At 11 years old, your best friend is everything. That's how one little boy described Ben Martin.
Ben is one of three children who died in a recent house fire in Sheboygan Falls. The community came together Friday night to remember the family.
Songs and prayers filled the night at River Park. Natalie Martin,11, Ben Martin,10, and Carter Maki,7, all died in their family's home. Natalie Martin had been babysitting her siblings when the home caught fire. Natalie and her sister Jenna Martin got out, but Natalie ran back in to try to save the boys and they all died.
The family's pastor says their parents feel like it's a bad dream.
"Obviously, they're crushed. Their whole world has been turned upside down. I mean they went from having 4 children to one and there really aren't any words to describe that," says Pastor Jeff Jaeger, Crossroads Community Church.
But they are not the only ones hurting. Evan Lillegard says he lost his best friend. He met Ben Martin when he was the new kid in town.
"On my first day of second grade we all just came together and formed a group. We were so silly back then so we made a group name like the Minecraft Bros," says Evan.
He says Ben was who he told all his secrets to. Ben was supposed to sit right next him this weekend and celebrate Evan's birthday.
"We wanted to like live together when we are older, but..." Evan says, trailing off.
Evan says he just wants people to know what a great friend Ben was.
"When my mom told me when he died, I just couldn't explain my feelings," Evan says.
The funeral for the children is this Monday.
