An Air Force family missing since Thanksgiving Day was found dead in a car crash near Billings, Montana over the holiday, according to the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

The base identified the family as Staff Sgt. Anthony James Dean, 25, his wife Chelsi Kay Dean, 25 and their two childre: Kaytlin Merie Dean, 5, and Avri James Dean, 1. Sgt. Dean was assigned to the 69th Maintenance Squadron. "Words are not enough during a time like this," Major Eric Inkenbrandt, the squadron commander, said in a statement. "AJ's family brought a light to our maintenance community, and this loss strikes each of us deeply. May their friends and family be granted the strength and serenity to get through this sorrowful time."

The crash was discovered by the Montana Highway Patrol early Saturday morning, according to the base. Initial reports indicate the car went off I-94 and came to rest in a creek. According to The St. Paul Pioneer Press, the family was driving from a relative's home in Idaho to Ekalaka, Montana. The last contact from the family came around 6:30 a.m. Thursday while they were in Billings, according to the paper. In the message, the family said they would reach their destination by 11:30 a.m.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for travel expenses for the funeral. According to the page, the family was traveling to Ekalaka to spend Thanksgiving with Chelsi's grandmother. Family members became concerned when they did not reach their destination by 3 p.m.

Sgt. Dean worked as an RQ-4 Global Hawk crew chief. His wife, Chelsi Dean, worked at the local volunteer fire department.

Photo via GoFundMe

