Danielle cherished family, friends and life. She had her whole life planned
out; her husband, number of kids, two dogs and would be a dermatologist, a career
where she could help others but have time for her family.
Christi had just enrolled in college. She just began taking First Baptist Church
shuttles downtown every Thursday to befriend the homeless. Just chit chatting
with them and letting them know they had a friend. In her journals, she was
determined to turn her life around and she started by helping others. She volunteered
often for the M.U.S.T. Ministries to help set up their clothing shop for the
homeless and the children's center. She helped cooked their meals. She helped
do their laundry. She wanted to go into a field helping others. She would have
changed at least one person's life, for the better, when they thought there
was no more hope. She didn't show up last Thursday. She died.
In the months before she was killed, 21-year-old Anke Furber had been acting
scared and she seemed to know she was in danger. Several days after Furber's
charred remains were discovered in a small vineyard in Norcross, Anke's mom,
Ria, found a note in Anke's desk at home in Marietta. In it, Anke seemed to
foreshadow her own death. She wrote, "My parents would surely grieve the loss
of their wonderful daughter whose craziness would soon lead to her slaughter".
Ria isnt sure exactly when the note was written, but believes it was written
in a close time frame to the actual murder.
At 22 years old, Levi had goals and ambitions of being a business owner, a husband
and a father. He loved his family and friends with everything in him and would
do anything for you. His shyness and manners we're a shining attribute to who
he was. Unfortunately, Levi befriended someone who for nearly three years took
advantage of his kindness and when asked to leave his home, he killed him. If
he would have just walked out the door as asked, Levi would still be here today.
We'll never know all the wonderful things that Levi would have accomplished,
but we know he was a "Friend" till the end.
Ephraim was 21 yrs old when he prematurely transitioned to the other side. He
was a very warm hearted young man. And was always available to help friends
and family. As his cousin Ben said about him: "You can lay a 1,000. on the table
and know completely that Ephraim would have never taken it". He spent most of
his days at Antique World in Clarence , NY which was owned and operated by his
Uncle. That was my sons world. A world he will no longer be able to participate
in. He is sorely missed by his family and friends.
Mark suffered a brain injury at the age of 19 the night of a high school prom.
Mark died at the age of 25. Life was hard for Mark, he lived an aphasic life.
Mark struggled to relearn his alphabet and to speak again. Neuro rehab, drug
rehab, jails, institutions and death. Mark was disabled and a fighter all at
the same time. College, heavy equipment operator, volunteering were all part
of these six years. Mark loved kids and wished he had one. Due to the selfish
reasoning of his so called friends, Mark will never be able to achieve his dreams
that he fought so hard for. Mark's struggle is over !! PEACE..........
His friends describe him as a kind, warm hearted, full of energy, always smiling,
and a very silly young man. They also said that whenever Sean walked into a
room that he had the ability lighting up the room because he was full of life
and energy! He loved his dad, his mom, and his sister very much. He had a very
special bond with his great grandma Efford and his great aunt Charlene whom
also up in heaven with him. A warm hug from Sean was just another way that he
showed his affection to his family and friends
When Cayte was in the middle school she was on the track team, she was a cheerleader
for the Nor-Roc Vikings, she was on a soccer team, and she loved attending the
dances at the Sad Cafe. When she went to high school, all of those activities
stopped. The sad reason was because she was too old. All the kids have, once
they reach high school, are the woods and the homes of friends when the parents
are at work. If she had activities to do after school when she went to high
school, maybe this wouldn't have happened.
From her birth to her passing Katty touched so many lives. Not only did her
family have the joy of watching her grow from a 6 pound baby girl to a beautiful
young woman, but so many others did as well. The lives she touched are too many
to fathom. Her beauty and grace preceded her where ever she went. Her heart
was made of fine gold and she cared for others always before herself. She was
not just special to all of us but to the Lord who saw fit to call her home at
such a young age. Her mansion was ready! When we think of Katty now we all can
be at peace because we know she is with her Lord, never to face this harsh world
we live in day to day. She is with us always when we remember her smile, her
touch, and her kind words. We all had the pleasure of being touched by an ANGEL!
We want our son's name to be Remembered and to bring hope and joy out of something
that has been the darkest and heartbreaking days of our families life. JP was
very out spoken and we have decided to be that way on this site and to be his
voice about the drug companies and the public official's that sit back and do
nothing. If we could save one person from what our family had to go Through
and is still going Through, it would be all worth it We will not stop until
the truth gets out. We want his memory to live on.
Time has gone by so quickly and it seems like we haven't seen your face in forever.
Our hearts are broken, our tears flow so freely and our souls feel empty. Michael,
you left us with so many happy memories but the memories can never take your
place. We know you and your uncle Sam are saving a place for those who cherished
you the most.
