Red Cross honors fallen UHP trooper, firefighter


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BEAR RIVERY CITY — There are several awards hanging on the walls of Aaron Beesley's home in Bear River City.

As a volunteer firefighter with the Corinne Fire Department, a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol, and a state helicopter search and rescue responder, Beesley always seemed to be in the right place to help people.

That's what he was doing on June 30, when he died.

"I still have days where it doesn't seem real," said Kristie Beesley, the deceased trooper's wife wife.

Next week, Aaron Beesley will be awarded with a Red Cross Heroes Community Award for his work during his last mission.

"He loved what he did, and what better way to go than loving what you do?" Kristie said.

Her husband was 34-years old when he died.

It was on a mission to help two stranded hikers on Mt. Olympus in Salt Lake County. After Beesley helped them get onto the helicopter, they took off while Beesley stayed behind to collect his gear.

Investigators say he slipped and fell to his death.

Kristie Beesley handles some of the many patches her husband, Aaron Beesley, wore for his services to the state. Aaron Beesley died on Jun 30 while rescuing stranded hikers on Mt. Olympus.
Kristie Beesley handles some of the many patches her husband, Aaron Beesley, wore for his services to the state. Aaron Beesley died on Jun 30 while rescuing stranded hikers on Mt. Olympus.

"It was always in the back of your mind, especially as a spouse, that this could happen" said Kristie, "You just always have that in the back of your mind."

All of a sudden, Kristie was a widow, left to raise their two, 5-year-old twin boys and their 8-year-old boy.

"I don't know about scared," said Kristie, "I know there are a lot of people around that love my kids. Not scared, but maybe worried about their future maybe?"

She knows one day her kids will ask about their dad.

That's why she hangs pictures of their family in their house.

She's also making blankets for her kids using their dad's uniforms and patches for material.

"Because they're starting to forget a little, you know? Because this is time, and when dad is not around, they forget, you know, what dad was like," said Kristie.

She's also making scrapbooks: a different one for each child, full of pictures of them with their dad.

Later this year, Aaron Beesley will have his name placed in a memorial at the Utah State Capitol and in Washington D.C.

The awards are nice, but Kristie just wishes he was here to see his children grow up.

"They'll say, ‘I miss dad.' And I'll say, ‘I miss him, too.' But we'll get to see him again. And that eases their mind."

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Alex Cabrero

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