Plane crash victims 'had a passion' for northern Ontario
Funeral being held today for Jim and Brenda Beauchene, whose plane went down near Red Lake
A funeral service takes place in Phoenix, Ariz. Thursday for the couple who died in a plane crash at Red Lake last week.
Jim and Brenda Beauchene were en route to the outpost camp they had recently purchased, when their plane went down.
"[He] loved that area," said Jim’s brother Bob Beauchene. "He loved the fishing. He loved the outdoors. And he really had a passion to show other people what it was all about."
Beauchene said his brother's roots were in northern Ontario, where he was raised. Their father grew up in the Fort Frances/Nestor Falls area, and was a pilot for the provincial air service. The boys grew up in Sault Ste. Marie.
"I've had a lot of phone calls from northern Ontario from people who have been very supportive, and I appreciate that," he said.
Beauchene said his brother enjoyed flying, and did so for 30 years. He flew a variety of aircraft over the years and had a thorough background in aviation.
The aircraft that crashed at Red Lake last Thursday has been removed from the water.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports the Beech 18 float plane is now on the ground, being examined by one of its investigators.