Two weeks before he died, Chuck called me on the phone. He was excited to tell
me he was joining the National Guard. He had begun to think about being a History
Teacher. He planned to attend school after basic training. He also mentioned
a new girlfriend. He was pretty crazy about her but wanted to give things a
little more time before making her "meet the parents". Still, we made plans
to meet for lunch once July wound down. He thought we might all get together
and told me not to worry, he had a job and would help pay the check. The first
time I met the young lady he was so crazy about was as she cried herself senseless
over his casket. She laid a broken heart chain and necklace across his hands.
She wore the mating half around her slender neck. Her courage in court helped
to solidify the deal that sent a drug dealer to prison. I hope she, and Chuck's
other friends, make the right decision and swear off drug use so we may never
see their faces on these pages.
Everyone ever touched by Miranda. This will be a tribute to the life she lived.
She was the most remarkable and inspirational woman I have ever known. I was
in awe of my own daughter. Even as her mother, her beauty took my breath away,
and as she walked this earth from her crawling stages to adulthood her beauty
from the inside amazed me. Miranda loved about every living thing and each friend
she had she made her relationship with them special and unique.
Jamie was a very loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, boyfriend and friend..
Most importantly he was the best father anyone could have asked for.. Even though
he was only 16 when he was taken away from us from his so called friend, he
did everything for his daughter and mother of his daughter that he had
asked to marry him when he turns 18.. Jamie was the type of kid that would take
his shirt off his back for anyone that needs it.. Jamie died on April
23, 2008.. If only his so called friend (29 yrs old), his mother and the other
people at the home called 911 instead of waiting 3 hours, he would still be
here with us today.. Jamie's dad passed away Nov 2005 and he had a hard time
dealing with loosing his father and could not believe he was gone.. Well now
Jamie is at home with his dad..Until we meet again... I am proud of you my son..Love
you always and forever, Mommy
Kaylin Marie Mathews was born on a Tuesday March 1, 1988. Kaylin was my oldest
child and my only daughter. She could play the piano, guitar, and drums and
loved to sing. She had been "spinning records" the last few years and loved
to mix music. She had been working as a d.j. at the time of her death and was
very good. Kaylin was an only child for 71/2 years. She has one brother and
one sister. She was a talented writer. She made jewelry and she could draw.
There was nothing that my baby couldn't do, if she wanted to. Kaylin was left
to die in a ravine on June 30, 2008. She was found on July 1, 2008. Her date
of death is listed as a Tuesday July 1, 2008. She was 20 years old. I miss her
every second of every day. The world lost an amazing talent and an amazing young
woman. I lost a part of my heart.
R.J. was truly a blessing in our lives. He was the kind of son that most parents
only dream of having. He always respected and obeyed his parents and never got
in trouble. RJ was never in trouble in his life RJ always called home to let
us know where he was and when he would be home. When he was missing and we couldn't
reach him on his cell phone, we knew immediately something terrible was wrong.
This is a nightmare that no parent should have to go through and we are living
it. Our concern is not what we are going through, but what our son had to go
through in his final moments of life.
William Michael Grandchamp better known as Billy, was born Nov 7,1979. HE was
a only child. Billy had many friends. Billy often told his friends that his
MOM was his best friend. Billy liked to collect sports attire like jerseys and
sports caps.Everything he wore had to match. He was meticulous with his clothing,
car, and home. Although, Billy had no children of his own he loved children.
He told me his greatest wish was to find a good girl and settle down and have
a family. That seemed to be very important to him. Even at a young age he had
a gift with children. Billy's friends have always commented on how good he was
with their children and how their children loved him. Billy was loved by so
many people. He had over 800 friends and family members at his wake. Billy will
be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
Chase lived life spontaneously with the freedom of a butterfly – a free spirit
& soul – no one could hold him down, except his baby girl. She was his LIFE.
There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, including getting clean. Chase
was clean 1.5 yrs, after 6 months in residential rehab in New Orleans, continued
with NA meetings, substance abuse group counseling, and sought out a Navy recruiter
who told him all he would have to do to be eligible. He seemed to be on his
way, until he fell off the wagon 12 days out of jail. Turning to heroin again
to deal with stress was the mistake of his life. “Chase’s Story” is shared with
you on his main page. Thanks for taking time to read it. Sincere and heartfelt
thanks to the FDLFD Family for taking us under their wings. “They will sing
me to them, and I will hear.” ~RIP Chase~4evrYng~1985-2009
Katelynn Lillian Porter, 16, of West Elgin, was killed in a car crash on Dunborough
Rd. in Elgin County. “In loving memory of Katelynn Porter. 12/12/09. 9:40 p.m.”
is written between two hearts on the roadside memorial, a makeshift cross. Porter
was a student at West Elgin secondary school, where officials are trying to
come to grips with the news of her death, especially so close to Christmas.
