Two Marion children, left orphaned when their father shot their mother and then himself, have said goodbye to the Flathead Valley.

Brennon McKinnon, 15, and Brenaly McKinnon, 14, left last weekend to begin new lives in Oregon with aunts and an uncle.

"They were happy. The kids are thrilled," Carol Kinniburgh said.

She and her husband, Dan, are neighbors of the McKinnons.

On Nov. 23, Shannon "Butch" McKinnon shot his wife, Gina, at home. Their children fled to the Kinniburghs' house. Butch McKinnon then shot and killed himself; Gina McKinnon died from her injuries a week later.

The Kinniburghs took in the children, caring for them until family members could. Friends and other neighbors, the Marion fire department and auxiliary, and complete strangers contributed money and items for the McKinnon children.

They saw a counselor, Mark O'Dell at Glacier Haven, went to school and found some equilibrium under the Kinniburghs' nurturing and faith-based care.

On Friday, the children's uncle Bill Chisman arrived from Oregon to pick them up.

Brennon and Brenaly are willing to be split up, Kinniburgh said. He will live in one town with Chisman and his wife, Amy, who have two younger children. She will live in another town with another aunt Amy who is widowed and has three teenagers. The towns are about two hours apart.

"It looks like the children are going to loving homes. The aunts and the uncle really love the kids," Kinniburgh said.

"Bill's wife said, 'We're going to pick up where you guys left off,'" Kinniburgh said.

Both teenagers were to start school in their new towns Monday.

"They have a lot of challenges ahead of them. It'll be hard," Kinniburgh said. "I will just keep praying for the kids and the homes they are going to."

She said Brenaly was able to take two of her cats with her - a major concern as the girl considered moving. Kinniburgh said she needs to find a home for a cat that was left behind.

"If anybody wants this third cat, I'm considering taking it to the shelter," she said. It is loving and tailless.

Now, the Kinniburghs' house is quiet again, as it was before they opened it up to two grieving teenagers.

"We feel very blessed that were able to have them," Kinniburgh said Monday. And she said she is touched by the generosity of the community.

"We want to thank the community for their love and support throughout all of this," Kinniburgh said.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com