Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Oct 22/01) - Nobody knew last Monday just how soon Daniel Lomen and Sally Bertrand's lives would be taken.

Like them, Senator Nick Sibbeston was in Ndilo last week for a pipeline signing ceremony. Afterwards, dinner was served to the delegates at the community gymnasium.

"I went over to where Daniel and all the Liard delegation were, and I said in Slavey, 'My relatives, I'll eat with you guys.'" Sibbeston recalled. "I ended up spending almost an hour talking with them, laughing and joking... I was so surprised to hear that 10 or 12 hours later they had crashed and died."

That same sense of shock resonated through Fort Liard as word of the devastating accident quickly spread Tuesday morning. The plane carrying six people had completed the vast majority of the flight, only to plummet destructively on to a sandbar a few kilometres short of the Fort Liard runway.

Community members are now coming to terms with the overwhelming sense of loss.

Acho Dene Koe sub-chief Jim Duntra remembers Daniel Lomen, 61, as a man who was still involved in traditional practices and proud of his strong Dene values. He had been donating his time to help fellow elders fix a cabin, Duntra noted.

"He was always there for people," Duntra said.

Daniel had been honoured by the community in June -- along with elder Stanley Bertrand, who survived Monday's crash -- for his 33 years of band council service. He had also served as chief for five years.

"He had a strong way of saying things," Duntra said. "He's always been straightforward. If he wanted something done, he'd talk about it and then he'd get it done."

Daniel is survived by his wife, Lucy and five children -- Ester, Margie, Kirk, Gregory and Donald, and their families.

Sally Bertrand, 33, leaves behind her husband, Eric Bertrand, and three children -- Samantha, Erica and Harry.

Pauline Simba was friends with Sally since the 1980s when they had attended school in Fort Simpson.

"She was a very good friend and a very good mother," Simba said.

In particular, Sally enjoyed spending time with her family at their cabin in the bush. Pauline went to visit her there during a recent vacation.

"She wanted to stay there longer. She really liked it on the land," she recalled.

Sally's pleasant personality and infectious laughter endeared her to her friends and to those at the Acho Dene Koe band office, where she worked as band manager.

"She always joked around," said Simba. "She'll be missed."

Funeral services for Daniel Lomen and Sally Bertrand are scheduled for today in Fort Liard.

A service for Sean Toner was held Friday in Edmonton. Toner was the fiance of Fort Liard's Kim Deneron, who survived the crash. He had worked with Beaver Enterprises, an Acho Dene Koe-owned oil and gas service sector company.