Teenagers find a missing woman while snowmobiling

MINOT, ND (KMOT/Gray News) – A teenage couple is being honored for helping to save a woman while snowmobiling.

Brennan Asmundson and Owen Inman enjoy sports, snowmobiling and trap shooting. It was their love of the outdoors that led to some New Year’s heroics.

“I knew we had to act in this situation,” Inman said.

The teenagers were snowmobiling in rural North Dakota when they spotted a car stuck in the snow.

“I saw him (Inman) slowly rolling and checking the car and I thought, ‘Oh my god, something must be going on,'” Asmundson said.

After that, the teenagers sprang into action.

“There was no fear or panic because we were there as a response force,” Inman said.

Asmundson and Inman found Faye Schaefer. Schaefer disappeared the night before, causing a silver alert. Schaefer’s car ran out of gas.

Minot Police Officer Jordan Wilkes was at Schaefer’s home when he got the call that the teenagers had found her.

“Seventeen and 18 were doing things that a lot of people probably wouldn’t do,” Wilks said. “I think it will affect them for the rest of their future and be a testament to who they are.”

On Wednesday, law enforcement honored Inman and Asmundson with the Distinguished Citizen Award. Schaefer and her family were present.

Berthold/Carpio Police Chief Al Schmidt said he has watched the boys grow and was proud to present them with the award.

“It makes me proud that I had a small impact on their lives, but they just acted without thinking,” Schmidt said.

Inman said they planned to take a different route that day, but fate had other plans. A truck blocking their original route forced them to find Schaefer.

“It was a real God moment, I mean God put that truck, so we went a long way around. At the time I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a bit of an inconvenience for us,’ but it turned out to be a miracle,” Inman said.

Asmundson said he didn’t expect his small act to become so big.

“I don’t think we really deserve it, but it’s great that we were able to help,” Asmundson said.

Schaefer was treated for possible hypothermia and returned to his family.

Both Inman and Asmundson said they will pay more attention to Silver Alerts and hope others will do the same.