Communities living to glorify God
A Publication of Bethany Life Communities
Volume 3, Issue 1
Winter, 2006
Relationships
The Essence of Quality Care
This edition of the Bethany Life
Communities newsletter is dedi-
cated to all of you who have joined
our organization by “honoring our
mothers and our fathers”. Psalm
71:9 is our guiding principle: “Do
not cast me off in the time of old
age; forsake me not when my
strength is spent.” Our elders are
the dignitaries of our community.
Your relationships with our ministry
are vital as we continuously improve our quality of care.
Building
Trust
Residents
Families
Staff
Churches
Thank You!
Volunteers
Bethany Life Communities’ mission is to:
Donors
Help elders thrive in their life
journey, living in a Christian
environment of hope and
compassion
“
.”
Olga & Ed Cox
Danielle, Brenda, Ashley
Businesses
Government
Chaplain Sandy,Everett & Helen
The “Breaking Bread Together” Campaign has currently raised approximately $30,000 for the renovation of our dining room. We need significant
gifts in support of this effort. Please consider giving a major gift to this Campaign. Your generosity will make a significant difference in the lives of our
elders. Naming opportunities are available for major gifts. What a great way
to leave a legacy in your name. Call the Foundation at 515-733-4325 and express your desire to help. Thanks!
Erwin & Nursing Staff
Page 2
From the President
Dear Friends:
Betsy Warburton
President/CEO
BLC Values
Benevolence
Stewardship
Personal Growth
Innovation
Teamwork
Relationships
Are You Ready For A
Vacation?
The “Great Life “ Raffle
is now underway. Buy
a ticket or two and help
BLC and our elders with
limited financial resources. Bon Voyage!!
(see page 5 for details)
BLC Member Churches
A Covenant
of Understanding
This opportunity to write about “relationships” reminds me of how important our
friends and families are—to Bethany Life Communities (BLC) and to us personally. At BLC,
we are blessed to have friends from across central Iowa and the nation. We are grateful
for these supportive relationships that have developed over the years. We treasure our
relationships with our families, for they strengthen and encourage us in our work. My
husband and kids know the importance of our work at Bethany Life and I thank them.
I have been honored to share in the lives of so many wonderful residents and their loving families. I know that making the decision to have a loved one come to Bethany Life
can be very hard. The relationship our organization and staff have with residents and
family members must only be one of absolute dignity and respect. Your trust in these
relationships is of utmost importance.
I also am blessed to have the opportunity to lead our dedicated staff. I feel a strong
connection with all of them in knowing that they care about our elders. I know their work
is hard, but I also know that they cherish the relationships they have with those they
serve. I thank them for their caring support of our elders.
At BLC, volunteers extend our services and caring dramatically. Volunteer relationships
are extremely valuable—especially for their personal impact. In 2005, over 200 volunteers spent more than 14,000 hours serving in a variety of ways; sharing generous gifts of
time and talent. Our volunteer board of directors take their roles seriously and bring much
strength to our organization. I thank each of these “Good Samaritans” for the relationship
they maintain with our organization and the work they do.
BLC currently has twenty-five (25) member churches that support our mission in a variety of ways—helping elders thrive in their life journey, living in a Christian environment of
hope and compassion. Thus, BLC and member churches enjoy a partnership in ministry
that extends from congregations to the whole community. Strong relationships with our
member churches are vital to our success in expressing Christian caring for our elders and
their families. I thank our member churches for all that they do.
Our relationships with the business community are essential for success in achieving
our mission. Our organization provides over 200 jobs and brings almost $10,000,000 of
revenue to the area. We work closely with our vendors and business partners in assuring
that quality products and services are provided in support of our work. I thank the business leaders in the area for their support.
Finally, I wish to thank our donors who have given generously to fulfill the needs of our
organization. Your contributions truly make a difference. I know that our Foundation, on
behalf of our residents and tenants, appreciates each gift and seeks to offer proper acknowledgement of all gifts.
Our lives and our work are all about relationships. At Bethany Life Communities, we
take all of our relationships very seriously. If anyone has a concern about relationships
within our communities, please let me know. If you know someone who excels with relationships I would like to thank them personally. Thank you and God bless you.
