Three young sisters killed in a farm accident last week were remembered by their parents Wednesday as the “best girls in the world” and celebrated for their similarities and differences.
“They all really enjoyed the farm activities like camping, fishing, quading, horseback riding,” said their mother, Bonita Bott, with husband Roger by her side.
“We did more of that this summer than we have in other summers and I’m so thankful we got to do that.”
Twin sisters Dara, and Jana, 11, and older sister Catie, 13, were playing on a truck loaded with canola at a rural property 15 kilometres east of Rocky Mountain House last Tuesday when they fell in and were buried by the seed. Family and friends managed to pull the girls out of the grain and performed CPR until emergency crews arrived, but RCMP said two of the girls were pronounced dead at the scene. Dara died the next day in hospital.
READ MORE: Alberta’s agricultural community responds to farm tragedy
Bonita Bott said her daughters were a big help around the farm, helping with yard work or preparing meals like fried chicken, chili and spuds—“the whole works.”
“They loved family outings and spending time with their cousins,” she said. “They loved to be involved in community events and helping out here in the kitchen with cooking or decorating.”
“They had similar things in common but were very different from each other.”
Roger Bott remembered his first-born child, Catie, as a vibrant girl.
“She was totally embracing becoming a young woman,” he said. “She was consciously working at being mature and responsible. She was honest and trustworthy and we had a great relationship.”
Roger said she frequently sat on a horse on the farm, reading a book.
“One thing her siblings said about her was, ‘Catie, you read too much,’” added Bonita. “She would read and read and read.”
WATCH: Roger and Bonita Bott speak for first time since the tragic death of their three daughters.
The pair said the younger girls wanted to be seen as individuals.
“Janna—she was a bit quieter in nature…she was gentle with everyone,” said Roger. “She was a really good friend. …She loved practising piano and actually looked forward to lesson day. She had a fantastic work ethic when it came to her schoolwork. She was our craft girl. She loved to do crafts and sewing and all that stuff.”
Bonita said Dara was more outgoing, and was a determined, persistent hard worker.
“If there was job to be done, Dara was my girl. Just the other week I told her that, ‘you know honey, you’re going to be a really good mom some day. And you’re really going to know how to run a household, and you’re going to do a good job of it.’ She had natural leadership qualities.”
Roger spoke of the day the twins were born, when Dara—determined to be different, he said—“couldn’t be born on the same day as her sister” and arrived after midnight.
“True to the end, she couldn’t even pass away with the rest of her sisters. She had to wait ’til the next day to pass away. She was very individual.”
The Botts and their nine-year-old son, Caleb, said they’re confident the young girls are with Jesus.
“God is a very big part of our lives,” said Roger. “We’ve raised our kids, and will continue to raise Caleb, in learning from the Bible and what it says about living life here and how to get to heaven when we die.
“We’re not concerned about where they are, we’re looking forward to when we’ll see them again.”
A friend of the family has set up a Bott Family Trust GoFundMe page that has topped $117,000, and the Innisfail Auction Market brought in more than $31,000 with a cattle auction. Family friend and neighbour Dave Brand said a weekend motorcycle ride raised more than $23,000.
“We’ve enjoyed reading the supportive comments on Facebook and the GoFundMe page,” said Roger. “We’re unbelievably humbled by everything.”
A funeral will be held Friday at Crossroads Church in Red Deer at 1 p.m.
“It’s here and now we’re faced with, and this is where we’re at with our family today—a week later,” said Roger. “In our minds, there’s only one option for us to get through this, and that’s with Jesus.”
READ MORE: Family of sisters killed in Alberta farm tragedy speak about their loss
With a file from Caley Ramsay
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