Afton Williamson, 20, disappeared Sunday, Nov. 1 and were last heard from at 11:18 p.m. when a call for help from one of the women was received by a friend, who then called police. The three women are believed to have been driving a 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California license 3UBN521. The Dickinson Police Department has been conducting the search for the women since receiving the call. DSU officials are working closely with law enforcement as the search continues.
The university continues to actively work to support our area law enforcement officials as they continue their search for our three missing students, Ashley, Kyrstin and Afton.
This investigation continues under the leadership of the Dickinson Police Department with support from the Stark County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies. Below please find the most current information that was released this morning by the Dickinson Police Department.
Parents and other family members of all three students are here in Dickinson and in direct communication with law enforcement and university officials. Our hearts go out to them during this difficult time.
We will keep you informed as new information becomes available. Please keep Ashley, Kyrstin and Afton and their families and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Richard J. McCallum
Local law enforcement authorities are currently searching for three Dickinson women who attend Dickinson State University. Kyrstin Gemar, 22, Ashley Neufeld, 21, and Afton Williamson, 20, all attend Dickinson State University. They are believed to be traveling in a 1997 Jeep Cherokee with a California license 3UBN521. Also traveling with the women is a small dog. It is believed that they were on a Star Gazing trip when they disappeared November 1st and were last heard from at 11:18 when a call from one of the women was made to a friend that consisted of a call for help. The call was very scratchy and consisted of a call for help, and they mentioned were near a lake and water. The call lasted for approximately 40 seconds. One minute later another call was made that lasted approximately 30 seconds and at that time both phones went dead and have not been in service since that time. A forensic cell phone examiner puts the last signal north of Dickinson.
There have been numerous sightings in the Killdeer area one at approximately 2:00 am on November 2nd along with 12:00 pm also in Killdeer. There have been other sightings none which have been confirmed at this time. There is an unconfirmed sighting that the three women were in Killdeer Friday evening at a bar.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol has been grid searching numerous areas by Air Plane and vehicles. The Stark County Sheriff’s Department along with Dunn, Billings and Hettinger County has also been involved in the searching.
At this time the case has been turned over to the Dickinson Police Department and Officers are currently interviewing people in the Killdeer area that have called in sightings. Officers have also searched their rooms for any evidence and have interviewed friends and classmates for any further information. The Dickinson Police Department is pursuing all avenues at this time foul play is not suspected but is not being ruled out.
There have been numerous requests for help with a ground search, at this time the Dickinson Police Department is requesting any Professional searching agency contact the Dickinson Police Department for assistance.
Lt. Rod Banyai
Dickinson Police Department
Lieutenant Commander
rod.banyai@dickinsongov.com
701-456-7854
November 2nd, 2009
To all Faculty, Staff and Students:
The safety and well being of our students is always our primary concern.
Since learning that three Dickinson State University students, Ashley Neufeld, Afton Williamson and Kyrstin Gemar, were missing, Dickinson State University has been actively working to support the sheriff’s department and other area law enforcement officials in their search for the missing women. This is an ongoing investigation under the leadership of Stark County Sheriff and we will continue to support law enforcement officials throughout the search.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of Ashley, Kyrstin and Afton.
Sincerely,
Richard J. McCallum