Tony passed away 10 days after his 16th birthday. He asked permission to spend the night at his friends and I told him yes. I told him" I love you" and he replied "I love you too Mom. Tony was the kid who wanted to make everyone laugh. He had such a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart. He would talk to his friends for hours trying to help them solve their problems. He was a loving big brother, and a wonderful son. He would help you with anything without even being asked. Tony was an extremely intelligent child. He was always placed in advanced classes. A week before he passed we received a letter from Columbine informing us that Tony was nominated to participate in their advanced English Program. He had a gift for writing stories.
She loved all things technical and mechanical with her older brother Ian and fashion and decorating days with her older sister Genevieve. She loved Gothic country art, the workings of the human body, video games, driving and her new tattoo machine. She loved swimming and surfing. She loved all things living and loved her dog Timpleton and her parrot Thermopolis. She had a strong heart and soul, was an independent and progressive thinker, open minded and a will power like no one else. Her favorite place to go was Barnes and Noble.
Vivianna Satterfield was 15 years old! Vivi was the type of young lady that put other people in front of herself. She would always say "Peace and Love".
Kelli Laine Lewis is my only daughter. Kelli died when she was 18 after attending a party hosted by 3 adults who offered a $5.00 entry fee to come and drink all you wanted. A pretty tempting offer for teens not old enough to buy alcohol.
Growing up – she had it all. She was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She wShe was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She was always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing. Taylor was a huge fan of Tyler Perry’s Madea. She owned every play and knew every word to every gospel song in the plays. She would sing them at the top of her lungs to anyone that would listen. as always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing.
He went out THE FIRST TIME to celebrate being "LEGAL" with a creep he considered a friend (even though we warned him this guy was not a true friend). My son did not drive so he was picked up about ten thirty. Even when it was obvious my son was having difficulties this creep brought him to his own house , which is 4 houses away for a few hours, and dropped him off here at home in the middle of the night WITHOUT KNOCKING OR CALLING OR WAKING US UP. We found Ben in his bed the next morning when we tried to wake him.
An Act to provide for the monitoring of the prescribing
and dispensing of controlled substances
South Dakota HB 1231
House Testimony
Nancy Kueter and Jessie Kueter
85th Legislative Session 2010
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
P - Present E
- Excused A - Absent
Roll Call P
Gillespie P Heidepriem
P Schmidt P
Turbak Berry P Vehle
P Tieszen, Vice-Chair
P Abdallah, Chair
OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes
The meeting was called to order by Senator
Gene G. Abdallah, Chair.
HB 1231: provide for the monitoring
of the prescribing and dispensing of controlled
substances.
Presented by:
Senator Kathy Miles Proponents:
Nancy Kueter, Rapid City
Jessie Kueter, Rapid City
Dave Hewett, SD Association of Healthcare Organizations
Wade Juracek, self, Gregory
Bob Riter Jr., SD Pharmacists Association
Ronald Huether, self, Sioux Falls
Dean Krogman, SD State Medical Association
Brittany Novotny, SD Nurses Association
Terrance Dosch, SD Council of Substance Abuse
Directors
Charlie McGuigan, Office of the Attorney General
(Handouts: #1)
Representative David Lust
South Dakota House Bill 1231
House Testimony
Prescription drug
abuse on the rise State takes action
to curb trend
Rapid City Mom's Mission
Prescription Drug Monitoring
A Victory To Rapid City Mom
Governor Mike Rounds
has signed into law a bill that creates a prescription
drug monitoring system in South Dakota. It's an effort
to prevent people from "doctor shopping" for medications
that can be abused. Nancy Kueter lost her teenage son
to a prescription drug overdose last June. She says
such a monitoring system could have saved her son, and
she's hopeful it will save others. Kueter says, "Too
many people are dying. Too many kids are dying. They
don't understand what these prescription drugs are doing,
so I'm hoping it'll stop so people will open their eyes."
The new act does not require doctors or pharmacists
to obtain information about a patient from the database
prior to prescribing or dispensing medications but it
does give the pharmacy board the authority to notify
law enforcement or another regulatory agency if it seems
a patient has misused, abused or diverted a controlled
substance.
Prescription drug
abuse on the rise action to curb trend
By Lynn Taylor Rick, Journal
staff
Monday, August 17,
2009
June 18, 2009 Nancy Kueter's 18-year-old
son Dustin died from a prescription drug overdose.
Until that day, Kueter didn't know her son
was abusing prescription drugs. She also didn't
realize just how pervasive prescription drug
abuse has become.
"I just think people
need to know," Kueter said. "If I could save
another kid's life ...."
Dustin died
in his own bedroom from an overdose of the prescription
painkiller oxymorphone. Although he had had
problems with marijuana use as a younger teenager,
he was on probation and underwent frequent drug
testing, Kueter said. He seemed to have turned
the corner, with his recent graduation from
Stevens High School and a new job he loved.
"Actually, I thought he was doing great," Kueter
said.
Kueter believes that the peer pressure
to abuse prescription drugs was just too much
for her son. She said three other people were
in her son's bedroom the night he died. A police
investigation into his death has been closed
without any criminal charges filed, a fact that
frustrates Kueter.