Betsy
The Bethany Life Communities Board of Directors has approved a Covenant of Understanding which describes our organization’s relationship with our member churches. It is important that the faith community has a good understanding of what it means to be member church in support of our shared ministry.
Ask your pastor or council member about this Covenant and join us as we together strive to meet our
united ministry of giving hope, compassion and dignity to our elders.
Page 3
Chaplain Sandra Anenson and
Everett Anderson
Chaplaincy Endowment Fund
This fund was created in
2005 to assure that our
Chaplaincy program will
never be at risk due to
budgetary issues. The principle of your gift will never
be spent; using the earnings of the gift to fully fund
the annual Chaplaincy
budget.
Dear Friends,
“Beloved let us love one another for love comes
from God”. – I John 4:7
There is something so special about sharing time with the people that God
gives to us as we journey through life. Whether it is family or friends, there
is nothing like sharing moments and time together. Relationships however
don’t just happen. They take time and effort if they are to grow and remain
vibrant. Staying connected is vital for maintaining meaningful relationships
in our lives. It is our relationships that give meaning and depth to our lives.
God is a relationship-driven God. From the beginning of time God has
wanted nothing more than a relationship with His creation. He has shouted
to us in creation, spoken through the prophets and then sent His Son to convey to us the passion and desire in His heart for us.
Bethany Life Communities is a place of relationships. Family relationships
are respected, life long friends are appreciated and new friends are acquired. A relationship with God is our desire for every resident and tenant.
We seek to strengthen that faith relationship even as the journey of life has
brought new friends to our community of care.
Yes, life is all about relationships. Let us be about strengthening our precious relationships with family and friends, even as we honor God as the
cornerstone of all relationships.
To His Honor and Glory,
Chaplain Sandy Anenson
At Bethany Manor relationships are one of those aspects of life that
we take for granted as just naturally happening, but these relationships are one of the most fundamental and important parts of our
work with our residents. Through our relationships come the best
part of our work; the friendships we have with our elders.
By developing close relationships with our residents, our staff observes them for changes in their health status and for any present
needs as well as reporting these observations to families. The BLC
staff also endeavors to provide a homelike atmosphere for our elders by providing privacy, “homey” furnishings, friendly pets and
friendships.
Relationships can bloom when respect, communications and compassion are the basis for interactions with each
other. Hopefully trust will grow out of these relationships...with residents, families and co-workers. This trust will
ensure an emotional well-being and comfort for our elders.
I not only work at Bethany Manor as part of the nursing staff, but my parents are residents here. I had first hand
experience of what it’s like to entrust your parents to other caregivers. I was thankful to see the friendship, concern and kindness given to them and the relationships that have grown out of their need for a “new” home. It is
important to treat all of our residents as though they are our own parents.
It is imperative that relationships and cooperation develop and grow between elders, families and our staff.
Effective physical and emotional care depends on this. I have seen so many close relationships develops as
staff care for our elders. It has been a joy to see that trust displayed. I want to thank everyone who helps to
make Bethany Life the best “home” possible.—- written by Jean Engelson, Staff Nurse and Family Member
Jean with her parents.
Volume 3, Issue 1
Page 4
Timberland Village
“Where Relationships Blossom”
Highest Quality Senior
Living in Story City
Marsha Taylor
Senior Housing Manager
Great Designs
Wonderful Value
Great Neighbors
Picture Yourself in a Timberland Village Twinhome
The Timberland Village neighborhood continues to grow. Our first two
twinhomes are sold and will be occupied soon. Our third twinhome is currently being built. You now have the opportunity to move into a beautiful
home surrounded by great neighbors. A place where relationships
“blossom”.
The Timberland Village twinhomes are built with the highest quality products and craftsmanship. If you are considering a move that will provide
gracious living and give you the peace of mind by becoming a member of
the Bethany Life continuum of care; give Marsha a call and she will be
happy to give you a tour and the details of the amenities of these beautiful homes. They won’t last long!
