MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Loved ones will gather Thursday to say goodbye to one of three Minnesota National Guard members killed in a helicopter crash.
Chief Warrant Officers James Rogers Jr. and Charles Nord, and Sgt. Kort Plantenberg died when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed in central Minnesota last week.
READ MORE: Police: Body Found In Trunk Of Car In Mound, 2 ArrestedPlantenberg’s funeral is slated for Thursday afternoon at St. John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville. His family says they will remember the 28-year-old’s love of flying.
The helicopter crash happened on Dec. 5. The three guardsmen were on a maintenance test flight from St. Cloud when the helicopter crashed near a farm in Kimball.
A team of investigators is working to figure out what went wrong.
READ MORE: Woman Seriously Injured After 3-Story Fall At Fruen MillFlags have been ordered to fly at half-staff Thursday in honor of Plantenberg.
Funerals for Rogers and Nord are scheduled for next week.
Deerwood Bank has partnered with the non-profit Central MN Warrior to Citizen to set up a memorial fund for the soldiers. Donations may be sent to:
“Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Memorial Fund”
Deerwood Bank
P.O. Box 337
Waite Park, MN 56387
Donations may also be dropped off at any Deerwood Bank location.
