Greetings from “The Home” front ….

Have you driven by Luther Memorial Home lately – you really should!!! Check out the beautiful fall display in the front driveway – special thanks to Irma Bennett for donating the pumpkins and Jeremy Kihne for donating the straw bales. Our activity gals Nancy and Andrea went to the Bennett Pumpkin Patch in Portland Junction to pick the pumpkins. Special thanks also goes to Nancy Bjerke who created the Fall display. It really brings a smile to our faces when we drive in to work each day!

October is Pastoral Care Month and this past Sunday October 11 was Pastor Appreciation Day. We would like to send a shout out THANK YOU to our chaplain Deb Stave. Pastor Deb leads a worship service every week, plus a bible study – all via our Channel 98 in room TV station. We appreciate all you do for us Pastor Deb. Also, a thank you goes out to all the clergy in the Mayville/Portland community, who, up until nursing home restrictions, made an effort to visit their congregants.

I missed Healthcare Food Service Week which was October 4th-10th. However, a sincere appreciation goes out to these hard-working people in our kitchen who have to prepare and serve over 100 meals THREE TIMES a day!! And I thought cooking for my husband and me was difficult!! So-o-o-o thank you to: Laticia Clagg, Eric Eken, Jordan Eken, Pam Eken, Esther Gamez, ChiChi Hoffman, Jeric Houdek, Matt Karolus, Danielle Kath, Curtis Moen, Stacey Nosbusch, Erika Onerheim, Nikki Onerheim, Angel Oshkosh, Katie Sayler, Alice Simengaard, Sue Tastad and Zach Turpin. All of you are the best!!!

The Lutheran Brethren Sunday School children brought suncatchers that they had painted to brighten up the resident’s room – and boy do they ever look great!! The children did a fabulous job of painting and the suncatchers have brought smiles to many resident faces. Thank you so much for thinking of us!

Lots of people in the community have been thinking of us here at LMH during this difficult time. Cheryl Conway, Pam Sedler and Molly Lenaburg dropped off large piece puzzles (no more than 300 pieces) for our residents to do in their rooms. Many of the residents enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles and finish them rapidly so it is nice to have a few more to choose from.

We would like to wish Dean Nelson from our Maintenance Department a Happy Retirement. Dean retired on October 8th after 17 years of service here at LMH. Best Wishes to you Dean – you deserve it!

I missed a few birthdays last week – Resident Vern Willeson celebrated his birthday on October 11th. Sun Center resident Bea Neset celebrated hers on October 12th. And we had several staff members with birthdays this past week – Sue Tastad (October 11) Taylor Skjordal (October 13), and Stacey Nosbusch (October 16). I hope you all had a great birthday and were able to do some celebrating.! There are no resident or Sun Center birthdays next week but we have two staff members celebrating -Ashley Odden on October 17 and ChiChi Hoffmann on October 20th. Happy birthday to all of you and enjoy your special day.

Our sympathy to the friends and family of Gregor (JR) Useldinger, Chet Hedstrom and Hartvick “Hoppy” Olson – all three passed away this week. JR enjoyed visiting with staff, talking about tractors and listening to music. JR died October 6th. Chet passed away October 9th and while here at LMH enjoyed visiting about various sporting events, and watching sports on TV. Hoppy was only here briefly but enjoyed watching westerns on TV, visiting with staff and also listening to old time country western music. Hoppy died October 11th and we extend further sympathy to his daughter Sheila Rustvang who is on our Activity Staff. May all three of you men rest in peace. You will be missed.

Until next time … a thought for the week … You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have …. Stay safe everyone – wash your hands and PLEASE wear a mask!!!