Nationwide, prescription
drug abuse is on the rise. The Office of National
Drug Control Policy calls the increase "a serious
threat to public health and safety."
The three classes of prescription drugs most
commonly abused are opioids, depressants and
stimulants, according to the National Institute
on Drug Abuse. To get the fastest and most potent
high from the drugs, addicts crush the pills
before snorting or smoking them. They also liquefy
and inject the drugs.
Nationwide, unintentional
deaths involving prescription opioids increased
114 percent from 2001 to 2005, and treatment
admissions increased 74 percent in the same
time period.
Deaths from prescription
drug abuse now rank second only to car accidents
as the leading cause of death.
South
Dakota has not escaped the trend, said Craig
Price, supervisory special agent with the South
Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
From 2006 to 2008, statewide drug arrests
have steadily increased for prescription drug
violations. There were 44 arrests for the narcotic
hydrocodone/Vicodin in 2006. By 2008, arrests
had risen to 120.
Arrests for oxycodone/OxyContin
rose from 22 in 2006 to 77 in 2008.
During
the same 2006-2008 period, arrests for the street
drug methamphetamine dropped from 705 to 419.
In 2005, the state of South Dakota began
restricting the sale of medications containing
pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, a key ingredient
in meth. Price said law enforcement officers
speculate that as it became more difficult to
make meth, addicts turned to other drugs.
"Meth traditionally was easily made by anyone,"
Price said.
Laura Lewis, clinical supervisor
at the City/County Alcohol & Drug Programs in
Rapid City, said they, too, have seen an increase
in the number of people seeking treatment for
opiate abuse. From January to December 2007,
22 people were admitted with an opiate addiction.
During the same time period in 2008, the number
rose to 48 people.
And in the past six
weeks, the detox center has admitted one or
two people every week who are addicted to prescription
drugs.
Rapid City Regional Hospital's
emergency department doesn't track specific
drugs in overdose cases, but the hospital experienced
an increase in all drug overdoses -- four during
fiscal year 2007 to 15 in the same corresponding
period in 2009.
With an eye toward the
rising numbers, South Dakota Attorney General
Larry Long took steps last year to address prescription
drug abuse in the state.
He created two
Division of Criminal Investigation positions
to focus solely on investigating prescription
drug abuse.
John Wenande, who worked
previously with the Rapid City Police Department,
took that DCI position at the first of the year.
He investigates all prescription drug crime
in western South Dakota.
Wenande said
based on what he sees now, he expects arrests
for prescription drug violations to double from
2008 to 2009. "We can see the up-tick," he said.
Wenande said one of the most common ways
addicts get prescription drugs is by "doctor
shopping." Addicts visit different physicians,
who unknowingly prescribe the same medications.
The abuser than sells or abuses the drug.
Wenande said prescription narcotics generally
sell for about $1 per milligram on the street,
making them a lucrative venture. He recently
investigated a woman who obtained a prescription
from her doctor because she was experiencing
pain. She then obtained another prescription
from a second doctor. She used the initial prescription
to treat her pain and sold the second bottle
of pills, earning $1,200 a month for a year
before she was caught.
Addicts also forge
prescriptions, alter prescriptions, rob pharmacies
and steal from relatives and strangers. Wenande
said in one local case, visitors to an open
house were stealing medication from the homeowner's
medicine chest.
"It's all walks of life,"
Wenande said.
In addition to hiring two
DCI agents, the attorney general's office is
also planning to implement a prescription drug
database to combat the problem.
DCI agent
Craig Price said the database would mirror the
one used in North Dakota, which requires pharmacists
to log whenever a prescription for a controlled
substance is filled.
Howard Anderson,
executive director of the North Dakota Board
of Pharmacy, said doctors can then electronically
check patients' prescription drug histories.
"The purpose of the program is to provide
better care to those patients taking controlled
substances," Anderson said. "Practitioners are
universally supportive of it. They feel it's
been a real benefit in taking care of their
patients."
The secondary beneficiaries
of the database would be law enforcement, Price
said. Officers could access the database for
ongoing investigations.
Although Kueter
is glad to see the problem being addressed in
South Dakota, the interventions are obviously
too late for her son. And Kueter is convinced
parents don't realize just how many kids are
dabbling in prescription drug abuse.
"A lot of people don't know about it," she said.
"There were just no signs that Dustin was using
these drugs."
She hesitates to offer
advice, saying only that she wants the message
out there so other parents don't face the same
grim reality she did.
"Watch your kids,
and make sure you know who they're really hanging
around with," she said. "I want it to stop."
Commonly abused prescription drugs
y Opioids: Used for their pain-relieving
properties, medications that fall under this
class include morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin,
Percodan, Percocet).
y Depressants: Used
as sedatives and tranquilizers, depressants
slow normal brain function. Some that fall under
this class include barbiturates and benzodiazepines,
such as Valium, Zanax and Halcion.
y
Stimulants: These drugs increase alertness,
attention and energy while elevating blood pressure
and increasing heart rate and respiration. They
are prescribed for treatment of such conditions
as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
narcolepsy and depression.
