Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Jason played a huge roll in my years growing up in Hillsboro. I still remember the first time I was invited out for a birthday party in elementary school and being blown away by the adventures that were right in his back yard. There were several years where I spent most of the summer out there, canoeing, 4 wheeling (sometimes pulling each other around on an old car hood) and having the best carefree life before we had to get summer jobs. There were tree forts, and rope swings over the river, digging tunnels and making memories. Jason was a good friend that was always there for you. We had so many great times together...I believe I was the one that started calling him Ferris. He didn't like it right away, but he embraced it with time. I've told my son many stories of us shooting BB gun and .22, catching snapping turtles, baby ducks, canoeing, etc. We take a family canoe trip every summer and I think of Jason constantly during those trips. He was always in the back of the canoe, steering and leading. His love for hunting spread to me. I shot my first real gun out there and the gun kicked so bad, the hammer hit me under the eye and started bleeding. His dad, Bill took out a hanky and said, "we better have Sharon bring you home." (It was almost a real life story of "you'll shoot your eye out") Sharon told me years later that she wasn't looking forward to telling my parents what happened. I was fearful I wouldn't be able to go back out there, but that wasn't the case. Both of our dad's were "Bill"...my phone number growing up ended in 5949, his was 5939 and I can still remember dialing his number. He called me many summer mornings, and I'd race to the phone to hear "you want to come out?" or "should I come to town?" I remember the trips to the lake with Jason, the rides in their van - watching Back to the Future on the TV and VCR in that van, over and over. Highschool brought many more adventures and once we left Elementary school where my dad was the principal, then Sharon started working at the high school for a short period of time, so we didn't get away with much even though we tried. In college we parted ways for a bit and one day I got call from him wondering what I was doing that weekend. I told him to come visit. He met a special person that weekend and he called me next the next weekend to say he was coming back to visit. Pretty soon, he was coming to see that special person named Carrie, and I wasn't always told he was coming. You see, Carrie (Winter at the time) hung out with the same group of friends I did and he met his future wife that weekend at my house. I believe people are in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Jason was in my life for a reason. There were many skill sets he taught me - how to be a good sportsman when hunting, how to use a knife, how to safely handle firearms, how to shoot a bow (even bow hunting fish before I ever knew it was a sport)...so many things I've passed on to my kids. Jason was in my life for a season - the period of time when I needed a friend like him. He was there for me when I needed someone to trust and someone to just listen. One of the last times we spent time together was almost 5 years ago and it picked up where we left off. I stayed in the Fargo/Moorhead and surrounding area and moved on and we each raised our families, thinking of him often. I've enjoyed seeing photos of his adventures with his family. Some of the photos I've dug up recently really made me appreciate our friendship growing up. I can't put into words what I want to say to Carrie and his children other than how deeply sorry I am. You have been on my mind and I have been praying for you all. Bill and Sharon - you were like another set of parents to me back then and I am so, so very sorry. Matt - being the little brother wasn't always easy, but you were the best little brother to Jason. I'm going to cherish those memories. Ferris...God Bless you and your family. We will someday reunite for not just a reason or a season, but a lifetime. Love you, Brother.
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