The sunset had faded, and Mount Rainier had dimmed out of sight by 5 p.m. Sunday, and people were still walking up from the town to the Eatonville Early Learning Center’s parking lot.
They were coming to honor Margaret Anderson, a Mount Rainier National Park ranger killed on a sunny New Year’s Day morning. She had set up a blockade to stop a driver who had run a tire-chain checkpoint. He shot her, and she died of her wounds, leaving a husband and two daughters, ages 1 and 3.
On Sunday evening, police, neighbors, people who had never met her, came to pay their respects at a vigil hosted by the Anderson girls’ day care.
People were drawing close to hear the speakers when Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor estimated their number at 150 to 200, with more arriving.
Faith Baptist Church’s Pastor Joe Koehler asked for silence and began the vigil with a prayer.
Margaret and Eric Anderson were both park rangers, and Koehler knew them in his capacity as chaplain for Pierce County Fire District 23. They had, he said, spoken of God and risk and duty. Margaret, the daughter of a Lutheran minister, had told him that she had been a person of strong faith since childhood.
“She was a cop because of her faith,” he said. “She was a ranger because of her faith. Because Jesus loved her, she loved others. She was willing to give her life for others. … Because she loved the Lord and he protected her, she loved and protected you.”
Now, he said, the Anderson family is grateful for the love and comfort people have shown.
A score of Eatonville residents signed a remembrance posted in the town hall.
Friends have credited Anderson’s calm professionalism with keeping the shooter from getting farther into the park.
On Saturday evening, Deana Simons brought dinner – chicken alfredo, garlic bread and green beans – to the Anderson home, as Eatonville friends have been doing since the shooting. Relatives, clergy and law enforcement colleagues have been keeping watch with, and over, Eric Anderson and their two young daughters.
“There have been 25 people taking meals at the house,” Simons said. “Last night, there were only 12.”
Among them were Margaret’s parents, the Rev. Paul and Dorothy Kritsch of New Jersey. They attended the vigil with their son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Karen Kritsch, and their surviving daughter, Sarah Beylon, all of Wisconsin.
On behalf of the family, Beylon thanked the mourners, and spoke of a sister who had a graceful way of teaching by example and kindness, even with something as mundane as jogging.
Eric Anderson came by briefly, and without introduction, before returning to his daughters.
“I would like to express our thanks for the outpouring of love beyond compare,” he wrote in a statement read by Koehler. “We take comfort in knowing how loved Margaret was.”
That love showed itself in the preparations for the vigil.
Neighbors Dara Zurfluh, Carri Korvanda, Kay Tucker and Kelli Loudin arranged the program. They brought their daughters to help with the candles, the baskets for remembrances, the flowers. Emily Randolph, who brought fellow students from Eatonville High School, sang “Amazing Grace” and brought some members of the crowd to tears.
Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677 kathleen.merryman@thenewstribune.com
Service for slain park ranger
SERVICE: A memorial service for ranger Margaret Anderson will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Pacific Lutheran University’s Olson Auditorium, 1010 122nd Street S., Parkland.
Public: The National Park Service is asking the general public to attend the service at an overflow venue so rangers and law enforcement officers can pack the auditorium. The overflow venue is at Rainier View Christian Church, 12305 Spanaway Loop Road, Tacoma. A live feed will be shown at the church.
PROCESSION: The procession leading up to the service will end at PLU about 10 a.m. It starts at Mountain View Funeral Home on Steilacoom Boulevard, then heads south on South Tacoma Way to state Route 512. Here is the rest of the route:
• State Route 512 east to Pacific Avenue.
• South on Pacific to 121st Street South.
• West on 121st to 12th Avenue South.
• South on 12th to Wheeler Street.
• West on Wheeler to Sheridan Avenue.
• South on Sheridan to Garfield Street.
• East on Garfield to 12th Avenue South.
• South on 12th to 124th Street South.
• East on 124th to Olson Auditorium.
DONATIONS: The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to KeyBank, PO Box 159, Eatonville, WA 98328. Checks should be made out to the Margaret Anderson Donation Account.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.