Addicts take
the prescription drugs in various ways: ingesting,
snorting, smoking and liquefying them and shooting
them intravenously.
Source: The National
Institute on Drug Abuse
Treating prescription
drug abuse
Kicking an addiction to prescription
opiates doesn't come easy or cheap.
Laura
Lewis, clinical supervisor at the City/County
Alcohol & Drug Programs, said the initial stage
of opiate drug detoxification can be excruciating
for an addict.
"When someone comes down
from opiates, it's like getting the flu times
10," Lewis said.
Treatment programs sometime
use the drug Buprenorphine, which can help prevent
withdrawal symptoms. The drug has a low rate
of abuse and addiction, Lewis said.
But
even with the withdrawal symptoms relieved,
addicts still face other challenges.
Lewis said often, an addict began taking the
abused medication for legitimate pain reasons.
That makes it even more difficult to end an
addiction because they still have the pain.
Another challenge: the length of rehabilitation
needed.
Unlike many rehabilitation programs
that last about 30 days, prescription drug addiction
requires six months. It is often too much for
a person to commit to, financially or time-wise.
"They need long term treatment, ... and long-term
treatment isn't cheap," Lewis said.
Because
of those challenges, people with addictions
to prescription narcotic have a high rate of
relapse, Lewis said.
Rapid City,
South Dakota
Mom wants
to compel calls for help
By Julie
Oberlander
Dustin Kueter
A Rapid City mom is on a mission
to save lives. Her teenage son died
from a prescription drug overdose
in June and she says three of his
friends knew he was in trouble but
never called for help. Nancy
Kueter can't change her own son's
story, but she is trying to change
state law in hopes of preventing
something similar from ever happening
again.
Kueter says, "Dustin
was a good, kind-hearted person.
I just, I just can't believe it's
happened." A video made in
his memory takes viewers through
the life of Dustin Kueter.
Dustin was just 18 years old on
June 18 of this year, when he overdosed
on the prescription drug oxymorphone.
His mother Nancy says she still
doesn't know whether he was addicted
to the drug or only took it once,
the one time it killed him.
Nancy says three of his friends
were in his bedroom at the time.
She says they put wet towels on
him and turned him on his side but
never called for help.
Nancy
Kueter says, "They may have been
my son's friends, but they weren't
his true friends because true friends
don't do that. True friends don't
let you die. They call for help
no matter what. No matter what,
if they get in trouble, they'll
call for help. That's what a true
friend would do." State law
in South Dakota doesn't require
people to get help when someone
is in danger or distress, and the
law doesn't punish them if they
don't. Nancy Kueter says it's
time to change that - it's time
to hold people responsible.
She says, "We have nothing in
South Dakota that we have to call
911. We can just leave them, and
I think that's wrong." Nancy
Kueter has contacted several state
lawmakers, including Senator Stan
Adelstein, in hopes of getting the
legislature to change state law
next year. Adelstein said
Monday that he will try to incorporate
the change in South Dakota's existing
Good Samaritan Law ... which basically
says if a person makes a good faith
effort to help someone in danger,
the Good Samaritan is not liable
for damage done while trying to
help.
Prescription Drug Monitoring A Victory
To RC Mom Bookmark and Share Prescription
Drug Monitoring A Victory To RC Mom
By Karla Ramaekers
Published: March 12, 2010, 9:57 PM
RAPID CITY, SD - There are plenty of bills
on Governor Rounds' desk waiting to be signed
into law, but one in particular has the eye
of a Rapid City mother.
We first introduced
you to Nancy Kueter in Eye on KELOLAND. She
lost her son last year to a prescription drug
overdose and is fighting to prevent the same
thing from happening to others. A new South
Dakota law is something she hopes is a step
in that direction.
After losing her son
Dustin to a prescription drug overdose at age
18, Kueter has made it her mission to prevent
other families from suffering the same way.
That's why she testified in front of lawmakers
urging them to pass a bill that would create
a database to monitor prescriptions.
"It was very hard for me, but they needed to
hear what happened to my son because it's not
just happening to my son, it's happening to
many people all over the world and it has got
to stop," Kueter said.
Her testimony
helped the bill pass both the House and the
Senate. It's a law pharmacist Jo Prang has been
hoping for for years.
"When someone new
comes in and we haven't had them as a patient
before, a lot of times we don't know their history.
We are sympathetic to their needs for pain medication
but a lot of pharmacies have been taken advantage
of," Prang said.
It'll prevent prescriptions
from getting into the wrong hands by making
it easier for doctors and pharmacists to track
where and how often prescriptions are being
filled, taking the pills out of the hands of
dealers by limiting their supply.
"It'll
take these drugs out of the market, which is
safer for everybody," Prang said.
