Companionship Times
Fall 2012
Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
Volume 23, Issue 2
A sister’s helpfulness during the Great Depression
leads to charitable gift in her honor
An older sister who helped out her single mother and younger
siblings during the Great Depression was honored recently by a
significant bequest to Lutheran Social Services Senior
Companions in her memory.
with three children to support. She worked at a Minneapolis
department store until the Great Depression left her jobless and
the family on the welfare rolls.
The estate of Ruth Taylor disbursed more than $145,000, the
remainder of a charitable gift annuity, to the program this year
as Ruth’s way of honoring her older sister Dolly.
“Dolly had volunteered for the Senior Companions,”
explains Jeanne Kelly-Pyle, God-daughter of the
late Ruth Taylor and trustee for the estate. “Later,
when Dolly was dying, she was surrounded by
the thoughtful care and assistance of the Senior
Companion folks in North Dakota.”
Jeanne reports that Ruth thought highly
of the Lutheran Social Services
Senior Companions and their
wonderful work. When it came
time to memorialize her older sister
Dolly, it seemed perfect for Ruth to
do something to benefit Senior
Companions.
“There was much made of the arrest in the
newspapers and Dolly became more in demand
than ever,” she notes. “Some of the time she was
employed by two nightclubs at the same time and
would hurry from one to the other between
shows. And she was always very generous
with what she earned.”
Dolly was born Ruby Burns on
July 11, 1914, in Duluth, moving
with the family to Minneapolis
after World War I. Her family
called her Dolly because she
was so pretty and had a face
like a doll, according to
Ruth’s memoirs.
In 1935 Dolly married a musician who
played with the Slim Jim band in
Minneapolis. The couple lived with Ruth,
mother Annie and a cousin in a flat in
Minneapolis for a few years before moving to
their own apartment.
During World War II, Dolly and her husband
moved to Seattle “where she became Ruby the
Welder” at a ship building plant and later
worked in a gasoline rationing office. The
Following the father’s death
in 1927, Dolly and Ruth’s
mother Annie was left
• Bits from Becky—page 5
• Station Spotlight—page 6
• Volunteer Spotlight—page 7
• Many Thanks—page 9
www.lssnd.org
Fan dancer with a generous heart
Around this time, Dolly was arrested for
dancing with too few clothes on, Ruth recalls.
Ruby Burns (aka Dolly)
Inside
Dolly, who had quit school in 1930 at age 16,
loved to dance and sing and started working
as an entertainer. This enabled her to
regularly provide a small amount of cash for
the rest of the family. Ruth’s memoir tells
how, during the early 1930s, Dolly was
singing in Wisconsin establishments and
sending Ruth and their mother what money
she could.
 Dolly continued on page 2.
Dolly, posing for a cola ad
Volunteering is as easy as pie
Volunteer Recognition Events were held in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Williston and Bismarck
with the theme “Volunteering is as easy as pie. Have a slice an and make someone’s life a whole
lot sweeter!” What a sweet way to celebrate our Senior Companions!
Statewide 2012 Annual
Recognition Events
Grand Forks
On May 10, a joint event was
held for volunteers and station
supervisors of Lutheran Social
Services Senior Companions
and Red River Valley Foster
Grandparents. Guests
met at the Muddy Rivers Town
Hall in Grand Forks for a
delicious Italian lunch, coffee,
dessert and musical
entertainment. Jerry Stormo
had guests clapping and
dancing in their chairs while
he sang and played tunes on
his acoustic guitar. Certificates
 Dolly continued from page 1.
couple moved to Washburn, ND, where Jim had grown up, in
the 1940s.
According to Ruth, “Jim’s mother owned a restaurant in
Washburn and they worked
there for awhile and later
opened a small restaurant
Ruby
of
their own...called, what
(left)and
else,
Ruby’s.”
Ruth in
1983.
Ruth remembers staying
with Dolly in 1985
while Dolly was
being treated for a
fast-progressing
throat cancer.
“Because Dolly had
worked so diligently for
the Senior Companions,
and gifts of appreciation were handed out to volunteers and
stations supervisors from Grand Forks, Fort Totten and Devils
Lake. A great time was had by all!
everyone involved in the program, including volunteers and
supervisors, rallied around her and gave her much support.”
Dolly passed away later that year.
Jeanne says that Ruth always “loved and looked up to her sister
Dolly” and showed her gratitude for the way Dolly had helped
support the family during the depression with the bequest to
Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions made in Dolly’s
honor.
Becky Telin, program director, says that the first use for a
portion of the bequest will be to cover travel expenses for the
Senior Companions volunteers to visit clients in their homes.
Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions has about 110
volunteer companions providing services to enable more than
775 seniors to remain living independently in their homes across
North Dakota. Persons interested in supporting the program as a
donor or volunteer or in obtaining free assistance for an older
person in need may contact Becky at [email protected] or
701-838-7800 (Minot).
Fargo
Olivet Lutheran Church kindly hosted this year’s event on
June 15. A joint celebration for Lutheran Social Services Senior
Companions and Foster Grandparents volunteers and station
supervisors was held. Guests enjoyed a tasty sit-down lunch and
choice of apple or banana cream pie for dessert. Author Marc
de Celle entertained the crowd with excerpts from his bestselling book How Fargo of You. Signed copies were given as
door prizes and Marc generously donated a portion of each book
sold to both programs. The afternoon concluded by honoring
volunteers and station supervisors from Fargo, Carrington,
Jamestown, Wahpeton, Ransom/Sargent counties, LaMoure,
and Valley City with a certificate and gift of appreciation.
Bismarck
The Senior Companions gathered on June 7 at Lord of
Life Lutheran Church for the Bismarck Recognition event.
Becky Telin, director, Andrea Lang and Sonja Mickelson,
coordinators, handed out certificates and gifts to the volunteers
and program supervisors from Kidder Emmons Senior Services,
MedCenter One, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, South Central
Adult Services, Burleigh County Senior Adult Program, Dakota
Center for
Independent
Living, Edgewood
Vista, Elder Care
of Dickinson and
Enable. The Lord
of Life staff did it
again with a
gourmet meal and
wonderful
accommodations.
Vic Schaan, cousin
to Lawrence Welk,
entertained the
group with his
delightful
accordion playing
and even got us
to sing along.
 Easy as pie
continued on page 4.
 Easy as pie continued from page 3.
Minot
The picturesque Scandinavian Heritage Park was the setting
for our Minot recognition event on June 20. Even the threat of
rain could not dampen spirits. Thankfully it held off until we
were done. Eating a picnic lunch from the Royal Fork while
being serenaded by accordionist Jerry Schlag made for a lovely
afternoon. Becky Telin, director, and Sonja Mickelson, coordinator
for Lutheran Social Services Senior Companion program
presented gifts and certificates to all of our fantastic volunteers.
Volunteers, program supervisors and guests were in attendance
from Milton Young Towers, Manorcare, Bottineau Senior Center,
McHenry County Social Services, Harvey Senior Center, The
Three-Affiliated Tribes and Presentation Medical Center.
Williston
Pies! Pies! Pies! The Williston area volunteer recognition had plenty of pies! The event was held at
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on May 10. Peggy Bearce made all the pies for the event and they were
scrumptious, especially with a dollop of ice cream. Senior Companions from Trenton and Williston
were entertained by Jacki Keck who played the harpsichord and sang songs with PIE in the lyrics, such
as Billy Boy (can she bake a cherry pie, Billy boy?) Bye, Bye, American Pie, and even a song about
Pi—as in 3.14. Sonja Mickelson of Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions awarded certificates,
and we were honored that Mayor Ward Koeser took the time to speak to the volunteers, thanking them
for giving back to the community and congratulating them for their years of service. Thank you Mayor
Koeser, Jacki and Peggy for making
our volunteers feel special.
Page 4
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
AS EASY AS PIE
by Dorothy Reil
I wonder why
We say it’s easy as pie?
When it’s measuring and mixing
Kneading and poking
Punching and rolling out thin
And getting the mess to fit in a tin
Poking with forks and adding a filling
Then rolling out thin for a top
And pinching and crimping
And poking an initial to identify
Adding some egg white for glazing
Then slipped into the oven
And checking until done
Boy, do we know how to have fun!
I wonder why
We say it’s easy as pie!
But giving our all is what we do
And we volunteer for quite a few.
We are a companion
And we are good at it.
We spread lots of cheer
Always on the run
Giving hope and lots of fun
No thinking twice
It is always so nice
To honor our volunteers.
That’s why we are here
To honor you and all you do.
And now I know why
It’s as easy as pie!
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
Bits from Becky
by Becky Telin, Program Director
Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions
What a fantastic summer we had! I have
to admit I like the hot temperatures. The
program has been busy over the past six
months. Recruiting has been our top
priority, even with 12 new companions
helping in their communities. We always
want to expand the program, looking for
people with the heart and desire to help
others.
In the spring and early summer we enjoyed celebrating with
Senior Companions and eastern Foster Grandparent volunteers
throughout the state. We had a good time holding events in
Grand Forks, Williston, Minot, Bismarck and Fargo. We are so
thankful for our volunteers!