Relationships
Timberland
Village
Assistive Living
Independent Living
Twinhomes
Choices, Quality Living, The Support You
Want & Need
Call (515) 733-6500
Check us out at:
www.bethanylife.org
Bethany Life Communities’ Good Samaritan Store
Affordables
515-733-5304
619 Elm Ave. Suite 3 (Scandia Centre) Story City
Needs donations of furniture, sporting goods, household items, good clothing,
books, antiques, crafts, tools, quilts.
Help yourself, your neighbors and BLC!
Everybody Has Something To Give
Volume 3, Issue 1
Page 5
From the Foundation
Honoring Your Mother & Your Father
The longer I am with Bethany Life Communities the more I become aware of the relational
impact we have with one another and with those we serve. It is amazing how complicated relationships can be at times. I have seen also how simple and powerful relationships can be.
A couple of weeks ago my daughter Brooke and I spent the weekend in Story City, working at Affordables, selling “The Great Life” raffle tickets and visiting our residents at
Bethany Manor. As we walked through the East Wing one of the female residents who
suffers from Alzheimer’s reached out to my daughter and asked her to hold her hand.
Brooke looked at me for approval and then held the ladies hand. This brief interaction
had an important impact on the resident and my daughter. They had started a relationship. Brooke talked about this experience on our way home. She felt good about making this woman feel good. Brooke wants to return and see her again. I felt honored to
have a daughter who was willing and happy to honor someone else’s mother for a brief
moment. Her gesture was simple, but important.
It is an honor to serve our residents and tenants. It is very personal. Our residents
speak fondly of their families and know that they cannot always be there when there is
a need. That need may be as simple as holding a hand. The Bethany Life Communities
staff are not just employees, but an extended family to our residents and their families.
The relationships I see at Bethany Manor, Timberland Village and Cedar Place are personal and meaningful. We are not just a business…we are a home.
The Bethany Life Foundation will continue to do what’s possible to bring “home” to our
facilities. The “Breaking Bread Together” campaign will bring ambiance to our dining
area. The “Adopt a Room” campaign will bring warmth to 100 resident rooms. Our
Chaplaincy services, which is an extension of the central Iowa faith community gives
hope and compassion to our elders and their families.
If you want to become a part of the Bethany Life family; let us show you how you can
help reach out. From holding a hand to writing a check you will know that you made a
difference in the lives of those who came before you. Honor the mothers and fathers
who live at Bethany Life; those who live in your neighborhood or who are a part of your
congregation. Do not forsake or forget them. Ever. Thanks for all you do.
2005 Donors Recognized
All donations of $100 and more are recognized in this newsletter and on our
Good Samaritan donor wall located in the lobby of Bethany Manor.
Where Do You Want To Go?
Please purchase a “Great Life Raffle” ticket for $20 and
help our residents with limited financial resources and you may
be the winner of a $4000 travel package of your choice. Send a
check to the Foundation and we will deliver your ticket today.
The winning ticket will be drawn on June 6, 2006. Go to
www.bethanylife.org for details. You can order tickets by using
the form on page 10 of this newsletter or call 515-733-4325.
Hawaii here I come...or maybe even Norway!!
Larry Elphic
Foundation Director
The “Great Life Raffle”= Beach
Volunteer Help
Needed
“Affordables” Store
Reading
Activities
Gardening
Dining Hall
Clerical
Music
Special Events
Personal Care
Shopping
Operate Gift Store
Animal Care
New Resident
“Friend”
Call Denice at 733-4325
if you would like to discuss
volunteering
portunities.
It feels great!
op-
Page 6
The Bethany Life Foundation Board of Directors wish to recognize all donors listed here for their
2005 Annual Gifts and encourage all to make an annual gift. All gifts are important for our residents and tenants and support our mission of “helping elders thrive in their life journey, living in a
Christian environment of hope and compassion.”
THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!