It's
something Kueter believes could have prevented
her son's death.
"I think it would've
been harder for him to get a hold of the drugs.
Other states do have this law and it has saved
many people from overdoses," Kueter said.
That is why she is so thankful lawmakers
in Pierre listened to her message.
RAPID CITY, SD - It sounds unthinkable;
watching a friend suffer and not calling for
help. Sadly and shockingly, a growing number
of teens and young adults are dying of drug
overdoses while their friends stand by, too
scared of getting in trouble to seek medical
treatment.
A Rapid City family is fighting
to prevent others from suffering the way they
have by spreading the message that Friends Don't
Let Friends Die.
Last summer, Dustin
Kueter was entering the prime of his life. He
turned 18 in May, had a summer job and was looking
forward to the future.
"He graduated
May 31 from Stevens High School and then he
wanted to be a chef, so I probably would've
had him in school to be a chef," mother Nancy
Kueter said.
But instead of looking at
programs and filing for financial aid, Nancy
Kueter says her son got mixed up with the wrong
people. On June 18, he and his girlfriend were
in his room when another person brought drugs
into the house. Dustin took the pills and started
having an overdose.
"Instead of calling
for help or even coming upstairs to get me up,
they knew he was in a coma, they knew he was
in distress, they knew he was dying, they put
wet towels on him, turned him over, shook him,
and left him," Nancy said.
Dustin's girlfriend
finally went up to his mom's room hours after
Dustin had taken the drugs. When Nancy got to
his bedside, her son was unrecognizable.
"He was already blue and purple, he was
gone. He was long gone," Nancy said.
Dustin was found in his room with a large amount
of prescription pain killer in his system, a
drug that wasn't prescribed to him that no one
is sure he took willingly. That's something
his family never got the chance to ask him.
Now, his mom and sister, Jessie, are left
to wonder if he'd still be here if the people
who said they were his friends would've spoken
up.
"It's horrific, it's disgusting.
What they did to him. Watching him for God knows
how long, hours I believe. It's, I can't even
imagine how they could watch him gasping for
air, in a coma. Shaking," Jessie Kueter said.
Now, the two women have joined a growing
group of families in the Friends Don't Let Friends
Die movement, aimed at raising awareness about
drug overdoses and how important it is for friends
to seek help before it's too late. It's something
they wish Dustin's peers didn't have to learn
the hard way.
"He would want people to
know who their true friends are, and he would
want them to know who they have surrounding
them if they're going to be there to protect
them or not, I think he would want people to
be aware of who their true friends are," Jessie
said.
"I wait for him to come home, I
don't sleep. It makes me sick knowing people
can just watch people die and not get help,"
Nancy said.
An unthinkable reaction to
a problem facing so many that this family hopes
to prevent from happening again.
None
of Dustin's friends have been charged for possessing
or using prescription drugs.
Find more
information on the Friends Don't Let Friends
Die movement online.
Danielle cherished family, friends and life. She had her whole life planned
out; her husband, number of kids, two dogs and would be a dermatologist, a career
where she could help others but have time for her family. 
Christi had just enrolled in college. She just began taking First Baptist Church
shuttles downtown every Thursday to befriend the homeless. Just chit chatting
with them and letting them know they had a friend. In her journals, she was
determined to turn her life around and she started by helping others. She volunteered
often for the M.U.S.T. Ministries to help set up their clothing shop for the
homeless and the children's center. She helped cooked their meals. She helped
do their laundry. She wanted to go into a field helping others. She would have
changed at least one person's life, for the better, when they thought there
was no more hope. She didn't show up last Thursday. She died. 
In the months before she was killed, 21-year-old Anke Furber had been acting
scared and she seemed to know she was in danger. Several days after Furber's
charred remains were discovered in a small vineyard in Norcross, Anke's mom,
Ria, found a note in Anke's desk at home in Marietta. In it, Anke seemed to
foreshadow her own death. She wrote, "My parents would surely grieve the loss
of their wonderful daughter whose craziness would soon lead to her slaughter".
Ria isnt sure exactly when the note was written, but believes it was written
in a close time frame to the actual murder. 
At 22 years old, Levi had goals and ambitions of being a business owner, a husband
and a father. He loved his family and friends with everything in him and would
do anything for you. His shyness and manners we're a shining attribute to who
he was. Unfortunately, Levi befriended someone who for nearly three years took
advantage of his kindness and when asked to leave his home, he killed him. If
he would have just walked out the door as asked, Levi would still be here today.
We'll never know all the wonderful things that Levi would have accomplished,
but we know he was a "Friend" till the end. 
Ephraim was 21 yrs old when he prematurely transitioned to the other side. He
was a very warm hearted young man. And was always available to help friends
and family. As his cousin Ben said about him: "You can lay a 1,000. on the table
and know completely that Ephraim would have never taken it". He spent most of
his days at Antique World in Clarence , NY which was owned and operated by his
Uncle. That was my sons world. A world he will no longer be able to participate
in. He is sorely missed by his family and friends. 
