Accounts set up following devastating fire
Fundraisers have been created for an Oldtown woman who lost her husband, home and possessions in a June 18 fire off Silica Lane.
(Courtesy photo)
OLDTOWN — Online and traditional fundraising accounts have been established for an Oldtown woman whose husband was killed in a fire that destroyed their home last month.
“She literally has nothing. She had the clothes on her back,” said Kristy Niemeyer, daughter of Russel and Marilyn Mandigo.
Authorities believe a cast iron skillet left in a stove sparked the June 18 blaze that razed the Mandigos’ home off Silica Lane.
Russ Mandigo, 78, owned and operated Mandigo Construction for 48 years, laying concrete and building foundations for new homes.
Marilyn’s son, David Niemeyer of Las Vegas, set up a GoFundMe page entitled “Marilyn’s Recovery Fund.” The fundraiser has a $20,000 goal and so far $2,760, according to the crowd-funding platform.
Marilyn Mandigo was with her daughter when the fire took hold. In addition to losing her husband in the fire, seven pets were also killed.
“As you can imagine, losing a spouse, your home, your animals and just about everything you own is an incredibly devastating event,” David Niemeyer said in the post to gofundme.com.
An account is being established at Mountain West Bank under the Mandigo name, Kristy Niemeyer said. Kristy Niemeyer can also be contacted via Facebook under the name Kristy Jean if people are interested in donating items to help Marilyn Mandigo get back on her feet.
Russ Mandigo’s remains have not been located and he is listed as unaccounted for with the Idaho State Police Missing Persons Clearinghouse, records show.
“They reported him missing in the debris of the fire,” Kristy Niemeyer said.
The online fundraiser is located at gofundme.com/f/rrbvy-marilyns-recovery-fund.
Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.