Humanitarian
Jim & Dorothy Christy
Howard & Margaret Donhowe
Robert Henley-Marilyn Skeie-Henley
Thora Kinseth
Peter & Janet Hermanson
Phyllis Hermanson
Olive Sampson
Northeastern Iowa Synod-ELCA
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Benefactor
Robert & Carolyn Ahlstrom
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Pella Corporation
Robert & Karen Stangeland
Jay & Betsy Warburton
Willard & Ruth Anderson
Burdell & June Brekken
Larry & Kathaleen Elphic
Gilbert Lutheran Church
Herman Hougland
Kenneth & Ruth Larson
Clarence & Sharon Martin
Roger & Lois Oakland
Security State Bank
Sigler Companies
Trinity Lutheran Church
Leadership
Bergen Lutheran Church Bethesda Lutheran Church, Ames
J.C. & Leone Brekken
Keith & Elaine Christian
Paul & Margot Eness
Robert & Janet Erb
John & Nancy Halleland
James Heers
Earl HowardMary Imsland
Tiller Knutson
Wayne & Mary Jo Larson
William & Beverly Marion
Connie Newlin
Norsemen Insurance Service
Randall Story State Bank
Sam’s Club
Sevde Relocation
Eric Severseike
Helen Smith
Story Construction Company
Clark & Marion Twedt
Gene & Betty Upstill
Volume 3, Issue 1
Stewardship
Page 7
Friend of Bethany
Friend of Bethany
Margaret Accola Estate
Marvin & Julia Anderson
Elim Lutheran Church
Ackley
State
Bank
Dugan Ersland
Martha Bakke
Dorothy Adduci
Pat Fawcett
Bethany Lutheran Church, Kelley
Wayne & Gretchen Alvestad
Federated UCC Womens Fellowship
Erwin & Ora Burginger
Argyll & Louise Amenson
Richard & Anita Fincham
American Packaging Corporation
John & Nancy Carlson
Kermit & Barbara Finstad
Anderson Erickson Dairy Company
First American Bank
Avis Clark
John & Jeanette Andreae
Fjeldberg Lutheran Church-WELCA
Leland & Karen Coburn
Pr. Stephen & Ch. Sandra Anenson
Fjeldberg Lutheran Church
Architects Rudi/Lee/Dreyer & Assoc.
Raymond & Lois Danielson
Ray & Carol Foss
Robert
&
Rosemary
Beaty
Charlene Fox
Donald & Dr. Dianne Draper
John & Mary Ann Beck
Esther
Frandsen
Ruth Gabrielson
Becker Funeral Home
Elva Gladney
Harlan's Food Mart
Bruce Bell
Gary & Olivia Griggs
Bergen
Lutheran
Church-WELCA
Craig & Neva Henderson
Ruth Grimsley
Russell
Bergeson
Margaret
Mae Gross
Duane & Deloris Hovick
Dale Grosvenor
Alan & Connie Bergman
Erben & Margaret Hunziker
Mark & Holly Grubb
Bethany Lutheran Church
Howard Johnson
Dorothy Guhl
Bethel Lutheran Church
Enoch Hall
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Marvin & Verona Johnson
Rodney & Sue Hansen
Harlan & Yvonne Borton
Pr. Glenn & Mary Kappelmann
Sue Ellyn Hansen
Martin & Diane Brandt
Frederick & Delores Larson
Pr. Rachael Hanson & Dennis McFall
Duane & Barbara Brodie
Harlan & Barbara Hanson
Martin Brothers
Fred & Barbara Brown
Forrest & Alyce Harlan
Chris & Mary Campbell
Arthur & Margie Oldehoeft
Carroll Heckathorne
Wayne Cotton Carlson
IowaCare Pharmacy
William Heinzig
Gary & Jean Carpenter
Craig Hennager & Cheri SchendelArla Randol
Central Iowa Mutual Insurance
Hennager
Helen Ritland
Jim & Marianne Chalstrom
Rev. Bruce & Elaine Hermann
Ronald Chelsvig
Mary Ann Sandvold
Alan & Karen Hermanson
Choice Medical
Gary & Judy Hested
Arnold & Beverly Skadburg
Timothy Christian
Allen & Wanda Holm
Jerry & Barbara Sloan
Randolph & Sally Jo Clark
Harold & Dorothy Holm
Commercial Federal Bank
Steve & Jean Woodworth-Sorem
Harold & Verdelle Hoth
Computer
Express
Curtis & Janet Hougen
Dale & Beverly Sorem
Conversion Contractors
M. James & Miriam Hougen
St Andrew's Lutheran Church
Sterling & Sharon Dahl
Roy & Patricia Hougen
Pauline Stratton
Joel & Mary Danielson
Loren & Shirley Hovland
Douglas
&
Desiree
Darland
Hannah Tesdall
Thelma Hughes
William
&
Frances
Dodds
Karen
& Paul Jacobson
Clarion & Doradene Thompson
Mark & Vicki Donhowe
Neva Jean Jacobson
Rob & Carol Thorson
David D. Du Bois, MD.