Each year, the Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions
program asks its volunteers, clients and volunteer station
supervisors to share feedback on the program’s impact. The
three Corporation for National and Community Service
(CNCS) Senior Corp Programs (Senior Companions, Foster
Grandparents and RSVP) will be collecting information from
you as clients and volunteers on how the program impacts your
life. This is something you already share with us as a local
impact. We now will be asked to share the information with
CNCS as part of the story of national impact.
Survey Results
Volunteers surveyed:
•100% felt participation in the program has had a positive impact
on their lives.
•100% felt being a Senior Companion has added purpose and
fulfillment to their lives.
•98% felt they make a positive impact in the lives of their clients.
•66% used the tax-free stipend to help pay for food
Volunteer Stations surveyed:
•100% felt the program had a positive impact on the community
Year End Program Stats (July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012)
Volunteer Hours: 81, 904
Clients served: 687
Companions: 117
Announcement
With the new fiscal year starting July 1, I am happy to tell our
companions who drive that we will be raising the mileage rate
to 45 cents per mile. This is due to the help of a large private
estate donation and nine United Ways.
Page 5
Sonja’s Stuff
Andrea’s Anecdotes
Another summer season has come and
gone and fall is fast approaching. I hope
you were able to fit as many “fun in the
sun” activities as you could into our short
summer. This is our favorite time of year
for the Senior Companions, not only for
the warmth, but because it is the time we
get to gather together and celebrate our
volunteers. I always enjoy seeing all of
you at our recognition events and taking
the time to thank each and every one of
you for what you have done, and continue to do, for the
program. You volunteers are the most important resource of the
Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions program and your
ability to work willingly together for the betterment of your
community—and yourselves—is a true win/win situation.
I hope this letter finds you doing well! My
work with Lutheran Social Services has
kept me very busy this summer, and I like
it! As program coordinator, my favorite
part has always been planning and
attending the annual recognition events
for our volunteers and station supervisors.
Being able to visit face-to-face with you
and say “thank you” in a more formal way
is always a fun, memorable experience.
Recently, I have also been busy as a
consultant for Lutheran Social Services as the agency makes
steps towards expanding the number of senior services it offers
throughout the state. Being involved with this process has been
an exciting venture and a great learning opportunity!
by Sonja Mickelson, Western ND Coordinator, Minot
by Andrea Lang, Eastern ND Coordinator, Fargo
I look forward to visiting with you all throughout the fall. I will
be scheduling visits for handbook reviews and in-services in
your area, so watch for me! I will also be reaching out to areas
that are looking to expand the program in their communities.
We know the need is out there and we know there are many
people just like you who are looking to make a difference. If
you know a person like this, please let me know.
Now that summer has come to an end, I look forward to
bringing my sweaters and sweatshirts out of storage. I will be
dressing warm this fall as I will be on the road quite a bit
looking to expand Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions
to new areas of eastern North Dakota that are not yet served by
our program. Our hope is to grow, grow, grow in 2013 and to
share the kindness, care and compassion of our Senior
Companions with more seniors. If you have ideas about new
communities our Senior Companions should tap into, please let
me know. I welcome your insight and suggestions!
Eastern: Spirit Lake Senior Services
Fort Totten, ND
Western: Presentation Medical Center
Rolla, ND
Spirit Lake Senior Services was established on the Spirit Lake
reservation in the late 1980s. The program provides services to
adults who are 55+ years of age. Services include congregate
and home delivered meals, outreach services and transportation.
Currently, seven paid staff and several volunteers from the
community help operate the program.
Founded in 1939 as Rolla Community Hospital, Presentation
Medical Center (PMC) is a 25-bed critical access hospital.
Funds for services come from a variety of sources including the
North Dakota Department of Transportation, Older Adult
Americans Act and economic endowment funds from the Spirit
Lake casino. Tammie, administrative assistant and Senior
Companion volunteer station supervisor, stated that the program
hopes to serve more and more elders and to one day have one
central site on the reservation for seniors to congregate for
meals and activities. Currently two Senior Companions serve
the Spirit Lake area. Spirit Lake Senior Services, located at
1115 Dakota Drive, Fort Totten, ND, operates Monday through
Friday from 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Page 6
PMC provides 24-hour emergency care, comfort care,
diagnostic imaging, dietary, lab, specialty clinic, pastoral care,
pharmacy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, social services/
utilization review and the Presentation Clinic.
“At PMC we provide our patients with the best care possible at
a local level, making sure our patients receive the needed help,
preventive measures and necessary services to live a healthy
life style and grow within a healthy community,” they say.
