Francis “JR” and Deloris “Dee” Bedel’s children are grown now, and spread across Indiana and lower Michigan. And grandchildren? “Oh my gosh, let me count,” Dee thinks. “Nine!” Daughter Francine has the biggest house, where the family gathers for Christmas celebrations. Dee says they can all come to their new Habitat home, “in the summer, when everyone can be in out the yard!”
Being close to retirement keeps the Bedels busy as ever. Dee and Francine enjoy playing bingo together in Mishawaka or Osceola. “The most I ever won was $50,” Dee laughs, “but $50 is $50!” JR builds model trains, and has claimed an extra bedroom for his display. Most of their hobbies are joint—they enjoy bowling together, and enjoy a night of country music every time Ernie Givens and the White Lies Band are in town. “We’ve been friends with him for 22 years,” says Dee. “He’s a great guy.” And then there are the legendary Halloween displays.
The Bedels have a cemetery, 3 coffins, a motorized spider/scorpion, a scarecrow that pops out of a barrel, and a Freddy Krueger. The best part is, JR has made most of the residents of his scary storehouse out of cardboard and plywood. “You give him an idea, and he’s out there making it,” Dee laughs. “If I don’t know where he is, I look in the garage.”
Their love of spreading joy at holidays led the Bedels to their Habitat lot. For many years, they hosted an elaborate, free Halloween display for neighborhood kids on the corner of Indiana and Ren Streets in Elkhart. As soon as they entered the program, they asked if Habitat could buy that lot. Now their new home will be rooted in years of personal memories.
JR has worked as a first shift security guard at Hinsdale Farms in Bristol for 9 years. Dee is a homemaker and spends a lot of time helping at her church, Grace Brethren. “I told Sister Nora, one of the days we paint, she’s going to be out there with a paintbrush!” Dee says. She also has made some good friends at her TOPS group (Take Pounds Off Sensibly) when they meet every Thursday morning.
Dee and JR talk about Habitat everywhere they go. They are trying to convince their nephew and niece to apply. “I told them, ‘You will not be sorry if you do. You get a new house, new appliances, and when you pay it off, it’s yours!’ We will not have to move again. That’s one thing I’m looking forward to.”
Dee says, “When I found out we were going to have a house built, I was ecstatic. I told JR, ‘No more renting!’ Habitat is number one right now with us—well, other than God,” Dee laughs. “We both thank God and thank Habitat that we could go through this program.”