Ryan remembers watching Don and Patti care for their own parents as they grew older. He also remembers them helping people in their community, including times when the family did not have much extra to give.
That care extended to Ryan and his brother, Travis. Their parents paid for the things their children needed and made a point of attending sporting events and other moments when support mattered.
“They were there.”
Work and conflicting commitments sometimes got in the way. Sometimes one parent could make it when the other could not. Looking back, Ryan remembers how consistently they tried to be present.
When he describes what that meant, he comes back to a few words: "They were there." Caring for parents, helping the community, and being there for their children belong in Don and Patti's story alongside their mission work.