Bluebird houses, book take flight after family loss

Proceeds from both ventures benefit area hospice organizations

Kristy’s father, Ryan Rudolph, holding up a pair of bluebird houses he made in honor of his late wife, Pat.  Contributed photo

By Scott Thoma

scott@thomabooks.com

The solemn news that her mother was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer seven years ago hit Corcoran native Kristy Boike like a ton of bricks. Still, that wasn’t the hardest part.

“I think it was harder watching my dad losing the love of his life and seeing their story come to an end,” said Boike, who now lives in New Prague with her husband, Joe, and their four children. “My parents had been married 30 years. She was the glue that held everything and everyone together.”

When Pat Rudolph, Kristy’s mother, passed away in 2018 from a brain tumor, her father, Ryan Rudolph, had trouble sleeping because all the photos and smells in the house reminded him of his late wife. He soon developed anxiety issues.

On one of those restless nights, Ryan, a woodworker by trade, went out to his workshop at 1 a.m. to keep his mind occupied. He grabbed a piece of wood, turned on the table saw, and just started cutting. As he looked up, one of the bluebird houses he had previously constructed caught his eye, so he decided to duplicate it. After all, bluebirds were Pat’s favorite birds because of their color. He had built several other bluebird houses that were stationed on their property.

Ryan continued to cut pieces of wood and screw the pieces together until he had made nearly a dozen of the bluebird houses. Keeping busy was helping him cope with the grief.

“Dad called me one day and asked me if I could help him get rid of a bunch of bluebird houses that he had built,” Kristy said. “I wanted to help him in any way because I knew what he was going through, so I jumped at the chance to help. Working with his hands was healing his heart.”

Kristy advertised the bluebird houses for sale online and the story went viral overnight. Orders for houses were pouring in and Kristy was trying to keep up “shipping them all over the country,” so she pulled in other family members to help. A portion of the proceeds from the bluebird houses were donated to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St Paul where Pat spent her final days.

Kristy and her husband, Joe. Contributed photo

“Along with many others, we had four generations of family members helping with the houses, including my dad, my grandpa, myself and my kids,” Boike said. “Dad made a map one time and put pins in it to indicate where the houses ended up. They were in almost every state.”

Some of the purchased houses were in remembrance of a lost one, such as one woman in Mankato who lost her mother. The woman spoke with her other siblings and they all purchased a bluebird house in memory of their mother. Orders for 25-50 houses were coming in from some people and businesses. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and 4-H groups were selling uncut bluebird kits at workshops.

Ryan eventually remarried and discontinued making the birdhouses out of respect for his current wife.

Meanwhile, Kristy had started a support group in her area to help others understand and cope with the loss of a loved one. She also needed something to keep her mind busy as she felt the loss of her mother. Through the encouragement from others in the support group, Kristy began to write.

“I felt an obligation to my mother,” she said. “So, I started writing as an outlet for my own grief.”

Kristy with her book “Rise up Little Bluebirds.” Kristy wrote the book to help those going through grief. And proceeds from the book are being donated to hospice. Contributed photo.

Her children’s book, “Rise up Little Bluebirds,” came out two years ago. Proceeds from the book are also being donated to hospice care.

The book’s focus is to teach children how to cope with grief, and Boike said it was written specifically for people touched by the common thread of loss.

“Grief is such an isolating experience,” Boike said. “I hope that the message will resonate with children and adults, alike, while delivering a compelling message to today’s uncertain time that although we may be separated from the ones we care for, I love the unending connection that binds us all.”

Boike said some people find it difficult to talk to their children about death and there is a misunderstanding that kids are unable to comprehend it.

“Trying to be authentic and real is important for children to understand,” she said.

The grandma bluebird on the cover of the book represents Boike’s mother. Her children — Matthew, 20; Grace, 18; Ryan, 17; and Noah, 9 — also represent some of the bluebirds featured in the book.

The homework assignment Kristy Boike’s youngest son, Noah, made of her children’s book (seeing this made Kristy cry).

For one of his third-grade homework assignments this year, Noah was given a piece of paper with a drawing of an outline of a book and asked to name his favorite book and decorate the drawing. He had no problem quickly turning the drawing into “Rise up Little Bluebirds,” and proudly indicated that the author was his very own mother.

“I sat down and cried,” Kristy said.

Boike has partnered with community organizations and individuals that provide her with bluebird houses to take along when she attends events or book signings. Some of the birdhouses are made by volunteers from Our Lady of Peace Hospice that Boike previously had connected with.

“Rise up Little Bluebirds” is available online at www.riseuplittlebluebirds.com.