TOLEDO, Ohio — The sudden death of Toledo firefighter and public information officer Sterling Rahe sent grief through the city. For his family, that pain hasn't gone away in the month since.
Life hasn't been the same for Becky Rahe since her husband Sterling, also known as Butch, passed away on New Year's Day.
"We were a team and so I just lost my best friend, my partner," Becky said.
Butch died after complications from an injury.
No one saw it coming. He was just 57 years old.
"So grateful for all the first responders that came and they were you know, getting him out to the rig, getting him to the hospital, and the hospital for all their efforts that they did to try to save his life," Becky recalled that day.
When Butch died, he left behind his immediate family of Becky and their adult sons, Jon and Caleb.
"I'm still trying to get through it. There are days where I just, well, me and the boys, we just don't want to believe it's real," Becky said. "We just keep thinking he's going to come through the door, that he's out on an interview."
Her tragedy came exactly one year after what she thought was her toughest loss.
"I lost my mother, December 31, 2022, and I was her caregiver and for him to pass away a year and a day later, it's hard," Becky said. "I thought it was awful with her but I've never known a sorrow this deep. So I think it will take a while, but I know with the grace of God that I'll get through and so will my boys."
A touching last alarm service was held five days after he died at the University of Toledo.
As we sat down at the Toledo Firefighters Museum this week, Becky wanted to share her heartfelt thanks.
"It took so many people and so many things to happen in order to make this happen in just a few days and so we're just grateful and there's just no way to thank everyone without forgetting someone," Becky said.
She also wanted to thank the media for working with him so closely over the years. He was always ready to provide us with important information at a big scene.
Becky said Butch was only three to six years away from retirement and he wanted to spend two months in warm Florida.
She said he was most looking forward to spending countless days with future grandchildren. While that can't happen now, Becky hopes the family and even the public will keep his legacy alive.
"He embodied his job. If we could all take a little time and have that kindness, that compassion, taking time to serve others in our community, I think we could honor him and his legacy," said Becky. "But it might make our world a little bit brighter place. Our community."
Butch was deeply affected by the 9/11 terror attacks. He went to some of the firefighter funerals and he is buried at Toledo Memorial Park, right in the 9/11 first responders memorial there.