The Senior Companions program and Presentation Medical
Center have teamed up since 2006. Rose Morin, station
supervisor through PMC, has been instrumental in building
the program to seven volunteers.
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
Beverly
Haugen
grew up in
Churchs Ferry,
ND. She is
a mother of
two and
grandmother to
five. Beverly
has been active
as a Senior
Companion in
Jamestown since March 2010.
Why did she decide to become a Senior
Companion, you ask? According to Bev,
“It’s time to give back!” Now that she is
retired from teaching, she has the time
and energy to serve others in need.
When Beverly is not busy volunteering,
she enjoys playing bridge, crocheting,
and keeping her home in tip-top shape!
As a Senior Companion, Beverly most
enjoys being an advocate for her clients.
Maxine
Malcomb
and
Audrey
Morgan
are the first
mother/
daughter team
of Senior
Companions.
Maxine has
been volunteering for 13 years, while
Audrey joined a few months ago after
seeing the benefits to her mother.
Maxine was raised in the Plaza area and
raised her five children, including Audrey,
in Minot. Maxine has 14 grandchildren, 35
great-grandchildren and 4 great-greatgrandchildren. Wow! Audrey has six
children, 16 grandchildren and 1 greatgranddaughter.
“All my clients love me,” says Maxine.
“That makes me feel wonderful.”
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
Margie
Ross is the
newest Senior
Companion
serving Fort
Totten. She
was raised in
the Woodlake
Tokio district
of the Spirit
Lake
reservation.
She is the mother of one son and
grandmother of five.
Tammie Putnam, VSS through Spirit Lake
Senior Services, said Margie is doing a
great job as Senior Companion and hopes
that she will continue with the program for
years to come!
In her spare time, Margie enjoys baking
pies and cakes. Rumor has it that her clients
get to enjoy Margie’s baked goods quite a
bit too! She also has a talent for sewing
star quilts.
Gladys
Heiser was
born in
Wyoming in
1925. She
grew up on the
Shoshone
River as a
farmer’s
daughter and
loved working
side by side
with her father and siblings. She came to
Williston in 2001 to be closer to be her
daughter.
Emy
Recker
in November 2009.
was born in
Sasebo, Japan.
In 1955 she
moved to the
U.S. and later
settled in
Lisbon, ND.
She became a
Senior
Companion
Emy said her experience as a Senior
Companion has filled her life with so
much joy. In fact, Emy refers to her clients
as “family” and says they help brighten
her day as much as she brightens theirs.
She loves visiting with and listening to her
clients and the hugs, smiles, and thank
yous she receives from them.
In her spare time, Emy enjoys walking (up
to 3 miles a day!) and volunteers at a local
nursing home.
Edith
Halverson:
“Oh
forevermore!”
exclaimed
Edith
Halverson
when told of
being in the
“spotlight.” It
made her day,
just as she
makes the day brighter for those she sees.
Gladys has another daughter in Colorado.
She has five grandchildren and 12 great
grandchildren.
This small town Michigan girl followed
her husband to North Dakota. She has
four children, two boys and two girls.
She has eight grandchildren and several
great-grandchildren.
Eleven years as a Senior Companion in
ND have given her a reason to get out of
the house and meet people.
A friend told her about the Senior
Companions and she signed up right
away and says it changed her life.
“I don’t like being alone all the time,”
says Gladys. “I feel like a new person
whenever I get done visiting.”
“I love sharing,” says Edith when asked
why she volunteers.
Page 7
Welcome!
New Senior Companions
January 2012–August 2012
Krishna Adhikari, Fargo
Evalon Bachmeier, Halliday
Marla Fox, St. John
Fred Hill, West Fargo
Natalie Jahner, Fargo
Dennis LaFontaine, Belcourt
Audrey Morgan, Minot
Karla O’Dell, Fargo
Lila Ram Parsai, Fargo
Marge Peterson, Lakota
Barbara Poitra Kroker
Pat Power, Minot
Margie Ross, Ft. Totten
Theresa Thomas, Belcourt
Bonnie Viken, Fargo
New Volunteer Stations
and Station Supervisors
Grand Forks Housing Authority
1405 1st Ave. N., Grand Forks, ND 58203
Volunteer Station Supervisor—Kim Solarski
Lutheran Social Services New Americans
412 Demers Ave., Grand Forks, ND 58201
Volunteer Station Supervisors—Tara Dupper
and Katie Dachtler
Housing Authority of Cass County
230 8th Ave. W., West Fargo, ND 58078
Volunteer Station Supervisor—Blake Strehlow
Fargo VA Health Care System
2101 Elm St. N., Fargo, ND 58102
Volunteer Station Supervisor—Katie Smith
Pioneer Manor
201 11th St. N., Fargo, ND 58102)
Volunteer Station Supervisor—Kasye Sherva
Welcome to Lindsay Becker, new volunteer station supervisor (VSS) for the
Senior Companions in Dickinson. She will be working through Elder Care.
