"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
<> Celebrating the Augustana Synod Legacy <>
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
<> Celebrating the Augustana Synod Legacy <>
- Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and The Bethany Home Writers
On March 1, 2018, I was graciously gifted with the historical 1986 book, "The Bethany Home Story," from Bethany Home's Patricia Roraback of the Development Department. I further received kind approval from Mr. Kris Erickson, the Bethany Home Chief Executive Officer and Administrator since September of 2014, to share some of the book's highlights in SWEDES.
Under Mr. Erickson's leadership, a new name was to be adopted that more fully described this expanding care institution for seniors. That name, the brand name, "Bethany Village" became a historical reality with its announcement in the Lindsborg News-Record on September 3, 2020. That name encompasses "The Cottages" for independent living residence; "The Sunflower Terrace" for full-service (assisted) senior living residence; and the "Bethany Home," the rehabilitation and long-term care center.
So, with grateful thanks to Mr. Erickson and the Bethany Village, SWEDES has been allowed to share some of "The Bethany Home Story" by many Bethany Home Writers. This is for the purpose of remembering and honoring them and all those involved: The staff, board members, American Lutheran Church pastors, and residents, for their participation in this most historic project of 1986, to commemorate Bethany Home's 75th Anniversary.
Concurrently, this endeavor is to recognize "The Bethany Home Writers" as part of "The Smoky Valley Writers."
Under Mr. Erickson's leadership, a new name was to be adopted that more fully described this expanding care institution for seniors. That name, the brand name, "Bethany Village" became a historical reality with its announcement in the Lindsborg News-Record on September 3, 2020. That name encompasses "The Cottages" for independent living residence; "The Sunflower Terrace" for full-service (assisted) senior living residence; and the "Bethany Home," the rehabilitation and long-term care center.
So, with grateful thanks to Mr. Erickson and the Bethany Village, SWEDES has been allowed to share some of "The Bethany Home Story" by many Bethany Home Writers. This is for the purpose of remembering and honoring them and all those involved: The staff, board members, American Lutheran Church pastors, and residents, for their participation in this most historic project of 1986, to commemorate Bethany Home's 75th Anniversary.
Concurrently, this endeavor is to recognize "The Bethany Home Writers" as part of "The Smoky Valley Writers."
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
1914-2000
Editor of "The Bethany Home Story" of 1986
Leading the writing project was Rev. Eugene K. Nelson of the Messiah Lutheran Church, a Bethany Home Board of Directors member since 1970, who was assigned the task of telling the story of Bethany Home. He was to be editor of this 1986 project for the celebration of this most significant anniversary to date.
Rev. Nelson was born in Marquette, Kansas, on April 9, 1914 of Swedish parents: C. J. "Charley" Nelson and Augusta Mathilda (Johnson). He received his Bachelor's Degree in History and Political Science from Bethany College in 1937. He graduated from the Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod's Seminary at Rock Island, Illinois in 1941. In 1940, he had married Barbara F. Lacquement of Canton, Kansas. They had 3 children: Birger, David, and Ingrid, all Bethany College graduates. During his tenure as a pastor, he like many of his contemporary Lutheran pastors, would experience the results of the first merger of the Augustana Synod with other Lutheran synods to form the LCA, the Lutheran Church in America in 1962, and the second merger to form the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in 1988, of which his wife worked tirelessly with 70 other members to form its framework. With his family, Rev. Nelson served many Midwest Lutheran congregations with a 9-year assignment in Norwalk, California. He completed his tenure in the Smoky Valley to serve the Messiah Church and Freemount Church congregations when he returned to Lindsborg in 1965 until his retirement in 1979. He was a member of the Rotary Club and Bethany College Alumni Association as well as becoming an Honorary Bethany College Football Chaplain. A beloved Lutheran Pastor in the Smoky Valley, his memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 8, 2000, in Presser Hall Auditorium on the Bethany College campus with Pastors Dr. Victoria Brundage and Vance Eckstrom officiating.
Under Rev. Nelson's leadership for the 1986 "Bethany Home Story" writing project were committee members educator, historian and author Bill Carlson, the Bethany Home Association Administrator since 1974, Alvida Larson, Jeanie Holwerda, Rev. Norman Andre, Edie Dahlsten, Ione Toll, Alice Larson, Rev. Don Hawk (the chaplain of the Home) and Leon Burch.
Some of these members were given assigned parts to write about and others were to gather stories from residents and staff. All of these writings, by these "Bethany Home Writers" would be compiled for what would be titled:
The Bethany Home Story, Lindsborg, Kansas, 1911 – 1986.
Rev. Nelson was born in Marquette, Kansas, on April 9, 1914 of Swedish parents: C. J. "Charley" Nelson and Augusta Mathilda (Johnson). He received his Bachelor's Degree in History and Political Science from Bethany College in 1937. He graduated from the Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod's Seminary at Rock Island, Illinois in 1941. In 1940, he had married Barbara F. Lacquement of Canton, Kansas. They had 3 children: Birger, David, and Ingrid, all Bethany College graduates. During his tenure as a pastor, he like many of his contemporary Lutheran pastors, would experience the results of the first merger of the Augustana Synod with other Lutheran synods to form the LCA, the Lutheran Church in America in 1962, and the second merger to form the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in 1988, of which his wife worked tirelessly with 70 other members to form its framework. With his family, Rev. Nelson served many Midwest Lutheran congregations with a 9-year assignment in Norwalk, California. He completed his tenure in the Smoky Valley to serve the Messiah Church and Freemount Church congregations when he returned to Lindsborg in 1965 until his retirement in 1979. He was a member of the Rotary Club and Bethany College Alumni Association as well as becoming an Honorary Bethany College Football Chaplain. A beloved Lutheran Pastor in the Smoky Valley, his memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 8, 2000, in Presser Hall Auditorium on the Bethany College campus with Pastors Dr. Victoria Brundage and Vance Eckstrom officiating.
