“Lord, we welcome your spirit here. Looking at this beautiful day, I know we have a lot of pull in heaven. I just ask for the healing of hearts. We created space for grieving people to be able to mourn, laugh, cry, tell stories and just remember people that you gave to us,” said Hadley. “We’re so grateful that we’ll see them again.”

Hadley founded KT (Kaylie and Tyler) Humble Hearts Foundation in memory of her children who died in 2024 and 2020 respectively. The foundation offers nationwide grief support in person and online.

More than 100 people participated in a 2-mile run/walk on the Sleepy Eye Lake trail, out and back. Most people walked. Some rode in all-terrain vehicles. Along the way were signs with Bible verses, words to live by and photos of loved ones.

Hadley said KT Remembrance walks are the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year that help it provide hope and healing at minimal to no cost to those navigating the loss of a loved one or grief not related to death.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch KT Remembrance walkers pass by signs citing bible verses, motivational phrases and photos of their loved ones on the Sleepy Eye Lake trail Sunday.

After the walk, Hadley said things weren’t going well at her job last year. She had another transformation, to serve others.

“I began working for our foundation, to testify through the grace of God, to be a blessing to others, serve those that need help,” she said. “We don’t know why things happen but (God) knows, so count on Him to drive out your doubt. In this world, we will have troubles. Through Him, we will find peace. Let the suffering have purpose to heal. It’s an everyday process to overcome grief. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow hasn’t come yet. Live this day. See the blessings of today Give yourself permission to heal. Give yourself permission to have joy. Live a good life in your loved once’s legacy. Say their name. They would want you to be happy. Resurface and come out stronger.”

Hadley said her daughter Kaylie died very suddenly of an epileptic seizure at age 24 June 5, 2013.

Not long after that, her son Tyler and three teenage boys died in a crash on an icy road just west of Sleepy Eye.

Hadley said God repeatedly told her to help those hurting find hope, find Him and heaven.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch KT Humble Heats non-profit founder Deb Hadley of Alexandria, formerly of Sleepy Eye said the death of her biological daughter Kaylie and biological son Tyler transformed she and her family’s life to center of helping people deal with the grief of losing a loved one.

She was recently featured on an Alexandria-based magazine, “Definitive woman.”

When she is not at the foundation office or filming devotional videos, she likes spending time with her husband, two stepchildren and their spouses, and her six grandchildren. She also enjoys playing guitar and spending time at the family lake home.

For more information, visit www.kthumblehearts.org.