Family, Friends, Outdoor Community Pay Tribute To Millcreek Avalanche Victims

MILLCREEK, Utah — Dozens of people — including friends, family, and community members — gathered to pay tribute to two of the four skiers killed in last week’s deadly avalanche in Millcreek Canyon.

Memorial services were held for some of the victims, including a celebration of life on Sunday for Louis Holian and Tom Steinbrecher.

The day began with a ski ride, then participants met at the Gear Room in Cottonwood Heights for the bike ride that ended at Hangar 15 Bicycles in Millcreek, where Louis Holian worked.

Not even the icy roads could stop them from finishing the last leg of a ride for one of their own.

“He touched hundreds of people,” Mike Hanseen said of his friend, Louis Holian. “He was a very good person.”

Holian, 26, could be seen working at Hangar 15 Bicycles where co-workers were his family and customers became his friends.

In memory of #LouisHolian and #TomSteinbrecher, they gathered in a ski and bike ride ending at @Hangar15Bicycle in Millcreek. Louis and Tom lost their lives in an avalanche that wiped out 8 skiers last weekend. 4 survived, 4 died. Story at 5 @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/ojztIGgSJx

— Garna Mejia (@GarnaMejiaKSL) February 14, 2021

“He would answer the phone, ‘Hangar 15, this is Ashley,’ and we get people calling for Ashley still,” said Hanseen, who also works at the shop. “It was this bizarre, weird, funny humor, and that’s how Louis was all the time.”

But this week, the store grew silent without his presence.

“Overall, we’re fairly quiet,” said Hanseen. “It was pretty somber to say the least, and every time a customer would come in, it would break it open again and people would cry, so it’s been a really hard week.”

It was on Feb. 6 that Louis and seven others were wiped out by an avalanche in Millcreek Canyon’s Wilson Glade Basin.

“We’ve had bad days,” said Hanseen.

Louis was buried near two friends, including 23-year-old Thomas Louis Steinbrecher.

In total, four skiers died.

All week long, friends stopped by the shop. Slowly, flower and gifts piled up next to his bike.

“He actually bought that bike from me before he worked for me,” said Mike Hanseen.

It’s why his friends decided to ride for him on Sunday.

“We just wanted to share our condolences for his family and his friends,” said Hanseen.

This Millcreek avalanche was the deadliest avalanche since 1992.