Mark suffered a brain injury at the age of 19 the night of a high school prom.
Mark died at the age of 25. Life was hard for Mark, he lived an aphasic life.
Mark struggled to relearn his alphabet and to speak again. Neuro rehab, drug
rehab, jails, institutions and death. Mark was disabled and a fighter all at
the same time. College, heavy equipment operator, volunteering were all part
of these six years. Mark loved kids and wished he had one. Due to the selfish
reasoning of his so called friends, Mark will never be able to achieve his dreams
that he fought so hard for. Mark's struggle is over !! PEACE.......... 
His friends describe him as a kind, warm hearted, full of energy, always smiling,
and a very silly young man. They also said that whenever Sean walked into a
room that he had the ability lighting up the room because he was full of life
and energy! He loved his dad, his mom, and his sister very much. He had a very
special bond with his great grandma Efford and his great aunt Charlene whom
also up in heaven with him. A warm hug from Sean was just another way that he
showed his affection to his family and friends 
When Cayte was in the middle school she was on the track team, she was a cheerleader
for the Nor-Roc Vikings, she was on a soccer team, and she loved attending the
dances at the Sad Cafe. When she went to high school, all of those activities
stopped. The sad reason was because she was too old. All the kids have, once
they reach high school, are the woods and the homes of friends when the parents
are at work. If she had activities to do after school when she went to high
school, maybe this wouldn't have happened. 
From her birth to her passing Katty touched so many lives. Not only did her
family have the joy of watching her grow from a 6 pound baby girl to a beautiful
young woman, but so many others did as well. The lives she touched are too many
to fathom. Her beauty and grace preceded her where ever she went. Her heart
was made of fine gold and she cared for others always before herself. She was
not just special to all of us but to the Lord who saw fit to call her home at
such a young age. Her mansion was ready! When we think of Katty now we all can
be at peace because we know she is with her Lord, never to face this harsh world
we live in day to day. She is with us always when we remember her smile, her
touch, and her kind words. We all had the pleasure of being touched by an ANGEL!
We want our son's name to be Remembered and to bring hope and joy out of something
that has been the darkest and heartbreaking days of our families life. JP was
very out spoken and we have decided to be that way on this site and to be his
voice about the drug companies and the public official's that sit back and do
nothing. If we could save one person from what our family had to go Through
and is still going Through, it would be all worth it We will not stop until
the truth gets out. We want his memory to live on. 
Time has gone by so quickly and it seems like we haven't seen your face in forever.
Our hearts are broken, our tears flow so freely and our souls feel empty. Michael,
you left us with so many happy memories but the memories can never take your
place. We know you and your uncle Sam are saving a place for those who cherished
you the most. 
Two weeks before he died, Chuck called me on the phone. He was excited to tell
me he was joining the National Guard. He had begun to think about being a History
Teacher. He planned to attend school after basic training. He also mentioned
a new girlfriend. He was pretty crazy about her but wanted to give things a
little more time before making her "meet the parents". Still, we made plans
to meet for lunch once July wound down. He thought we might all get together
and told me not to worry, he had a job and would help pay the check. The first
time I met the young lady he was so crazy about was as she cried herself senseless
over his casket. She laid a broken heart chain and necklace across his hands.
She wore the mating half around her slender neck. Her courage in court helped
to solidify the deal that sent a drug dealer to prison. I hope she, and Chuck's
other friends, make the right decision and swear off drug use so we may never
see their faces on these pages. 
Everyone ever touched by Miranda. This will be a tribute to the life she lived.
She was the most remarkable and inspirational woman I have ever known. I was
in awe of my own daughter. Even as her mother, her beauty took my breath away,
and as she walked this earth from her crawling stages to adulthood her beauty
from the inside amazed me. Miranda loved about every living thing and each friend
she had she made her relationship with them special and unique. 
Jamie was a very loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, boyfriend and friend..
Most importantly he was the best father anyone could have asked for.. Even though
he was only 16 when he was taken away from us from his so called friend, he
did everything for his daughter and mother of his daughter that he had
asked to marry him when he turns 18.. Jamie was the type of kid that would take
his shirt off his back for anyone that needs it.. Jamie died on April
23, 2008.. If only his so called friend (29 yrs old), his mother and the other
people at the home called 911 instead of waiting 3 hours, he would still be
here with us today.. Jamie's dad passed away Nov 2005 and he had a hard time
dealing with loosing his father and could not believe he was gone.. Well now
Jamie is at home with his dad..Until we meet again... I am proud of you my son..Love
you always and forever, Mommy 
Kaylin Marie Mathews was born on a Tuesday March 1, 1988. Kaylin was my oldest
child and my only daughter. She could play the piano, guitar, and drums and
loved to sing. She had been "spinning records" the last few years and loved
to mix music. She had been working as a d.j. at the time of her death and was
very good. Kaylin was an only child for 71/2 years. She has one brother and
one sister. She was a talented writer. She made jewelry and she could draw.
