Construction Update

Week of July 12, 2009 (click here for photos)

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED, VOLUNTEERED OR OTHERWISE HELPED TO MAKE THE OPEN HOUSE & RIBBON CUTTING EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

According to the our guest book table report, by Darlene Bankson and Sheila Bjerrum, over 175 guests signed in to the Open House and Ribbon Cutting event held here at Midwest Covenant Home. Considering that staff, several residents and many guests did not get to the guest book, it could be easily estimated that nearly 250 people joined the residents for the very special event on July 12 and what a tremendous event it was.

For those of you who were not able to attend or those who like to hear it again…the day began with fellowship around the new buffet line in the new dining room. All guests were so grateful to have the entertainment of the Sing-A-Long Gals, including Annette Lindberg, Coral Boden, Rogene Dixon and Shirley Morris. This group has been sharing their talents with the Midwest Covenant Home for 35 years this year. What a blessing. Refreshments and sparking cider was enjoyed by several in the dining room, lots of laughter and visiting all around.

Roger Petrik, Chief Operations Officer for Rural Health Development, filling in for Ron Ross, gave the Keynote Address for the day. Mr. Petrik reviewed all of the wonderful new and existing features of Midwest Covenant Home. He then shared the names of those Administrators who have served since the early 1990’s and as a part of RHD’s involvement at Midwest Covenant Home. Credit was given to the forward thinking and commitment to quality care and services of the Boards of Directors and staff throughout the history of Midwest Covenant Home.

Special guests charged with cutting the ribbon to the new addition were US Army Sergeant, Retired, Stanton Moore, 2009 King LeRoy Hansen, 2009 Queen Hilda Warnick and 2009 Super-Swede Dorothy Larson of Park Villa.

There were a number of other guests in attendance introduced throughout the program. They include members of the current Board of Directors. Troy Lindsley, President; Scott Langemeier, Treasurer; Craig Johnson – Omaha, NE; Ruby Anderson – Aurora, NE; and Rod Halstead – Omaha, NE.

Pastor Oscar Molinder served as Administrator for Midwest Covenant Home from 1960-1965. Joining us for the event on Sunday was his daughter-in-law, Janet Molinder, also the daughter of Edith Ahlquist of Park Villa and Pastor Molinder’s Great-Grandaughter Karen, both of Los Angeles, CA. What a terrific opportunity for us to share some even deeper history of the facility.

In addition to the family of Pastor Molinder, another past Administrator of Midwest Covenant Home, who was in attendance with her family, was Mrs. Katie (Zobel) Frederick, of Norfolk, NE. Katie served from 2004-2005.

We would also like to thank Troy Lindsley, Board President, for his words of support as part of the program; Pastor Bob Johnson, Stromsburg Covenant Church and Pastor Willis Pauls, Midwest Covenant Home Chaplain for their opening and closing of our program in prayer.

Thank you to all of the organizations who thought of us during the Open House by sending gifts of plants and other decorations, including Chem-Dry of Stromsburg; Tabitha Hospice Care – York; York News-Times – York; Eakes Office Plus – Grand Island; and Island Distributing – Grand Island. Donations for the event included Sysco of Lincoln; Professional Associates – Architecture Firm – Omaha; and Clairmont Construction – Omaha.

Please stay tuned to the Midwest Covenant Home website for updated news about happenings at the facility and recent photos and video from the Open House. www.midwestcoveanthome.org.

It is such a pleasure to have been a part of this grand celebration. It is our hope that everyone enjoyed the event as much as we did preparing for it.

Click on the images below to enlarge.