Grandparents Have to Sell Late Son’s Favorite Car to Raise His 2 Kids, Have It Returned with $100k

When an elderly couple lost their son and daughter-in-law in a motorcycle accident, it seemed like their world had crumbled. Raising the late couple’s children was even more challenging. However, a few months later, an unexpected occurrence would totally turn their lives around. Find out what it was.

Raising children can be challenging, especially for older people, like the kids’ grandparents. This is even a more tasking and emotion-filled experience when these older individuals are raising their grandkids because the infants lost their parents at a tender age.

Ben Keryluke and his wife Marilyn can testify to it, as the above statement suits their situation appropriately. On May 5, 2018, the couple and the entire Keryluke family were devastated when Brent and Nicole Keryluke, Ben and Marilyn’s son and daughter-in-law, died in a motorcycle accident.

Ben Keryluke speaking while holding his grandson, Liam | Source: Youtube/Global News

The late couple was riding the motorcycle when it collided with a truck near Innisfail in Canada. It was even more tragic seeing that the young duo left behind their six-year-old daughter, Arielle, and three-year-old son, Liam.

Thankfully, the kids had their grandparents who decided to look after them. Unfortunately, caring for Arielle and Liam told on Ben and Marilyn financially, as their grandkids wore hearing aids, meaning there were more medical bills to be sorted.

Without any financial assistance, the couple was forced to sell their son’s favorite car, which he had been working on before the accident.

It was a 1973 Pontiac Parisienne, sitting in their garage in Red Deer, Alberta. Deciding to sell the car was tough for Ben and his wife because Brent had hoped that someday, he and Nicole would pass the classic vehicle down to their children.

“I’d stop by, and Arielle and Liam would be in the back seat with an iPad and books, and that’s where they spent a lot of time while he was under the hood,” Ben told Global News.

The 1973 Pontiac Parisienne that was put up for auction | Source: Youtube/Global News

INSIDE THE LIFE-CHANGING AUCTION

However, the couple wanted the best for their grandkids and had to make the tough decision. So, four months later, in September 2018, Ben took the car to Electric Garage Auctions, a local auction house, hoping it would be reasonably priced.

A video shared on YouTube by Global News captured the event, which appeared to be going great. Then, at some point, they stopped the auction to let everyone know where the money was going. The auctioneer explained that the money was going to Arielle and Liam’s future.

Ben Keryluke and his wife Marilyn with his grandkids on stage during the car auction | Source:facebook.com/Dearly Presents

Afterward, they continued the auction, and what happened next left Ben lost for words. First, the car was sold for $29,000 to Rod McWilliams from Red Deer Motors, but surprisingly, he donated the car back. Then, Danny Fayad from Edmonton won the second round with a bid of $30,000.

Again, the car was donated back, after which Bob Bevins from Bulldog metals bought the car for the third time at $20,000 and eventually gave it back to the Keryluke family.

In addition to the money raised from the car, there were other donations made, totaling over $100,000. Indeed, it was an emotional moment for Ben and everyone present.

One of the highest bidders during the auction, Bob Belvin, speaking in an interview | Source: Youtube/ Global News

THE EFFECT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS’ KINDNESS

Lyndsay Payne, the co-owner of Electric Garage Auctions, confessed that everyone could not hold back their tears. According to her, there was not a single dry eye in the building. She also added:

“People were overwhelmed with just the generosity of people of Central Alberta and the support that the family has. It was incredible. People were cheering; I was crying.”

“Our auctioneer had a hard time getting through it because he was crying. He was emotional,” Payne noted. After the auction ended, the third buyer, Bevins, opened up about his reason for donating the car back.

The man told the outlet that he thought the vehicle had more sentimental value to the family than it did to him, who would just be owning another classic car. According to Bevins, he thought that someday, Liam would be able to drive his father’s car.

THE KERYLUKE FAMILY RECEIVES MORE LOVE

Following the auction, the Keryluke family did not stop receiving kindness from well-meaning individuals.

They continued to receive support from family, friends, and even strangers through a GoFundMe page that was opened for Arielle and Liam’s future. Ben could not help but remain grateful for the love and kindness he and his family received.

He told Global News that it was incredible to see the generosity of people toward helping his family raise the kids. The older man was so overwhelmed with emotions that he did not know how to thank the people for such huge acts of kindness.

The Keryluke family’s story proves that there are still kindhearted individuals in the world. Even in the darkest moments of life, there are people around ready to give a helping hand. Please share this story if you enjoyed it and learned something.

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