There was nothing that my baby couldn't do, if she wanted to. Kaylin was left
to die in a ravine on June 30, 2008. She was found on July 1, 2008. Her date
of death is listed as a Tuesday July 1, 2008. She was 20 years old. I miss her
every second of every day. The world lost an amazing talent and an amazing young
woman. I lost a part of my heart. 
R.J. was truly a blessing in our lives. He was the kind of son that most parents
only dream of having. He always respected and obeyed his parents and never got
in trouble. RJ was never in trouble in his life RJ always called home to let
us know where he was and when he would be home. When he was missing and we couldn't
reach him on his cell phone, we knew immediately something terrible was wrong.
This is a nightmare that no parent should have to go through and we are living
it. Our concern is not what we are going through, but what our son had to go
through in his final moments of life. 
William Michael Grandchamp better known as Billy, was born Nov 7,1979. HE was
a only child. Billy had many friends. Billy often told his friends that his
MOM was his best friend. Billy liked to collect sports attire like jerseys and
sports caps.Everything he wore had to match. He was meticulous with his clothing,
car, and home. Although, Billy had no children of his own he loved children.
He told me his greatest wish was to find a good girl and settle down and have
a family. That seemed to be very important to him. Even at a young age he had
a gift with children. Billy's friends have always commented on how good he was
with their children and how their children loved him. Billy was loved by so
many people. He had over 800 friends and family members at his wake. Billy will
be greatly missed by all his family and friends. 
Chase lived life spontaneously with the freedom of a butterfly – a free spirit
& soul – no one could hold him down, except his baby girl. She was his LIFE.
There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for her, including getting clean. Chase
was clean 1.5 yrs, after 6 months in residential rehab in New Orleans, continued
with NA meetings, substance abuse group counseling, and sought out a Navy recruiter
who told him all he would have to do to be eligible. He seemed to be on his
way, until he fell off the wagon 12 days out of jail. Turning to heroin again
to deal with stress was the mistake of his life. “Chase’s Story” is shared with
you on his main page. Thanks for taking time to read it. Sincere and heartfelt
thanks to the FDLFD Family for taking us under their wings. “They will sing
me to them, and I will hear.” ~RIP Chase~4evrYng~1985-2009 
Katelynn Lillian Porter, 16, of West Elgin, was killed in a car crash on Dunborough
Rd. in Elgin County. “In loving memory of Katelynn Porter. 12/12/09. 9:40 p.m.”
is written between two hearts on the roadside memorial, a makeshift cross. Porter
was a student at West Elgin secondary school, where officials are trying to
come to grips with the news of her death, especially so close to Christmas.
Tony passed away 10 days after his 16th birthday. He asked permission to spend the night at his friends and I told him yes. I told him" I love you" and he replied "I love you too Mom. Tony was the kid who wanted to make everyone laugh. He had such a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart. He would talk to his friends for hours trying to help them solve their problems. He was a loving big brother, and a wonderful son. He would help you with anything without even being asked. Tony was an extremely intelligent child. He was always placed in advanced classes. A week before he passed we received a letter from Columbine informing us that Tony was nominated to participate in their advanced English Program. He had a gift for writing stories.
She loved all things technical and mechanical with her older brother Ian and fashion and decorating days with her older sister Genevieve. She loved Gothic country art, the workings of the human body, video games, driving and her new tattoo machine. She loved swimming and surfing. She loved all things living and loved her dog Timpleton and her parrot Thermopolis. She had a strong heart and soul, was an independent and progressive thinker, open minded and a will power like no one else. Her favorite place to go was Barnes and Noble.
Vivianna Satterfield was 15 years old! Vivi was the type of young lady that put other people in front of herself. She would always say "Peace and Love".
Kelli Laine Lewis is my only daughter. Kelli died when she was 18 after attending a party hosted by 3 adults who offered a $5.00 entry fee to come and drink all you wanted. A pretty tempting offer for teens not old enough to buy alcohol.
Growing up – she had it all. She was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She wShe was smart and witty - she could come up with a jovial comeback in almost any conversation or situation. She was always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing. Taylor was a huge fan of Tyler Perry’s Madea. She owned every play and knew every word to every gospel song in the plays. She would sing them at the top of her lungs to anyone that would listen. as always photographing everything and always laughing. She had an infectious laugh, loud and squeaky, but incredibly endearing.
He went out THE FIRST TIME to celebrate being "LEGAL" with a creep he considered a friend (even though we warned him this guy was not a true friend). My son did not drive so he was picked up about ten thirty. Even when it was obvious my son was having difficulties this creep brought him to his own house , which is 4 houses away for a few hours, and dropped him off here at home in the middle of the night WITHOUT KNOCKING OR CALLING OR WAKING US UP. We found Ben in his bed the next morning when we tried to wake him.
