‘We are going to see them again:’ father

WITHROW, Alta. — The parents of three Alberta girls who suffocated in a truckload of canola say they’re overwhelmed by the support they have received from all over the world.

Roger and Bonita Bott say they’re still in shock over the deaths of their daughters, but are leaning on their faith to get them through.

“As far as missing them and not being able to ever see our kids again, that part is OK, because we are going to see them again,” the girl’s father told reporters Wednesday.

“We don’t believe that God did this, but we’re believing that he has taken this and he is making something incredible come out of it.”

Catie, who turned 13 last month, and 11-year-old twins Dara and Jana, died last week after being buried in a truck loaded with canola on the family’s farm near Withrow. Authorities say the girls were playing on the truck, but haven’t said how they believe the girls became trapped. Adults were able to pull them free, but they couldn’t be saved. Two of the girls died at the scene, while a third died the next day in hospital.

“They are the best girls in the world,” their mother said. “They were cool to be with. “They were comfortable with themselves and they were comfortable being around other people,” she said.

The Botts said each of their daughters was quite different, but wonderful in her own way.

Catie, as the oldest child, was a role model to her sisters and younger brother Caleb. She always had her nose in a book, even when she was on horseback.

“She was totally embracing becoming a young woman,” her father said. “She was consciously working at being mature and responsible.”