Spencer's Story 08/30/2009
Introduction Spencer Nastrom lost his wife Janelle on May 5th 2009. Janelle, a beautiful 24 year old woman, succumbed, after a month long fight, to a rare form of strep, leaving behind 3 little girls who Spencer will now raise alone. Now nearly 4 months removed from Janelle’s death, Spencer, Morgan (6), Madison (4) and McKenna (3) work day by day to build their new life together. The tragedy of losing his wife marks the third major event in Spencer’s world that, over the course of nearly 15 years has catapulted his life, his faith in God, and his will to survive to a level equaled only by the strongest of men. In 1996, at the age of 16, his mother Sandy and his 5 year old brother John, disappeared under mysterious circumstances near the Missouri River in Bismarck, although presumed dead, hope still exists in the unanswered questions that surround them. In 2005, his father Vern was murdered and found in a ditch on a low maintenance road near Tuttle, ND. And in 2009, he lost the love of his life and his best friend. This is Spencer’s story. Sandy It was a cold and sleeting November night in 1996, no snow on the ground yet, but still cold enough to form ice along the edges of Bismarck’s wide and flowing Missouri River. Sandy had been acting strange that evening and she was worried about many things. Three months prior she had left her second husband Alan, and was living with her 2 children, John and Spencer in Center, ND. Sandy worked for the ND Department of Transportation, commuting daily to Bismarck and spent many evenings at her mother Bernice’s home. It had been a troubling day for her already, and her mind was racing, scared, worried,… fearful. John was with her and Spencer was spending the night at a friends. Over the course of the evening at Bernice’s, her mother knew something was not quite right with Sandy. She was scared of something or someone. At about 8:30, Sandy got up to go. “Mom, I’m going to fill gas. I’ll be right back” Sandy and John walked out the door. 9:00, 9:30, 9:45 – No sign of Sandy. Bernice worried and by 10:00 called the police to report her missing. The way she was acting that night was strange and Bernice had a strong sense of fear in her heart. The police finally called on Sunday evening, nearly 24 hours later, Sandy’s car was found near the river in the Meriwether's parking lot, door left wide open. The car was first noticed early that morning by a man driving down River Road on his way to church. On his way back, seeing the car still sitting there with its door open, he called the police to make a report. When the police arrived on the scene there was no sign of either Sandy or John. Her purse was still in the car, the keys were in the ignition and sitting on the front seat was a receipt from the gas station. She hadfilled gas that night. But on that cold dark November evening, the detectives assumed the worst as they gazed out onto the icy shore of the big Missouri River. Over the next few days and nights, searches were conducted near the river and at Pioneer Park, and a dive team was sent into the frigid waters in hopes of locating anything. But nothing was found, and Sandy and John remain missing to this day. Spencer had just turned 16. For the next few years, Spencer lived with his grandmother Bernice in Bismarck who cared for him and raised him through the remainder of his teens. Losing his mother and his little brother was traumatic, especially with no closure and no knowledge of what actually happened that night. Theories and ideas come and go, the investigation still goes on, but the facts are still muddy and we may never know what became of Sandy and John. Did they walk into that icy river? – Were they taken? – Are they in hiding? These questions are painful, not just because we don’t know, but because there is a part of Spencer that still believes they are out there, and they are coming home. Love It was in 2002, on Main Street in Bismarck, that Spencer met the woman who would eventually help to fill this void in his life, give him companionship and help him, for at least moments, forget about the pain of the past and look to the future. Janelle Kramlich was a beautiful 17 year girl when they first met, within 2 years, their first daughter Morgan was born and 2 years later a second daughter, Madison came into the world. Janelle and Spence began to build a family. He worked for Sykes in Bismarck, and she stayed home to raise the kids. For them, the future was their children and their world revolved around them. As the years moved on, the pain from the past slowly and partially faded. The agony of the events in 1996 became further and further away. Working, raising a family and forging a new life helped Spencer to look toward a future happiness that comes from the fulfillment of being a part of something bigger than yourself. Answers The memories were not gone though, and the questions were still un-answered. It was on an October night, in 2005 that Spencer searched for those answers in a new place. He was troubled that evening, and Janelle knew it. He talked and his mind raced as the thoughts of his mother and his little brother consumed him. John would be 14 years old now. Spencer wanted answers, and, to this point, no-one could provide them. He deserved answers, his mother and brother were gone 9 years without a clue, without any new hope. It was the illuminated sign of a cross on the side of a church, seen through his living room window that suddenly called to him. As if the solution to all of his problems rode to him on a beam of light from blocks away, Spencer