"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and The Bethany Home Writers
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and The Bethany Home Writers
1986 "The Bethany Home Story:" Foreword and Epilogue, by Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
Grateful thanks to Bethany Village for allowing SWEDES to share these words of The Bethany Home Writers
Grateful thanks to Bethany Village for allowing SWEDES to share these words of The Bethany Home Writers
Foreword
Page i
Foreword
Page i
"At a meeting of the Board of Bethany Home in the early spring of 1986, the matter was brought to our attention that this year is the 75th anniversary of the opening of our home to the first guests. We all agreed that some proper recognition should be made of this fact, and, in the course of the discussion, the possibility of writing a history of the home was suggested. Carl Rundquist, Chairman of the Board, said that he agreed that such a history should be written, then, and looking down the table directly at me, he continued: "I know the man who should write it."
"The undersigned was made chairman of the 75th Anniversary Committee which eventually came to include the following persons: Alvida Larson, Jeanie Holwerda, Rev. Norman Andre, Edie Dahlsten, Iona Toll, Bill Carlson, Alice Larson, Rev. Don Hawk, and Leon Burch.
"Alice Larson is about the only one on our committee who had some experience in writing about the home before. She wrote a short history of the Home in 1960, and also wrote a history of the Bethany Home Auxiliary in 1983. It is her history of the Auxiliary, with an update that Iona Toll wrote, that we include in this volume. The Minutes of the Board were recorded in Swedish up to 1928, and Alice has read those documents and conveyed to me the relevant facts from those early years. Jeanie Holwerda has contributed that valuable and informative chapter on nursing in the past ten years. Bill Carlson has written the chapter on calling a full-time chaplain, the self-care cottages, "A New World," and "Morning Devotions." Maggie Rush, a longtime employee, has written the chapter on "Growth of Bethany Home." Edie Dahlsten has been largely responsible for securing and preparing the pictures produced in this book, as well as others that will be on exhibit during the celebration. Iona Toll and the Ladies of the Auxiliary are largely responsible for the banquet and the refreshments during the celebration. Iona and Bill Carlson have also served as proofreaders and correctors of the original manuscripts. Dolores Attleson has provided me with the Minutes from 1939 to the present day. Marjorie Shogren has typed the many interesting stories written by residents of their early experiences in Bethany Home. We are indebted to Barbos' Printing of Lindsborg for putting all this material into book form, and to Turner Photography for taking the 1986 pictures.
"By mid-September the committee had met together six times. All the members have served faithfully.
"When it comes to how much we should include in the book, we have had to make some decisions as to where to draw the line. We have a list of all the persons who have served on the Board since 1950. We have a list of major contributors of financial gifts since 1978, plus some from earlier years. We have the names of all persons who were employed at the home as of August, 1986, and short contributions of memories of Bethany Home by persons (mostly residents) of the same time. We also have the names of others living at the Home this past summer.
"To all who have in any way contributed to the Home, and to this historical book, we are deeply grateful. They have all helped to make Bethany Home truly a special place."
Eugene K. Nelson
September, 1986
"The undersigned was made chairman of the 75th Anniversary Committee which eventually came to include the following persons: Alvida Larson, Jeanie Holwerda, Rev. Norman Andre, Edie Dahlsten, Iona Toll, Bill Carlson, Alice Larson, Rev. Don Hawk, and Leon Burch.
"Alice Larson is about the only one on our committee who had some experience in writing about the home before. She wrote a short history of the Home in 1960, and also wrote a history of the Bethany Home Auxiliary in 1983. It is her history of the Auxiliary, with an update that Iona Toll wrote, that we include in this volume. The Minutes of the Board were recorded in Swedish up to 1928, and Alice has read those documents and conveyed to me the relevant facts from those early years. Jeanie Holwerda has contributed that valuable and informative chapter on nursing in the past ten years. Bill Carlson has written the chapter on calling a full-time chaplain, the self-care cottages, "A New World," and "Morning Devotions." Maggie Rush, a longtime employee, has written the chapter on "Growth of Bethany Home." Edie Dahlsten has been largely responsible for securing and preparing the pictures produced in this book, as well as others that will be on exhibit during the celebration. Iona Toll and the Ladies of the Auxiliary are largely responsible for the banquet and the refreshments during the celebration. Iona and Bill Carlson have also served as proofreaders and correctors of the original manuscripts. Dolores Attleson has provided me with the Minutes from 1939 to the present day. Marjorie Shogren has typed the many interesting stories written by residents of their early experiences in Bethany Home. We are indebted to Barbos' Printing of Lindsborg for putting all this material into book form, and to Turner Photography for taking the 1986 pictures.
