People gathered at a church in Coeur d’Alene Tuesday morning to remember the mom who was killed in an accident in Hayden last week. Veronica Rutledge worked at the Idaho National Laboratory, lived in Blackfoot with her husband and son, and had family elsewhere in Idaho and Montana.
Her funeral and reception were at St. Thomas church, and she will be buried in Spirit Lake.
Rutledge was killed in a tragedy that gained world-wide attention last Tuesday, when her son took a gun out of a pocket in her purse and accidentally shot her. She died in the Walmart in Hayden, Idaho, where she had been shopping with her son and three nieces.
Rutledge often rode Jeeps with her family, like to hunt and travel, and attended North Idaho College and University of Idaho before working as a nuclear research scientist.
She graduated as valedictorian from Kootenai High School in 2004.
Those who knew her or want to support the family can donate through an online campaign in Veronica Rutledge’s name, or a college fund for her son being established through North Idaho College.
