"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
- Rev. Eugene K. Nelson and the Bethany Home Writers
Rev. Eugene K. Nelson
1914-2000
Editor
of
"The Bethany Home Story"
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 Bethany Home CEO/Administrator Kris Erickson, to share some of the book's highlights in SWEDES. (A few years later, under the leadership of Mr. Erickson, a new name was adopted that more fully describes this much larger care facility for seniors. That name is Bethany Village which includes its three care facilities: Bethany Home for long-term care, the Sunflower Terrace for assisted living and the Cottages for independent living.)
So, with grateful thanks to Bethany Village, SWEDES has been allowed to share some of the "Bethany Home Story" by some Bethany Home Writers, for the purpose of remembering and honoring them, and all those involved in this most historic project of 1986, the staff, board members, American Lutheran Church* (ALC) pastors, and residents of Bethany Home, while at the same time to recognize these Writers as part of the Smoky Valley Writers.
Mr. Bill Carlson was the Bethany Home Administrator in 1986 when the Home was preparing to celebrate its 75th Anniversary. The Rev. Eugene K. Nelson of the Messiah Lutheran Church, a Bethany Home Board of Directors member since 1970, was assigned the task of telling the story of Bethany Home, as editor of the project. The committee members of this writing project were: Bill Carlson, 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 Origin's," 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.
* It is important historically to note that Bethany Home was actually first supported by the 1860 Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod of North America, then through a major merger of Lutheran Synods by the 1860 Lutheran Church of America (LCA), and through another significant merger in 1988 to present-day, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).
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 Origin's" 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.
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.
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, 2019
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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Bethany Home Residents of 1986 some of whom were "The Bethany Home Writers"
Bethany Home Residents of 1986 some of whom were "The Bethany Home Writers"
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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* * *
* * *
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
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"Let Us Remember 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 Remember 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.
