KINDRED, N.D. - It's not every day a family wins a half-million-dollar home, but besides a few overnight camping adventures in a West Fargo dream house, the Gilbertsons have decided to stay put in Kindred. But they won't be walking away empty-handed.
For the price of $499,000, this dream home could be yours. For Michele and Art Gilbertson, they've decided to sell. When all is said and done, they'll walk away with a little more than $300,000 after taxes, but it's what they plan to do with the money that is truly remarkable.
"It is a huge responsibility; it's like we were given this gigantic gift here, don't squander it," Michele Gilbertson said.
The Gilbertsons made a list, looking at the pros, checking off the cons. Michele and her family decided much more could be done with the $300,000 cash.
"We just really felt our wants column was getting put ahead of the needs column, 'cause, you know, our kids need to go to college," she said.
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Michele says she plans to help put the five grandchildren of her sister through school as well. Mary Christopherson died of cancer two months ago.
"It really came down to Art asking me, "Well, what would Mary do?" And she wouldn't live there, she would make sure her kids and her grandkids are taken care of," she said.
Says Robert Leslie of Designer Homes: "They are qualified to live in the home, paying the taxes and everything. They just wanted to take this and do more for everyone. People like this make the world a great place."
The Gilbertsons have owned the home outright since June 13. And when it sells, the buyer can rest assured, they'll be paying for more than just 2,800 square feet.
"We really want to do the wise thing and make the best use of this, so we've just been praying for wisdom," Michele Gilbertson said.
