Following the tragic death of his wife and unborn child, Matthew Myers resigned as Holdingford boys basketball coach to focus on raising his 2-year-old son.
Looking back at videos and photos of his wife, Casey, interacting with son Tyson brings comfort to Matthew Myers.
"They just had a blast together. If they were together, they were smiling," Myers said.
Matthew, the Holdingford High School basketball coach, proposed to Casey, the former trainer, on the gym floor.
"We faked an injury at halftime," he said. "She cried before ever saying yes or no. So I was a little nervous at first."
All those memories that make Myers smile after what has been three weeks of sadness.
"It was the most typical day as far as things could go, and then nothing's been the same ever since. That's just kind of textbook devastating. Everything's changed in an instant," Myers said.
Matthew was preparing to teach math and Casey was driving to work in St. Cloud, when deputies say a trucker blew through a stop sign, hitting and killing her and the child she carried.
"He was alive for 21 minutes. And they worked on him. And did their best. It was hard being in that room," Myers said.
Myers said his son Tyson is what gets him through each day.
Tyson, a strong 2-year-old who will grow up without his mother.
"He's aware Mommy's an angel. Mommy's in heaven," Myers said.
But Matthew will make sure Tyson will know her. As will Casey's parents, who live just 9 miles away.
"I miss Casey every day. Every time you turn around there's something … it's just going to be different forever," said Jeff Gunderson, Casey's father.
"Every day, what gets me out of bed is Tyson. Literally him telling me I have to get out of bed. I need to take care of my boy here. That's been my directive in life and it's obvious. He keeps me going," Myers said.
Matthew and Casey's parents are grateful for all the support they've received. Matthew's former players honored him with special shirts at their last game.
And when he returns to the classroom for the first time Monday, Matthew will be greeted by notes left at the door by students. In return, he will try to set an example for them.
"Hopefully I can show them, it doesn't matter what's happened in your life. You can be strong. You can be positive. You can get through this," Myers said.
The Indiana truck driver who deputies say ran the stop sign has not been charged with a crime. But the Stearns County Sheriff's Office is investigating for signs of distraction.