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Timeline
Bethesda’s journey began with Pastor N. S. Haggerness of Mankato opening his home to three children from a broken home. After bringing those children into his home, he felt called to help more children. In 1898 the Lamberton orphanage opened with a capacity of up to 24 children.
In 1905, 163 acres of land were purchased five miles north of Willmar. A new Home was erected that would accommodate 50 children. The name was changed to Bethesda Home and it was dedicated at the Eagle Lake Church on Sunday, November 12, 1905.
The September 30, 1908 Willmar Tribune paper displayed a list of prize winners from the Willmar Street Fair. Bethesda Homes came in 2nd place in the Class E. Grains and Seeds for their Barley and 1st place for their white turnips.
In 1905, eight years after the orphanage was formed, Bethesda welcomed two senior men as residents. During the annual meeting in 1906 it was decided to build a home to serve the senior community, however due to considerable debt on the Children’s Home building ($12,879.63) the building was delayed. At the 1909 annual meeting the matter was revisited and approved with the stipulation that the cost not exceed $6,000. The new building was ready for occupancy in 1910. After a few more years more room was needed to accommodate the many applicants. The Board of Directors decided on March 25th of 1915 to build an addition. The new addition was completed in 1916 at a total cost of $8,230.
Bethesda Homes Day: For several years Bethesda Homes Day was held a Sunday during the summer. Friends of the Homes gathered for services in the Eagle Lake Church in the morning. In the afternoon an outdoor meeting was held next to the nursing home. The program was comprised of musical numbers and an address by a guest speaker. An offering was lifted for the Homes. This day attracted sizeable crowds and helped to stimulate interest in the work which was carried on at the Homes. During the second World War it was discontinued because of the drastic restriction on traveling, especially by auto.
During the difficult years of the Great Depression and that drought that accompanied it, Bethesda had a heavy debt of $23,000. By 1949 the debt had been paid off, and a surplus of approximately $90,000 had been accumulated. Many improvements had been made on the institution’s buildings and on the farm. The favorable turn in finances had partly come about by the sale of farms and other property held by the Homes.
Occasionally, whether it would be advantageous to move Bethesda Homes to Willmar had been asked. A committee was elected to consider the matter, and upon recommendation, the committee decided to buy a site in Willmar. The Bethesda Homes committee presented the idea to the Annual Conference of the Lutheran Free Church held in Morris, MN, on June 8-12 of 1949 and received unanimous approval.
The work at the Homes progressed and the financial conditions improved. Then came the depression with accompanied drought. The income decreased, crops failed and feed had to be bought for the stock on the farm. Considerable debt was incurred. At one time the debt amounted to $24,000 (which is approximately $513,000 in today’s money). The Homes owned several farms and other property, but there was no ready sale for property during the depression years.
In the course of time stricter laws for operating children’s homes were enacted by the State of Minnesota. Furthermore, State welfare authorities were not in favor of institutional homes for children. The State also assumed responsibility for unfortunate children and favored placing such in private homes. Thus very few children were sent to Bethesda Homes. In order to try and remedy this situation, the possibility of operating the Children’s Home as a home placing agency was considered. This, however, was not feasible. Then the corporation was faced with the tragic possibility of having to discontinue the work of mercy which had been blessed by God so richly during these many years.
After careful study, the committee found it necessary to recommend that the Children’s Home be discontinued. It was a sad day in the history of Bethesda Homes when on June 27, 1939, the Corporation decided to discontinue the Children’s Home. For more than forty years this Home had given material and spiritual care to a number of children.
Bethesda’s Country Home continued to serve the senior community exclusively beginning in 1939 until 1953 when Bethesda Heritage was constructed giving the community two senior living options. The Country Home closed in 1979 when Bethesda Pleasant View was opened.
Country Home north of Willmar.
Bethesda has a rich history of caring for others and serving the community of Willmar and surrounding area.
