Cambridge Bay (June 16/03) - Trying her best to stay composed, a tearful Mary Marqniq remembered her husband, Robert Marqniq, as a great father and hunter.

Robert Marqniq loved everything about hunting, including polar bears. He was out on a fishing trip when he fell through a large crack in the ice and died outside Cambridge Bay last week. - photo courtesy of Mary Marqniq

Robert Marqniq, 41, fell through a crack in the ice and died while fishing outside Cambridge Bay, June 6.

"I'm doing a lot better," said Mary, as her family bustled in the background at her Taloyoak home on Thursday.

"He was a good man," she said softly, trying to convey her feelings as best she could. "He was a good hunter, a good dad, a good grandfather. He was a good friend to everybody," she said, her voice wavering with emotion. "He was a good Ranger."

Marqniq was a Ranger from Taloyoak and an avid hunter who knew the land well.

But while snowmobiling outside of Cambridge Bay last week, Robert went missing.

The tracks of his snowmobile were later traced by the RCMP to a six-foot deep crack in the ice outside of Windy Lake Camp, 136 kilometres south of Cambridge Bay.

"The head of our search and rescue group was able to follow his tracks to this crevice," said Sgt. Gary Peck in Cambridge Bay. "There was a sign of clothing items in the water still. And they were his," he said.

After spending a day fishing, police said Robert somehow got separated from his travelling partner.

The deep ridge in the ice that claimed Robert's life was almost invisible to the eye.

Robert was also travelling at high speed. His body remains in the icy water.

The family understands the difficulty rescuers face, said Peck. The water is deep and the current strong.

"We've spoken to them," said Peck of Robert's family. "They understand the ways in the North."

Peck added that rescuers will continue to monitor the area to see if retrieving Robert's body is possible.

For now, Mary continues to draw strength and comfort from her family and friends.

The Marqniqs had three girls and one boy, as well as two adopted kids and two grandchildren.

They've known great happiness over the years -- going out on the land, camping, and "doing everything together," Mary recalled.

But the family has also been touched by sadness before.

The couple's youngest daughter, Amanda, passed away in February. The news last week was almost too much for Mary to bear.

"I was really shocked. I couldn't believe it. It's like a dream. But lots of people are helping me. I'm doing a lot better."

She hasn't been out to her husband's icy grave yet to say goodbye. She wanted to go last week, but it looks like the soonest she'll be able to go is next month.

About her husband, Mary simply misses "everything," she said slowly. "Hunting, camping, doing anything together. Going out on the land, travelling, anything. Any kind of hunting, he would go," she said as her voice trailed off, unable to say anymore.