Under Rev. Nelson's leadership for the 1986 "Bethany Home Story" writing project were committee members educator, historian and author Bill Carlson, the Bethany Home Association Administrator since 1974, Alvida Larson, Jeanie Holwerda, Rev. Norman Andre, Edie Dahlsten, Ione Toll, Alice Larson, Rev. Don Hawk (the chaplain of the Home) and Leon Burch.
Some of these members were given assigned parts to write about and others were to gather stories from residents and staff. All of these writings, by these "Bethany Home Writers" would be compiled for what would be titled:
The Bethany Home Story, Lindsborg, Kansas, 1911 – 1986.
Although explained later in Chapter 2, "The Origins," it must be noted here first that in 1907 the idea of a "Home" was first endorsed by the Kansas Conference of the Augustana Synod* held in Marquette, Kansas, 10 miles west of Lindsborg. It was further endorsed at this conference by a vote that the Home would be located in Lindsborg. However, it would be four (4) years later in 1911 that the Home actually received its first residents. Therefore, it is from this year, seventy-five (75) years later, that "The Bethany Home Story" was composed in 1986.
The Sections to Be Shared
First presented will be the section "Table of Contents" including listed photos; then, the "Foreword" and "Epilogue" by Rev. Eugene K. Nelson; followed by the sections "Chapters I and II," "The Origins" and "The Buildings That Have Been Bethany Home;" continuing with the section for "Chapter III, "The Board and the Sponsoring Church;" and concluding with the section on "Chapter XI, "Memories of Bethany Home by Residents and Friends" with the subsections: "The Gentle Art of Caring", poem by Verna Todd, age 92; finishing with subsection "O Bethany Song," the poem, found inside the back cover of the book.
*It is important historically to clarify here that Bethany Home was first sponsored by the 1860 Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod of North America. Then, through a major merger of Lutheran Synods in 1962, the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) was to sponsor the Home. Following another significant merger in 1988, the Home was to be sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), that has continued to 2023.
Go, HERE to the 1986, "The Bethany Home Story," TABLE OF CONTENTS, including listed photos.
*It is important historically to clarify here that Bethany Home was first sponsored by the 1860 Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod of North America. Then, through a major merger of Lutheran Synods in 1962, the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) was to sponsor the Home. Following another significant merger in 1988, the Home was to be sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), that has continued to 2023.
Go, HERE to the 1986, "The Bethany Home Story," TABLE OF CONTENTS, including listed photos.
Some photographs with captions from the book are shown below.
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Published 1986, 65 pages
Published 1986, 65 pages
Grateful thanks to Bethany Home for the gift of this most historical book of 1986, to be used in SWEDES, 2018.
"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
Bill Carlson
1930-2018
Lindsborg Bethany Home Administrator
1974 - 1994
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> The Bethany Home Residents of 1986 <
Many of whom were "The Bethany Home Writers" for "The Bethany Home Story"
> The Bethany Home Residents of 1986 <
Many of whom were "The Bethany Home Writers" for "The Bethany Home Story"
Pages 28-29
Bethany Home Staff, Board, and Volunteers Through the Years
Chaplain
Rev. Don Hawke
1982 - 2006
Page 41
Architect
Eldon Swensson
Eldon Swensson
Page 16
For "Elin Manor," "Hoglund Manor," the "Activities Building"
All three phases of the "Self-Care Cottages"
All three phases of the "Self-Care Cottages"
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Capital Funds Leaders
Capital Funds Leaders
|
Royer Barclay
Page 10
Director of Capital Funds Campaign for "Elin Manor," 1972
|
Gene Larson
Page 12
Director of Capital Funds Campaign for "Hoglund Manor," 1975
|
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Finance Leaders
Finance Leaders
J. O. Stromquist Ebba Fornberg John Altenborg
J. O. Stromquist, Treasurer of the Home, from 1920 - 1944, Page 17
Ebba Fornberg, Treasurer, 1944 - 1950, Page 18
John Altenborg, Business Manager from 1951 - 1965, faithful supporter of the Home, Page 19
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Ebba Fornberg, Treasurer, 1944 - 1950, Page 18
John Altenborg, Business Manager from 1951 - 1965, faithful supporter of the Home, Page 19
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Nurses
Mrs. Bengt Berg Crissy Anderson Jeanie Holwerda
Mrs. Bengt Berg, First Director of Nursing: 1911 - 1918, Page 25
Crissy Anderson, R. N. Director of Nursing Services, 1956 - 1971, Page 19
Jeanie Holwerda, R. N. Our Director of Nursing since Nov. 11, 1975, Page 25
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Crissy Anderson, R. N. Director of Nursing Services, 1956 - 1971, Page 19
Jeanie Holwerda, R. N. Our Director of Nursing since Nov. 11, 1975, Page 25
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* * *
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Sources: "The Bethany Home Story" and Bethany Village, Lindsborg, Kansas
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Sources: "The Bethany Home Story" and Bethany Village, Lindsborg, Kansas
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* * *
1907 gave birth to the "idea" of a Home
1911 realized the idea with the Home's "first" residents
1911 realized the idea with the Home's "first" residents
Page 1
* * *
"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.
"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.