Bethesda was founded in 1897 as an orphanage in Lamberton, Minnesota. In 1905, the orphanage moved to a site six miles north of Willmar, where children were joined by older adults at what was called the “Country Home.” By 1910, Bethesda began providing services to the older adults, too, and in 1939, began serving exclusively older adults.
In 1953, a new nursing home, Bethesda Heritage Center, opened its doors in the city of Willmar. The “Country Home” was closed in 1979, after Bethesda built and opened Pleasant View nursing home in Willmar.
In 1982, the Bethesda Foundation was organized with the purpose of supporting the efforts of Bethesda and to foster financial development. Currently, the Bethesda Foundation strives to build community by encouraging generosity, promoting civic engagement and enhancing the quality of life for those we serve through philanthropy.
The kitchen inside the Country Home.
Responding to the aging needs of the community, Bethesda expanded again in 1987, adding Terrace Homes, three independent-living duplex units. This was followed by the opening of Sunrise Village, an independent- and assisted-living complex in 1992.
Aging in place became more prevalent, as people saw the benefits of staying in their home as they aged. In 1993, Bethesda’s Home Health program began providing medical and personal support to assist people in the comfort of their homes.
Following its caring tradition, Bethesda expanded its services in 1996, to include adult day services. DayBreak, an adult day-care program, is designed to provide extra support for people who need assistance to maintain their independence in the community, while also giving a respite to their caregivers.
To meet the growing need for senior housing, Bethesda opened Centennial Square in 1997, providing income-based, independent-living apartments in the community.
Bethesda saw the need for its services beyond Willmar, and opened Park View Village, a 20-unit, assisted-living facility in Olivia, Minnesota, in 2002.
Back in Willmar, Bethesda’s Wellness Center opened in 2010. The Wellness Center is home to Club Bethesda, a fitness facility available to people 50 and older living in the Willmar area community and to Bethesda residents and tenants. It features state-of-the-art equipment designed for the older adult. Our Outpatient Therapy Department also is located in the Wellness Center. In 2011, a warm-water therapy pool was added to the Wellness Center for physical therapy and Club Bethesda aquatic classes.
Aerial view of Bethesda.
Bethesda Club Suites was added, which offers short-term rehabilitation housing and services for people recovering from acute illness or surgery. Program services include physical, occupational and speech therapy.
To better serve residents, we underwent a major capital project committed to completing a campus expansion and building renovation. This project was completed in 2016 with the completion of a construction project that replaced the outdated 125-bed Bethesda Heritage Center and consolidated our two skilled nursing facilities at Bethesda Heritage Center and Bethesda Pleasant View to one comprehensive campus. The project transformed our model of care toward the household model for residents. It is a beautiful space with ample common areas for group activities, gatherings, and conversations, as well as private spaces for family gatherings and small group discussions.
Bethesda Grand’s lobby and Town Center. To the left is the gift shop, inter-generational activity center, private meeting room, and Brothers Cafe + Bistro. Straight ahead is the fireside area. To the right is Carrie’s Chapel.
In 2018-2019, Bethesda remodeled its main entrance and lobby area, which included renovating the cafe and chapel. Our new Town Center includes Brothers Cafe+Bistro, a gift shop, Carrie’s Chapel with floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows, an inter-generational activity center, private meeting room, and fireside area for visiting.
In late 2019, Bethesda embarked on a new project and broke ground on Bethesda North Pointe in New London, a 70-unit, senior lifestyle development. Construction was completed in the fall of 2021 with residents moving in October of 2021. The campus was designed to serve the needs of the area’s aging community through individualized living options, health and wellness services, and modern amenities.
Bethesda has a long history of serving the Willmar community and West Central Minnesota. For more than 100 years, Bethesda has set new standards in quality of care for older adults. With its dedicated team of caregivers and professionals, Bethesda strives to fulfill its mission of, “Serving others together in faith, community and life.”
Please check back for updates, as we develop and grow to better serve our family, friends and neighbors.
Serving others together in faith, community and life.