Silas & Brad Jacobson
Rod & Brenda Vogel
Harlan & Shirley Dubansky
John & Connie Johnson
Page 8
Friend of Bethany
Pr. Rolfe & Margaret Johnstad
David & Cheryl Kalsem
Frank & Joy Kaltenheuser
Carolyn L. Kehrli
Arthur & Dolores Ketelsen
Frances B. Kinne
Gerald & Eileen Klonglan
Kent & Karen Klopfenstein
David & Camille Kundert
Ilene Lage
Harold & Sue Lande
James & Amy Van Langen
Esther Lariviere
Patricia Lariviere
Arnold & Vivian Larson
Howard & Barb Larson
Jeanette Larson
Lester & Helen Larson
Margaret Larson
Bernard Leeman
Ron & Vicki Lyon
Theodore Maakestad
Harold & Betty Marshall
Liliana Merubia
Dennis & Jana Mitchell
Lyle & Nancy Moeller
Loran & Thelma Mohr
Morton Meyerson Family
Wilma Munson
Janet & Gary Nail
Suzanne K. Nelson
Robert & Kathy Nervig
Milo Nessa
Jim & Linda Norem
Chris Barten & Mary O'Conner
James & Judirae Obrecht
Rich & Marian Olive
Randy & Wanda Olson
Duane Osheim
Curtiss & Jeanne Ostrem
Palestine Lutheran Church
Carrol & Pauline Pearson
Jerry & Ann Pearson
Friend of Bethany
Pete Tekippe Photography
Peterson's Paint & Floors, Inc.
Steve & Mary Peterson
Pharmacy Associates LTD
Roger & Ilene Pohlman
Albert & Doreen Rafdal
Elwood & Beulah Rafdal
Lloyd & Betty Ray
Sterling & Paula Ray
Record Printing
John & Lois Robyt
William F. Rockershousen
Conrad & Mary Rolland
Milford & Lorraine Romsey
Dirk Brom & Kim Russel
Scott & Carrie Russel
Salem Lutheran Church
Paul & Joann Sandoval
Ernest & Jean Sansgaard
Eunice Sansgaard
David & Sally Sawyer
Phil & Barbara Schendel
Kenneth & Karen Schloerke
Schumacher Elevator Company
LeRoy & Marlene Sebring
Harris & Kathryn Seidel
Jerry & Kalynne Seydell
Bonnie Seydell
Leon & Cheryl Skeie
Richard & Shirley Snyder
Soderstrum Funeral Homes
Phyllis Soderstrum
Jennings & June Sondall
St. Paul Lutheran Church-Williams
Ole & Vivian Stalheim
Brad Stauffer
W. Bradley & Carolyn Stensland
Jan Stole
Rose Marie Stoner
Story City Building Products
Kay Swenson
David & Donna Teigland
Pete & Elaine Tekippe
June Thomas
Building a Legacy of Christian Care
Chaplaincy Endowment
A Fund That Lives in Perpetuity.
Donor Recognition Levels
Humanitarian
$5000+
Benefactor
$2500-4999
Leadership
$1000-2499
Stewardship
$500-999
Friend of Bethany
$100-499
Friend of Bethany
Ernest & Mildred Thompson
Dorothy Timmons
Tom's Barber Shop
Marilyn Hanson & Ted Tostlebe
Trinity Women of ElCA-Ellsworth
True Value Hardware
Darwin & Roberta Twedt
Harris & Viola Twedt, Jr.
Myrtle Twedt
John & Marjorie Uitermarkt
Lois Underland
Roger & Connie Underwood
James & Amy Van Langen
David & Glenda Webber
Paul & Cheryl White
Archie Wierson
Zion Bowling Team
If we have made a mistake on your recognition, please call the Foundation Office and we will correct the mistake immediately. It is our pleasure to assure that our faithful donors are treated with full admiration and respect. Thank you!
