Amy Lisenbe/Nevada Appeal Steve Boettcher, center, receives a hug Saturday morning from Brian Barker of Sierra Earthworks, a Reno business. Cynthia Osborn, sales and marketing manager and community relations for West Haven Development Group, also based in Reno, is watching from the left. Mary Boettcher, her daughter Stephanie and 18-month-old grandson Joshua are standing on the right. All are in front of the new 2,700-square-foot Boettcher home in Stagecoach.
Standing in front of the brand new house and recreation center built for his family by more than 3,000 volunteers in just seven days, Rev. Steve Boettcher said he couldn't find the words.
"Thanks is just not a good enough word, but it's all I have. Thank you just seems empty," Boettcher said.
Boettcher, along with his wife, Mary, daughter Stephanie and grandson, Joshua, were selected by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to receive a new home on their lot in Stagecoach.
While crews from the show and West Haven Development Group worked around the clock to finish the home and adjacent recreation center building, the family was treated to a vacation in Hawaii.
"We had the presidential suite, that was an experience. Our hotel room was bigger than our old house used to be," Mary said.
After Friday's reveal and tour of their new house, the family spent the night in a hotel while crews installed in the remaining furniture to allow the family to move in Saturday.
"There's some odd things in the kitchen that I will have to learn how to use," Mary said. "But I have a dishwasher, I haven't had a dishwasher in forever and there's one in there."
The Boettchers run a youth ministry called Soul'd Out Ministries, whose Wednesday and Thursday evening events draw more than 30 area youth each week for activities such as games, snacks and Bible teachings.
"When (the show) airs, my hope is to see someone catch the vision and start this in their community," Steve said. "My favorite part of this is the building in the back, it allows me to help the community that much more.
"There is always one more kid to help."
The family said they are already planning for Wednesday's meeting - on the menu will be the consensus favorite - Mary's tacos.
"We've already heard they miss your tacos," Steve said.
Saturday morning, as the family prepared to film their final segment for the show, the outpouring of support from the community continued.
The Lyon County Fire Department presented $500 to the family from their community fund and Carson City Harley-Davidson presented the family with new leather outfits, T-shirts and stuffed animals.
The Boettchers are members of the Iron Nation motorcycle club.
They also learned that Comstock Insurance was paying their homeowners insurance for the next year and there was an account established in their name to help pay off their mortgage.
When asked why his family was chosen from the more than 7,000 submissions the show receives a week, Steve Boettcher could only shrug.
"I don't know why they picked me. I'm glad they did, but I don't know why," he said. "I know it will help us help our community and that's what it's about. This is about more than just our family.
"It's about our community."
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.