Enderlin Still in Shock After Lethal Tornado

The Cass County Sheriff's Office released the names of the deceased on the afternoon of June 22.

ENDERLIN, N.D. – (KVRR) – Chief Meteorologist Max Mueller was on the ground Friday night, so, thanks to him we know what the tornado looked like as it caused devastation in and around Enderlin.

In a matter of one to two minutes, the storm went from harmless to deadly.

Russell Myhre lives on Railway Street in the heart of Enderlin.

A tree on his property fell and took out a powerline, but he’s otherwise okay.

He says, as a longtime North Dakotan, the experience still barely feels real.

“In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” he said. There were so many widespread tornadoes and so many things going on that it was just overwhelming.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the names and ages of the victims – Michael Dehn and Katherine Pfaff-Dehn, both 73, and Marc Lucio, who was 89 at the time of his passing.

Myhre says he knew the victims personally, and in a small community like Enderlin, losing people in this way effects absolutely everyone.

“They’re old friends, I went to school with two out of the three of them,” he said. “It’s really going to be difficult. They were really good people. And the community is really going to miss them.”

Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner echoed that sentiment when speaking about first responders –

“Very tragic situation, of course – very hard on the first responders in that area because of course everyone knows each other in that area,” he said.

but said he’s proud of them for going out and doing their best in a dangerous and unpredictable situation.

“People were working through very tough conditions, putting their lives on the line to make sure that we could get to everyone, check on them, make sure they’re okay and that no-one else was hurt,” he said.