"By mid-September the committee had met together six times. All the members have served faithfully.
"When it comes to how much we should include in the book, we have had to make some decisions as to where to draw the line. We have a list of all the persons who have served on the Board since 1950. We have a list of major contributors of financial gifts since 1978, plus some from earlier years. We have the names of all persons who were employed at the home as of August, 1986, and short contributions of memories of Bethany Home by persons (mostly residents) of the same time. We also have the names of others living at the Home this past summer.
"To all who have in any way contributed to the Home, and to this historical book, we are deeply grateful. They have all helped to make Bethany Home truly a special place."
Eugene K. Nelson
September, 1986
Epilogue
Page 59
Page 59
"Now we must conclude, not only this book, but seventy-five (75) years of the history of Bethany home. I want to thank Carl Rundquist and the Board for the privilege of writing this story. It has been a delightful experience. I have never received so many expressions of love and goodwill and appreciation for anything I have done in my life, [like I have for this]. It has been a true joy.
"This is a story about Bethany Home. Today, it is truly a "Nursing Home" because the majority of our residents are in wheelchairs, and some are confined to their beds. "Nursing Home" conveys an unpleasant image for most Americans. But as Nursing Homes go, certainly Bethany Home is one of the best. In recent months we made a survey of a large number of similar institutions in this part of Kansas. We asked such questions as their monthly charges, restrictions on admission, and how many were on their waiting list. Our charges were about in the middle. We were the only home with no restriction on the basis of financial ability. When it came to a waiting list, we have a capacity of about 126 persons--with 250 on the waiting list. The next highest with a waiting list was Cedars in McPherson that had 70. Most had very few or none at all.
"Many children have qualms of conscience about "Putting Mom or Dad in a Nursing Home." I believe that we should all live in our own home as long as possible. But with many of us there comes a time, when we simply cannot. I recall only too well, a very fine lady who was caring for her invalid husband, and her aged mother in her own home, and also helping to care for her father-in-law next door. Finally, that lady, the only healthy one in the situation, ended up in a hospital. Changes had to be made, and they were. The aged mother went to a Home. She did not like going, but came to really like her new place and did not complain. In a home or hospital, a person can work hard for eight hours and take care of several persons, as long as there is the assurance the time will come when they come to the end of their shift, and there is rest for 16 hours! There are not many of us who can care for a person 24 hours a day, seven days a week without a breakdown in our own health of body and spirit.
"In Bethany Home, especially now that we have the activities building, we have many advantages that most homes simply do not have. We have a nice and growing library. There is a kitchen for the residents, so that if a lady who has always baked cookies or cakes may do so once in a while. There is a shop where a man who is handy with tools can still practice his skills. There is a game room, and room for making quilts, an exercise room, and various places where one can entertain a few friends--besides our beautiful Chapel for worship twice a week and private devotions anytime--and the roomy and cheerful dining hall where wholesome meals are served three times a day. We have an excellent and devoted staff in Donna Nelson as our Social Worker and Don Hawk as our Chaplain, besides all the volunteers. I think of Ada Dahlsten and Mr. and Mrs. Wally Hawkinson who have brought goodies and cheer once a week with the Happy Cart and others like Mrs. Mildred Johnson who have helped with this project for nearly 15 years. I think of Gloria Holdsworth and her "Story Hour," and Mrs. Erma Westblade and her Bible Studies for many years. I think of Gladwin Dyck who has brought another man from town to visit with the men once a week on Tuesday mornings, and of Barbara Shannon and Joan Sommer who do volunteer work in the new library, and also Nancy Kessinger, who for years has volunteered her services weekly in the Home's beauty shop.