Volume 3, Issue 1
Page 9
Member Church Relationships: A Covenant of Shared Ministry
—Mike Hershberger, Trinity, Ellsworth, Iowa
When speaking of the relationship between the local congregation
and Bethany Life Communities, it is most often expressed something
like this; we are one of the congregations that owns Bethany Life Communities. The relationship has unfortunately become to be viewed institutionally. That view is not the view which drove those who humbly
began Bethany Life Communities years ago as Bethany Manor.
The relationship between congregations and Bethany Life Communities is far more intimate than institutional. It is the local community of
faith that provides funding, servants and residents which forms Bethany Life Communities. No congregation or individual owns Bethany
Life Communities. All congregations and individuals who live within
this intimate relationship are called to serve those members of the
Lord’s family when their need arises. In short it is safe to say that
Bethany Life Communities in all its expressions is the local congregation at work in its ministry.
The Lord calls the local congregation to serve through Bethany Life Communities and to celebrate the blessing of Bethany Life Communities not for our sake but for Christ’s sake. Bethany
Life Communities belongs not to the congregations who claim it but to the Lord who called it
into being. When the relationship is no longer viewed as one of ownership but one of service,
then all the good gifts which the Lord has so richly stored up for Bethany Life Communities will
be poured out and into it.
In the end the relationship between the local congregation and Bethany Life Communities is
nothing more and nothing less than the relationship God, in Christ Jesus, has formed in and for
each of us. Together the local congregation and Bethany Life Communities reflect the ministry
of our risen and living Christ. What a beautiful reflection Bethany Life Communities is of our Lord
through the local congregation. Let us say “Amen!” to that.
Pr. Mike Hershberger
Chaplaincy Endowment Fund
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Grant
The Bethany Life Foundation has been awarded an
$80,000 grant from Thrivent Financial in support of the
development of a campaign to Endow the Bethany Life
Chaplaincy Program. This endowment will be funded
primarily through planned, estate and memorial gifts.
Please call the Foundation office to learn more about
how you can leave a spiritual legacy.
Chris McIlrath (left) and Sterling Dahl (right), representatives from Thrivent Financial, present a check for
$80,000 to Larry Elphic (center). Thank you Thrivent!
Thr ivent Financial for
Lutherans
Please send your support today. Through your tax-deductible
donation to the Bethany Life Foundation you are helping to
ensure quality Christian care. Thank you.
• Bethany Manor
• Timberland Village
212 Lafayette Avenue
725 Timberland Drive
Story City, Iowa 50248
Story City, Iowa 50248
515-733-4325
515-733-6500
515-733-5293 Fax
515-733-9376 Fax
• Cedar Place
• Bethany Life Foundation
812 Cedar Street
619 Elm Ave. • Suite 3
Story City, Iowa 50248
Story City, Iowa 50248
515-733-2904
515-733-4325
515-733-6111 Fax
515-733-5293 Fax
Please send me ______ “Great Life” Raffle
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.bethanylife.org
tickets @ $20 each.
Ω Enclosed is my (our) gift of __________________
(Please make checks payable to: Bethany Life Foundation)
Name ____________________________________________
Address __________________________________________
No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, political
affiliation or belief, or physical or mental disability be excluded from participating in,,
be denied under the benefits of, or be otherwise subject to discrimination under any
program which this corporation operates.
City/State/Zip _____________________________________
Ω Enclosed is my payment of ____________.
Please use these funds to support the Good Samaritan Fund.
Thrivent Financial matching program:
Your Member ID ______________________________
Questions or comments about the newsletter or the information contained within are
welcome and can be addressed to the Bethany Life Foundation Board / Communications Committee. Design/editing: Carolyn Ahlstrom, Larry Elphic, Janet Dunn.
Gifts to the Bethany Life Foundation are tax-deductible
to the extent allowed by law.
Cut out and mail to:
Bethany Life Foundation
212 Lafayette Avenue
Story City, Iowa 50248
W2006
Return Service Requested
Story City, Iowa 50248
212 Lafayette Avenue
Non-Profit
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Story City, IA
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