Photo by Deb Gau The crowd at Saturday’s demolition derby at the Lyon County Fair cheered as Parker Viaene’s derby car tested the track before competition. The derby paid tribute to Viaene, a young derby driver from Cottonwood who died in an ATV accident this spring. After Parker’s death, family and friends signed his derby car.

MARSHALL — Ryan Viaene said it wasn’t easy driving back onto the track without his son, Parker.

Demolition derby was something they both loved. But while it wasn’t easy, at the same time it meant a lot to him to see the people in the stands Saturday night cheering in Parker’s memory.

“It’s for Parker. That means more than winning,” Viaene said.

This year’s demolition derby at the Lyon County Fair gave special recognition to Parker Viaene. Viaene, a Lakeview graduate, was part of three generations of derby drivers in his family, along with his grandfather Bob, father Ryan and uncle Rob. Parker died in April, after an ATV accident near Cottonwood. He was 20.

Saturday’s derby brought together many people showing support for the Viaene family. Looking through the crowds, you could see a mix of people wearing Lakeview school apparel or blue memorial T-shirts with the number 12 — Parker’s derby number. And before the start of competition the crowd cheered as Bob Viaene drove Parker’s car into the derby arena to check the condition of the track.

Parker’s mother, Tara Viaene, said the support they’ve received from community members since April has been “overwhelming.”

“We appreciate everything everyone has done,” Ryan Viaene said.

The Viaene family were called up on stage before the start of the derby and presented with items honoring Parker, including an angel-wing ornament, a clock, and a model of Parker’s derby car built by Marshall resident Al Bellecourt.

“I decided to do this in honor of Parker,” Bellecourt said. Bellecourt is a former derby driver, and he has been building model cars for years. When Parker started competing in demolition derby at age 16, Bellecourt also built a model of Parker’s first derby car.

“When I went to give it to him, he was floored,” Bellecourt said.

After Parker died, Bellecourt began working on a new model of Parker’s most recent car, covered in memorial messages from family and friends.

“It took me around three weeks to build it,” Bellecourt said. He also got help from Denise Solma to hand-paint the lettering all over the model.

“(Parker) sure would have enjoyed it,” Ryan Viaene said of the new model.

Parker’s family and friends said Saturday’s derby was a fitting place to honor his memory.

“This is what he loved to do,” said Parker’s uncle Shawn Laleman.

Both Ryan and Rob Viaene competed in the chain stock division of Saturday’s derby — the same division Parker competed in.

They went on to win third and second place, respectively, while Bryce Lanoue won first place in the division.

Ryan Viaene said it would be his last derby. It was lonely going back into the arena without Parker, he said.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do without him,” he said. Besides competing in demolition derby, Parker and his dad farmed and hunted together.

Viaene said he wanted to tell people, “Spend as much time as you can with your kids and your family.” It’s never certain what’s going to happen in life, he said.