Brent T. Mathison

It is so hard to believe that we are beginning our second year without the presence of our beloved Brent. There isn't a day that has passed that we haven't thought of him. We talk about him every day so that Annika will grow up hearing all about her Daddy. A nurse took us aside on the day we brought Angie and Annika home from the hospital and told us that we were beginning an incredible journey. And this year has been exactly that. There have been lots of tears and lots of heartache but...

It has been one year since our good friend’s tragic death. It is a testament to Brent’s character that we still think and speak of him often. He had an enduring and positive influence on everyone fortunate enough to have known him. We miss Brent’s presence in our lives but take strength and comfort from knowing that his spirit lives on.

I miss Brent often and think of him daily. Annika and Darlene had Christmas pictures taken together this year...I'm so glad they have each other. I wish he could be here to see how wonderful his little girl is. I hope somehow maybe he still can see her and be with her in a way we'll never understand.

Today, October 16, 2005, is the anniversary of Brent's birth. On this birthday we all know how deeply we miss his warm and positive presence in our lives. Brian and I were walking this morning, sharing memories of him, and thinking how much he would have enjoyed this beautiful autumnal day. He, with Angie and Annika, would have packed it full of life.

Our love and thoughts continue to be with Angie, Annika, Darlene, Bob, Karan, Trygve, Sarah, Traci, Steve, Dar, Lindsey, Kyle,...

I have never met your family, but I found by reading the last St. Olaf Alumni magazine that I sadly have something in common with you. Our son, Michael, was killed on Monday morning, Dec. 6th, three miles from his dental office in Rogers. He was a 1993 graduate of St. Olaf and a 1997 graduate of the U. of M. School of Dentistry. He and Jill were married on August 22, 2003. Dr. Anton Armstrong and several of his choirmates sang at his funeral. We had all just been to the Christmas concert at...

I worked with Brent at Cretex, and we really enjoyed having him here. He had such energy and enthusiasm. I said he never just walked anywhere - he bounced. I sit at the upstairs reception desk and always knew when he was coming upstairs - he never took single steps - he leaped up them like it was a race. I would ask how Annika was doing, and he would grin from ear to ear and say things like, "she's precious; she's a treasure". He just beamed with pride to talk about her. Brent knew I liked...

March 1, 2005 UPDATE

Hi! Well, it's been a few weeks since my last e-mail. There hasn't been much new to report which I guess isn't a bad thing. Annika had an appointment with the Occupational Therapist last week and all went well. She is still testing out at the appropriate level for her age, doing everything she should be doing at this point. We are now working on sitting up and she is doing great, able to hold her balance quite well and occasionally able to catch herself...

We come to this place in time with very heavy hearts. But we have also been blessed beyond measure that Brent was our son-in-law. We loved him from the moment he entered our lives.

We first met Brent when Angie brought him to our home for dinner. He came all dressed up and, we later learned, was a bit nervous. We knew after that first evening that he was a very special person.

When Angie was in Arizona for a nursing conference we got a call from Brent. He asked...