Our little prince, Conrad Rauthe Young, “was called home to be with Jesus, the Savior of his soul,” on Dec. 8, 2014. We take comfort in knowing that when the Lord calls us home we will join our little prince in Paradise. 

Conrad was one of the most wanted, most anticipated, precious and loved babies God ever created. In his brief 46 days of life, he blessed family and friends with his big, beautiful eyes, happy smiles, warm snuggles and sweet baby smell. 

Conrad was born to Josh and Sara on Oct. 23 in Kalispell, a mere 11 days overdue, thus making his parents all the more anxious to meet him and hold him. He was just as perfect as they could have imagined. He joined his big sisters Charlotte Belle, 6, and Cosette Monet, 3. Sisterly love for their little brother shone through in their sweet comments. Charlotte: “I just want to hold him and feed him. I always wanted a baby brother.” Cosy: “Mommy, I told you I want to keep this baby brother, because he’s so cute. I love this baby, I want to keep him forever and ever and ever and ever.” He was surrounded by utter love and affection every moment of his life.

In the moments that Conrad’s spirit was leaving his body, his mother, father and Papa sang to him: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” As his mother held his tiny body for the last time she sang him one last lullaby, “Away in a Manger,” with the last verse as a promise from the Lord, “Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me forever and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care and take them to heaven to live with thee there.”

At this time of year, we remember and celebrate the much anticipated birth of another beloved baby boy. As Christina Rosetti’s poem goes, “Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.” 

“The little Lord Jesus was born on Christmas knowing Conrad would one day need a Savior, and while we grieve Conrad’s loss with our whole hearts, we also rejoice in his salvation in Jesus Christ.”

The name Conrad means “bold advisor,” “brave counselor,” and upon his passing, this meaning is not lost on us. We understand his sudden death to be an urgent and sobering message to all of us to not take even one day for granted. As Cosy’s fortune cookie read just the day after his passing, “One should count each day a separate life.” We all had big plans for little Conrad, but God’s plans for him were greater. Our love for him is a love without end.

Conrad is survived by his loving parents, Sara and Josh, adoring sisters, Charlotte and Cosy, grandparents, Marilyn (Rauthe) and Mike Driscoll, Don Young and Warren and Cindy Dobler, and great-grandmother, Jennie Rauthe, all of Kalispell; his aunts and uncles, Angela and Patrick Bennett, and cousin Jameson of South Jordan, Utah; Zach Young and Jess Bachaus of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Shannon Ritter, and cousins Brett, Emma and Isaac, of Kalispell, as well as countless extended family members near and far, many of whom never had the chance to meet him. 

A memorial service for Conrad will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at Trinity Lutheran Church at 400 W. California St., in Kalispell. 

Gifts and memorials can be offered to www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/help-the-youngs-say-goodbye/275915, Hope Pregnancy Center at  www.hopepregnancyministries.org of Kalispell, or Ramsey Keller Memorial at www.kisses2heaven.com.