Veteran's family gets a surprise new house

Wounded U.S. Army veteran Ryan Pengelly, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, uncovered a home rendering poster Thursday to learn that Operation Finally Home had selected him to receive the organization’s first house.

Ryan’s eyes misted as his wife, Crystal, burst into tears of joy in appreciation of this ultimate Christmas gift.

A little more than a year ago, the couple and Ryan’s mother lost everything — including all of his medals — when fire swept through their mobile home in Forest Acres in Whitefish.

A faulty flue on a wood stove caused the home fire shortly after Ryan had returned home from Afghanistan.

“We hope this will help them get started in the community again and take some of the pressure off,” said Terry Kramer, founder with his wife, Debbie, of Operation Finally Home. “We pray this moves you forward and helps you heal. I know how much our community supports our military, and I thank you for your service.”

Ryan, 27, remains in rehabilitation to overcome a traumatic brain injury from a bomb blast during his Army service. On Thursday morning, Crystal, 30, had a medical procedure for her ongoing health problems.

Both were taken completely by surprise Thursday since Kramer told them they were coming to meet the board of directors along with other finalists for the home.

“This means a great deal — all the stress off our shoulders,” Crystal said after the presentation. “To Terry and all of them, I can’t say thank you enough.”

Ryan added his thanks and said he was very impressed by the rendering of the completed house.

“It’s going to be really nice,” he said.

The couple have been married about a year and a half. Crystal has two daughters: Amber, 10, and Brittany, 12.

At the ceremony at the home at 145 Looking Glass Ave. in Kalispell, Ryan also received replacement medals through the efforts of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Ryan has signed on with the 639th Quartermaster Company of the Montana Army National Guard to complete his military obligation.

Operation Finally Home formed in January as the first Montana chapter of the national organization devoted to building mortgage-free homes for disabled veterans and/or families of the fallen.

Project manager Tyler Frank said he hopes to complete the three-bedroom, two-bath home by March.  

Frank said building the home with volunteer labor and mostly donated materials takes much more time than the typical three-month construction period for a home measuring just over 1,700 square feet, not counting the attached garage.

Adding another challenge, the organization committed to building with American-made materials.

An employee of Kramer Enterprises, Frank manages this project between working on the company’s new home projects in North Dakota.

“This is the rewarding part of all the hard work,” he said.

In an earlier interview, Kramer estimated the home would appraise between $180,000 and $200,000 when complete. He said Operation Finally Home raised $40,000 to augment donated labor and materials to finish the project.

 To choose the deserving veteran, the organization accepted nominations from case workers, the Department of Defense, units and commanders. Kramer declined to say how many veterans were considered.

“This particular vet was nominated by both the National Guard family support unit and his unit,” he said.

A selection committee invited each nominee to apply for the home. Kramer said they went through “a pretty good series of interviews” before choosing Ryan about two months ago.

“We want a veteran who is moving forward, trying to get over his disabilities and wounds and become productive in the community,” he said. “The things we look at — is he doing all his treatments, his rehabilitation, his re-trainings — things like that. Then we look at immediate need. This family has a huge need.”

Kramer expects Operation Finally Home to build at least one new home for a veteran each year. He said that scheduling has proved the most challenging part of this project rather than building with American-made materials.

The home was sheeted with Plum Creek plywood rather than the more common Canadian oriented strand board. Owens Corning roofing was made in Oregon.

“Pacific Steel found American-made rebar,” Kramer said. “So far, we’re on a roll.”

Donations of material and labor came from all segments of the Flathead Valley home-building industry and as far away as Eureka, where Bob Helms of Mostly Montana built the panelized walls. Kramer’s crews and office staff have donated many hours of labor.

Located in a subdivision off Three Mile Drive, the home will come complete with a washer and dryer and all kitchen appliances. Kramer describes it as a starter home with some nice touches such as wood flooring and some higher-end wood trim.

“It’s not going to be an opulent home, but it’s going to be a nice, durable house,” he said.

Anyone interested in donating to this or future projects may contact Kramer at 261-5135 or at terry@keimontana.com.