knew now that there was one un-touched source of information, one new place he could look. Spencer prayed, and the next morning, Sunday, October 2nd 2005, he went to church. What happened that morning would change his life forever. A rush of fresh air came over him as he openly wept in the back row of seats at Evangel Temple in Bismarck. People were going to the front and praying, but he was too scared to get up in front of everyone. Spencer’s emotion was visible and quickly noticed by those around him. A man sitting next to him leaned over “Do you want me to pray for you?” “Yes” Spencer replied. This man, never knowing Spencer, and not knowing anything about him, reached out and offered him the power of prayer. And in this moment, although he didn’t receive a resolution to every un-answered question, what he did receive, was a path. A new path, a new found faith in God and a new strength came to Spencer that morning in that church. Vern Excited about what he had discovered, Spencer rushed down to his Grandmothers house to tell her all about it. He wanted to express his new found faith, because now, he believed he was on the right course. God, he felt, was speaking to him. As he sat in his Grandmothers house that Sunday telling her about his experience, two police officers appeared at her door. “Spencer, your father, Vern, was found murdered this morning. About a mile north of Tuttle” Vern Nastrom, was found in a ditch on a maintenance road near a barbed wire fence. He had been run over by his own car and died of blunt trauma to the head and chest. To this day, the case remains open, and whoever murdered Spencer’s dad, is still out there. Spencer had now lost both of his parents, both to unexplained circumstances. He was 24 years old. He went to God looking for answers, but what he received was more important, more useful. He received strength. Janelle Within a year, Janelle and Spencer’s third daughter was born, McKenna. And in 2007, Spencer and Janelle were finally married at New Song church in Bismarck. Spencer had his Wife, his Children and the Lord. But he would need his faith again. It was late March 2009, Janelle had been sick, really sick. Over the years she had various problems and the doctors diagnosed her with “Fibromyalgia”, which is basically defined as “Medically Unexplained Chronic Pain”. But this week in March was different. As the days moved into April, Janelle got sicker and sicker and on April 3rd she went into the emergency room. They sent her home. On April 4th, again, she went into the emergency room, she couldn’t breathe. They sent her home. That evening, it worsened. “Spence, I’m dying. I have to go back” “They keep sending you home. Demand to stay tonight” Janelle’s father Randy picked her up that night and brought her back to the emergency room. This time, they let her stay and within hours she went into a coma and was placed in ICU. It was a Sunday night and she never fully woke up again The doctors didn’t know what was wrong until Wednesday when they determined that her lungs were attacked by a rare form of the Strep Bacteria called “Group A Strep”. Her lungs were so damaged that she had to be placed on a breathing machine. Eventually they were able to get her on strong antibiotics that would help to fight off the infection, but the damage to her lungs was done. Over the next few days the doctors Bismarck worked on her to try to get her strength back and give her body a chance to heal, but to no avail, and eventually it was determined that they would need to send her to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She was to be transported by airplane to Rochester from Bismarck and Spencer went along for the flight. Transporting a critical patient can be dangerous, and in this case, even more so because of the breathing machine and oxygen she required. Spencer got into the airplane, holding his bible. As they ascended into the North Dakota skies, he prayed to God that Janelle would make the trip. Over and over Spencer prayed, clutching his bible, while the paramedics hand-pumped the ventilator that was keeping her alive. It was 20 minutes outside of Rochester when something went wrong. “We need to land” the paramedic yelled to the pilot. He repeated himself forcefully “WE NEED TO LAND!” They prepared to land and called ahead for an ambulance to meet them. Janelle was critical. When they touched ground in the small town of Owatonna, MN, there was no ambulance there. Their only choice now was to take off again and complete the final 20 minutes left to reach Rochester. “WHAT DO WE NEED?” Spencer yelled to the paramedic. “You keep doing what you’re doing, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing. We need a miracle”. The plane took off. They made it to Rochester, landed and worked on Janelle in the ambulance at the airport before she was stable enough to transport to the hospital. Although she made it to Mayo, the damage to her body had been too great. And within a few weeks her organs began to shut down. On the morning of May 5th, 2009, Janelle Nastrom, just 24 years old, lost her month-long battle and passed away, hundreds of miles from home, in a hospital bed in Minnesota, with Spencer by her side, clutching her hand as she took her final breath. . . . . . . . . . Story by Eric Kubischta: ekubischta@gmail.com CommentsHunt Boustead Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:01:41 I am so sorry about all these horrible events for Spencer and also today, to Spencers wonderful children. I pray justice for the family from our Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only true Judge. The one who knows ALL things. Jesus loves the family and will do something amazing about the hardship (injustice) caused against them. Tammy Chester Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:38:22 I pray that this family finds peace with Christ. My heart goes out to Spencer and his 3 little girls. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Cheri Haaland Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:53:32 Many prayers and much strength go out to Spencer and his girls. This story gave me goosebumps. I hope he can find and hold onto the strength needed for his kids. God Bless. Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:15:22 I am so truly sorry about what this man has went through with all of his losses. I myself have dealt with the loss of two siblings and have been told so many times that God only gives you what you can handle. How much can this man take? And his poor little girls. I am so sorry, I hope your faith can get your through these dark times and always know you are never alone. Everyone's situation is different but when one deals with losses of such close and young loved ones it makes a heart skip many beats. The days don't stop and life just seems to go on without thinking about your sadness. Your three girls I am sure are so proud of their daddy. You and your girls are so loved in this world and always know that their mommy is still there, in them. Again I am so sorry, you are being prayed for every moment of the day. God bless. Cindy Barnhardt Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:31:49 Although Spencer has lost so much I believe he is a beacon for others who are going through troubled times. His faith in God has helped him through incredibly difficult life events. My prayers are with him and his family as they heal and maybe find answers to the questions they surely have. Liz Lang Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:01:39 Janelle is one of my husbands cousins. This event has been very devistating and everyday before, during and after the events of Janelle's passing we have prayed for you, June and Randy, her siblings and your daughters. Everyday I pass by your picture in the hallway and say I love you. Please know that we are still praying for you and you have not been forgotten. Tiffany Behnke Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:57:58 Spencer, There is not a day that goes by that I dont think about Janelle, the girls, or you. I dont remember if I met you or not. Janelle and I were cousins, and hung out all the time when we were younger. I was supposed to be in the wedding and i couldnt make it. Anyway my thoughts are with you and the girls. I know that you are a great dad to them. I will keep you and the girls in my prayers. Tammy Mayer Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:25:51 I will pray for you. I am truly truly sorry for you loss. I believe one day you will all be united together. God Bless you and your children. Sianna Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:43:09 Spencer and children, your strength and faith are amazing. You and your family are in my prayers. Mary Nieuwsma Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:56:07 Wow. Liza Danielson Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:35:41 Spencer and family, Susan Vogel Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:53:03 As I sit here and read your life story my heart aches. I know without a doubt the Lord will continue to give you incrediable strength that you will need for a long time. Keep your face to him. He will never leave you or forsake you. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. I pray the Lord will give you peace over your entire family, the peace that passes all understanding. Josh and Kelly Casey Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:46:19 We love you Spenc!!! You and your daughters are in our prayers! Valerie Sayler Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:36:13 I was your teacher that year your mom went missing and I always have wondered where you ended up in life. My heart goes out to you, but having God with you on this journey will give you peace. Blessings to you. Joyce Ashby Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:43:19 Hi Spencer... that was a great story.. I want to say that I love you lots and the girls. I miss you too. It was so nice seeing you and the girls this last summer. YOu have a wonderful family. I know that you are a strong person it shows. Keep that faith going. I know the Lord loves you and all of us. I know sometimes we don't know why things happen, but some day we will. I know that I miss Sandy so very much. We were very close. I pray each day for her return or some closure. I will send my prayers your way each day. You have a wonderful family. That was a nice video the news did. Let's hope it will bring someone forward on both the cases. May God be with you today and always God Bless. You have such a wonderful grandma and grandpa. It is nice to have family close by. take care love your 2nd cousin Joyce Ashby Leave a Reply | ArchivesCategories Sandy, Spencer's Mother, Missing since 1996  John, Spencer's Brother, Missing since 1996  Vern, Spencer's Father, Murdered in 2006  Spencer and Janelle. Janelle passed away in 2009 Special Note: Check back on this site to find out the latest on Spencers Story, and how Spencer and his girls are doing and more! - Also, Join our Mailing List by completing the Contact Form on our Contact Page (Click Here to Sign Up )
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