An Auburn man has reached out to help build support for the family of slain park ranger Margaret Anderson.

“I personally think she very likely saved many people’s lives,” said Ken Schroeder, who took his neighbor’s sons snowshoeing on that tragic Sunday.

Schroeder is organizing others who visited Mount Rainier National Park that day to see if they can help Anderson’s family.

Anderson, 34, a mother of two toddlers, was shot and killed on New Year’s Day while she tried to set up a roadblock in the park. She was armed but, according to authorities, had no chance to respond to the shooter.

Schroeder, like others in the park that day, say Anderson’s actions might have saved his life.

The shooting occurred just minutes after Schroeder parked their truck down the road.

Park rangers immediately directed Schroeder, the kids and about 100 other people into the visitors center after the shooting. They stayed there for nearly 18 hours while officials searched for the man who shot Anderson.

The gunman, Benjamin Colton Barnes, was found dead the next day in a creek.

Schroeder, who appeared on KING-5 TV, has received a good response from those who stayed in the visitors center. The group is trying to raise money for Anderson’s family.

“I see that the National Park Service has finalized plans for a memorial for Ranger Margaret Anderson,” Schroeder said. “They also have in place a formal way to make a donation.

“The opportunity to show respect for someone who sacrificed so much is a rare opportunity that should not be missed,” he added. “On behalf of all the ‘hostages’ who were trapped at the Paradise Visitor Center at Mount Rainier, I thank you for your unselfishness.”

A memorial service is 1 p.m. Tuesday at Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Ave. S, Tacoma.

The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers. They should be sent to KeyBank, P.O. Box 159, Eatonville, WA 98328. Checks should be made out to the Margaret Anderson Donation Account.

All correspondence, including requests for information, resource offers and condolences, should be sent to MountRainierInfo@gmail.com.