Feb 24, 2008 6:55 pm US/Central
Funerals, Visitations Held For Bus Victims
COTTONWOOD, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The four students killed in a bus crash in Cottonwood, Minn. were (shown clockwise from top left) Hunter Javens, 9, and his brother Jesse Javens, 13, both of Cottonwood; Emilee Olson, 9, also of Cottonwood; and Reed Stevens, 12, of Marshall, Minn.
CBS
Family, friends and schoolmates said goodbye to some of the victims of Tuesday's deadly bus crash in Cottonwood, Minn.
A visitation was held at Lakeview Public School for 9-year-old Hunter Javens and his older brother, 13-year-old Jesse Javens.
Their funeral will take place at the school Monday at 11 a.m. It won't be the only public outpouring of grief in the small community.
"We will take it an hour at a time until we get through all those and walk through it with our grieving families and we'll be there to support them," said Lakeview superintendent Sheldon Johnson.
A funeral was also held Sunday afternoon for 9-year-old Emilee Olson at Christ Lutheran Church. Hundreds of family, friends, and classmates showed up at the church to pay their respects to Emilee.
Olson's family said she touched a lot of lives during her life, which became apparent Sunday afternoon as hundreds gathered inside the church for her funeral.
Her family released a statement earlier detailing her life. She was adopted at the tender age of 3 months old from a Chinese orphanage by Traci and Charlie Olson. She immediately inherited a sister in Bailee Olson and a brother in Sidnee Olson.
"She fit in perfectly. A piece of the puzzle that we didn't realize was missing until we got her," said her family in the statement which wrapped: "From an orphanage in China to a school bus on a cold Minnesota day ... What came in between defined Emilee. Emilee, you have blessed this family and touched the lives of all who knew you, and we will hold you in our hearts forever."
Emilee Olson's Chinese name meant "beautiful colors in the sky," and as a tribute to her heritage, dozens of balloons were released after the funeral service.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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