"I could expand the list--but I have said this much to convey the truth that when the time comes when you can no longer take care of yourself at the place you have lived for the last sixty years, Bethany Home is not a place to be dreaded--but really a fine place.
"Remember it is named after that little village in the Holy Land, the place where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived, "The home that Jesus loved, and where He was loved." It is our desire and prayer that Bethany Home in Lindsborg may ever be such a place!"
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
"This is a story about Bethany Home. Today, it is truly a "Nursing Home" because the majority of our residents are in wheelchairs, and some are confined to their beds. "Nursing Home" conveys an unpleasant image for most Americans. But as Nursing Homes go, certainly Bethany Home is one of the best. In recent months we made a survey of a large number of similar institutions in this part of Kansas. We asked such questions as their monthly charges, restrictions on admission, and how many were on their waiting list. Our charges were about in the middle. We were the only home with no restriction on the basis of financial ability. When it came to a waiting list, we have a capacity of about 126 persons--with 250 on the waiting list. The next highest with a waiting list was Cedars in McPherson that had 70. Most had very few or none at all.
"Many children have qualms of conscience about "Putting Mom or Dad in a Nursing Home." I believe that we should all live in our own home as long as possible. But with many of us there comes a time, when we simply cannot. I recall only too well, a very fine lady who was caring for her invalid husband, and her aged mother in her own home, and also helping to care for her father-in-law next door. Finally, that lady, the only healthy one in the situation, ended up in a hospital. Changes had to be made, and they were. The aged mother went to a Home. She did not like going, but came to really like her new place and did not complain. In a home or hospital, a person can work hard for eight hours and take care of several persons, as long as there is the assurance the time will come when they come to the end of their shift, and there is rest for 16 hours! There are not many of us who can care for a person 24 hours a day, seven days a week without a breakdown in our own health of body and spirit.
"In Bethany Home, especially now that we have the activities building, we have many advantages that most homes simply do not have. We have a nice and growing library. There is a kitchen for the residents, so that if a lady who has always baked cookies or cakes may do so once in a while. There is a shop where a man who is handy with tools can still practice his skills. There is a game room, and room for making quilts, an exercise room, and various places where one can entertain a few friends--besides our beautiful Chapel for worship twice a week and private devotions anytime--and the roomy and cheerful dining hall where wholesome meals are served three times a day. We have an excellent and devoted staff in Donna Nelson as our Social Worker and Don Hawk as our Chaplain, besides all the volunteers. I think of Ada Dahlsten and Mr. and Mrs. Wally Hawkinson who have brought goodies and cheer once a week with the Happy Cart and others like Mrs. Mildred Johnson who have helped with this project for nearly 15 years. I think of Gloria Holdsworth and her "Story Hour," and Mrs. Erma Westblade and her Bible Studies for many years. I think of Gladwin Dyck who has brought another man from town to visit with the men once a week on Tuesday mornings, and of Barbara Shannon and Joan Sommer who do volunteer work in the new library, and also Nancy Kessinger, who for years has volunteered her services weekly in the Home's beauty shop.
"I could expand the list--but I have said this much to convey the truth that when the time comes when you can no longer take care of yourself at the place you have lived for the last sixty years, Bethany Home is not a place to be dreaded--but really a fine place.
"Remember it is named after that little village in the Holy Land, the place where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived, "The home that Jesus loved, and where He was loved." It is our desire and prayer that Bethany Home in Lindsborg may ever be such a place!"
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
Go HERE for Chapters 1 & 2: "The Origins" & "The Buildings That Have Been Bethany Home."
----------------------------------------
Published 1986, 65 pages
Published 1986, 65 pages
* * *
1907 gave birth to the "idea" of a Home
1911 realized the idea with the Home's "first" residents
The Bethany Home Story
was created by
"The Bethany Home Writers"
under the leadership of
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and Administrator Bill Carlson
celebrating the
75th Anniversary of the Home in 1911,
the year when residents first arrived
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * *
"Let Us Celebrate Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.