Welcome Celeste Kleppe, new Senior Companion volunteer station supervisor with
South Central Adult Services—McIntosh/Logan Counties.
Grateful Clients
Our senior companion is the cream of the crop.
She comes to us, not matter the weather, or her
convenience, or circumstances, the tick of the clock
brings her faithfully each week. It is the high point
of our week when she comes. She brings fun, helps
us with our mail and my hobbies where we need
some “sighted” help, and a BIG SMILE. We are
truly blessed to be a part of her life!
Curtis and Karen Delzer
Page 8
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
ManyThanks!
www.lssnd.org
Office Locations
Minot—Main Office
1905 2nd St. SE—Suite 1B
Minot, ND 58701
Phone: (701) 838-7800
Fargo Office
4720 7th Ave. S., Suite B
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 271-3247
(800) 450-1510
YES! I would like to support
Lutheran Social Services
Senior Companions.
How many times have you said,
“How can I help my community?”
By supporting Lutheran Social Services Senior
Companions, you ARE helping your community. Because
the program is funded by contributions and through state
and federal grants, if you choose to make a tax-deductible
contribution, your gift will be used to enhance and expand
the services provided in North Dakota and your area. You
may use the form on the back of this newsletter to make a
donation. Thank you for your support!
•••
Senior Companions
Program Staff
Becky Telin
Program Director
[email protected]
Andrea Lang
Program Coordinator—East (Fargo)
[email protected]
Sonja Mickelson
Program Coordinator—West (Minot)
[email protected]
Gail Patterson
Program Assistant—Minot
[email protected]
Peggy Bearce
Program Assistant—Williston
[email protected]
Our Mission:
Guided by God’s love and grace
Lutheran Social Services
of North Dakota
brings healing, help and hope.
Companionship Times, Fall 2012
Thanks to these donors
for their support
Financial Supporters:
Bethel Lutheran Foundation • ND Aging Services • Nellie Svee
Ecolab Grand Forks • Corporation for National Services
United Ways:
Missouri Slope United Way—Bismarck
Basin United Way—Williston
Souris Valley United Way—Minot
Cass/Clay United Way—Fargo/Moorhead
Jamestown United Way • Dickinson United Way
Grand Forks United Way
Richland–Wilkin United Way
Barnes County United Way—Valley City
Individual donations to Lutheran Social Services
Senior Companions since January 2012
Albert and Anita Kessel, Fairfield • Brian M. Fadness, Dickinson
Howard Seefried, Jamestown • Louise E. Richter, Fargo
Marc De Celle, Fargo • Mary Beth Olombel, Wimbledon
Ruth B. Taylor Estate, San Marcos, CA • Susan Anderson, Napoleon
Page 9
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 1071
Fargo, ND
www.lssnd.org
Lutheran Social Services of ND
4720 7th Ave. S., Suite B
Fargo, ND 58103
YES... Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions
is important to me, my family and my community.
Mail your donation to: Lutheran Social Services Senior
Companions, 1905 2nd St. SE, Suite 1B, Minot, ND 58701
I’d like to give my support in the following ways:
o $10 to fuel a month of travel for a Senior Companion.
o $25 to provide ten hours of visits & assistance from a Senior Companion
o $45 to support three hours of training for Senior Companions volunteers
a Month Giving Plan is a convenient way to
o $5
fit support of Senior Companions and Lutheran Social Services
of North Dakota into your monthly budget
o P
lease enroll me in the Monthly Giving Plan
with my gift of $_______ per month
o I would like you to charge my credit card each month.
I have completed the attached credit card information
o I would like you to make a monthly withdrawal
from my checking account. Please send me information.
I authorize this monthly transaction and understand that it will remain in effect
until I contact Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions to cancel or change
the amount of my monthly contribution.
___________________________________________________________
Signature
Date
Payment Information
o My check is enclosed
Please charge my: o Visa o Mastercard
Credit Card Number
Expiration Date_____________________
_________________________________
Name
_________________________________
Address
_________________________________
City
State
Zip
_________________________________
Phone
_________________________________
E-mail (help us save some money and trees)
o P
lease send me e-mail news about Senior
Companions and Lutheran Social Services.
_________________________________
Signature
o I am a Thrivent member.
Please send me a matching gift form.