WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 1
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1201 Garfield Avenue • Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-373-2311 • www.ThorneCrest.net Thorne Crest is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.
Backyard birding at St. John’s provides one resident with eagle-watching experiences By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
One St. John’s resident has an eagle eye. Or, rather, she has an eye out for an eagle. St. John’s Lutheran Community on Fountain Lake resident Irene Weber, 93, can keep tabs on the bald eagle couple living in a nest just outside of her room window in a third-floor corner of the building. Weber moved to the Fountain Lake campus after living at Luther Place. She said the St. John’s administrator mentioned there was an eagle’s nest on campus. So when residents were asked if they would volunteer to move, “I raised my hand first,” Weber said. Her son bought her a book about eagles, but Weber’s interest in birds goes back much further. Weber was a member of the Albert Lea Audubon Society with her husband. She has been an Audubon Society member since 1976, she said. When she was young, her mother helped her watch for different robins. She loves birds — especially chickadees and cardinals. Both are represented by decorations on display on her room’s window shelf, along with a bluebird and two chickens. The calendar on her wall, turned to March, features a busily buzzing hummingbird. But thanks to her
St. John’s residents keep tabs on the eagles all year. PROVIDED
With help from a nursing assistant and volunteer, Irene Weber completed an eagle puzzle gifted to her by her family. The puzzle is on display at St. John’s Lutheran Community on Fountain Lake. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE relatives, her birds are now decorating more of St. John’s than just her own room. For Christmas, a family member asked what she would like as a present. “I said, ‘An eagle puzzle,’” Weber said. Her daughter-in-law bought the puzzle, which
is a shaped profile of an eagle’s head and neck. It now stands, framed, in a St. John’s on Fountain Lake residential community area, and will be displayed throughout the premises, St. John’s Lutheran Community Director of Fund Development, Marketing and Public Relations Diane
Going bananas for the ’80s
Employees of Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea celebrated 2018 with a year-end 1980s party. PROVIDED
Wichmann said. “I couldn’t hardly wait to get it open,” Weber said. A nursing assistant and volunteer helped put the puzzle together. Weber said she saw the female eagle settle in on Feb. 28. An eagle egg takes just over a month to hatch. Watching the birds is
The eagles live in a tree just outside Irene Weber’s third floor room window. better than watching TV, she said. “(They’re) part of my life,” Weber said. She said she likes how the woodlands behind St. John’s, butting up to Edgewater Park, were kept natural, so she can watch the eagles, other birds and deer. She said society needs to do
more to save things in their natural state. Wichmann said Weber is “such a good host,” opening her room to those who visit to have a peek at the eagles themselves. “What a treat to have, in my sunset of life, an eagle as one of my best friends,” Weber said.
Senior Spotlight: Shirley Chryst Name: Shirley Chryst Age: 92 Native of: Garden City Place of residency: Knutson Place Apartments on Luther Place in Albert Lea Family: Shirley is the daughter of Lee and Luola Fleming of Garden City. Shirley’s family consisted of seven children, four boys and three girls. While growing up, Shirley lived on a farm, where her father milked cows and did his field work with horses. Shirley’s mother, who was a homemaker, loved to garden, sew, cook and care for her children. Shirley was always by her mother’s side, helping her where ever she could. Education: Shirley attended grade school and graduated from Garden City schools, she later furthered her education, graduating from Mankato with a degree in teaching, which she greatly loved and cherished. Former occupation: Donald and Shirley Chryst were married after a twoyear courtship. Donald worked for Bell Telephone Co. in Albert Lea and Shirley was a homemaker, caring for and raising her three boys, Randy, Jeff and Mark, and one daughter, Katherine. Shirley also worked as a preschool educator. Her love for children
Shirley Chryst PROVIDED and learning has always been a highlight in her life.
events for the family, keeping everyone busy.
What is your favorite childhood memory? Her mother made the girls rag dolls, and she played house and school for hours with her sisters. Everything then was homemade by her mother. She also loved being on the farm and playing outdoors, helping with the garden and checking out her mother’s beautiful flowers. Growing up in grade school, she also learned to play piano from her aunt, who could play by ear. She is still playing at the age of 92 and enjoying it.
What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Being a good wife, mother and teacher over the years.
What is your favorite memory from adulthood? She and Donald raising their family together and being involved with church events and 4-H activities. Donald was always planning
What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? You have a secure life here — no worries, no problems. Knutson Place has wonderful staff and friends.
Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had given you or you would have listened to when you were younger? Her advice is, “Live each day; God has a purpose for us all.” What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? To live life to its fullest and be kind to all people.
PAGE 2 | SENIOR LIVING | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019
Hatching Easter decorations
Snowman makeover
Joy Behr made Easter eggs this spring and has shared them with many at Fountain Lake. PROVIDED
Staff at Oak Park Place built the snowman for Valentine’s Day, but staff and residents later redressed the snowman for spring. PROVIDED
You’ve got mail, valentine! Children visit St. John’s for holiday
Ryan Hintz from Concordia Bear Lake Lutheran Sunday school hands a valentine to Erna Berthelsen at St. John’s on Fountain Lake. PROVIDED
Thirty-one children from Concordia Bear Lake Sunday school made over 200 homemade valentines for the residents of St. John’s Lutheran Communities and delivered them to
Thorne Crest residents make the most of winter
Thorne Crest residents enjoy a virtual reality tour of New Zealand. PROVIDED
Dedicated to providing compassionate service to every family we serve. Thorne Crest Senior Living Community residents enjoy an outing to the St. Theodore Fish Fry on March 8.
Steve Merfeld
Judy Popp Anderson
Karla Tukua
Spenser Brackey
Paula Wilson
Shelby Hullopeter
2210 East Main St. • Albert Lea, MN 56007 • (507) 373-2461 308 7th Avenue • Ellendale, MN 56026 • (507) 684-2881 217 West Division St. • New Richland, MN 56072 • (507) 465-8015 www.BonnerupFuneralService.com
Snow accumulated up to the top of the solarium windows at Thorne Crest after the Feb. 25 blizzard.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 3
Time to party for Mardi Gras
Work anniversaries
A dragon strolls through St. John’s Lutheran Community residents as they celebrate Mardi Gras. PROVIDED
Employees Donna Anderson and Wanda Bagley celebrate a combined 75 years of employment at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. PROVIDED
A resident of St. John’s Lutheran Community enjoys the com- Ray Ewing was named king of the Mardi Gras party at St. pany of a guest during the facility’s Mardi Gras celebration. John’s Lutheran Community.
Employees of Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea gather to celebrate the anniversary of two of its staff members.
Find all of the area worship times each Friday on the
Faith page. St. John’s residents enjoy a photo booth at its Mardi Gras Residents at St. John’s Lutheran Community enjoy a photo celebration. booth, which was set up during its Mardi Gras celebration.
SHOFF CHIROPRACTIC
In Pain? Dr. Christopher Shoff
Call Shoff Chiropractic today!
Promoting Health & Wellness Since 1950 Downtown Albert Lea | 507-373-7054
Better hearing leads to better living. Thorne Crest Senior Living residents celebrate Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras with king cakes and beads on March 6. PROVIDED
FREE hearing tests! FREE preview of the latest technology!
Improving health and wellness for area seniors According to a press release, Thorne Crest Senior Living Community is proud to be partnering with other area providers of care for seniors to help to overcome barriers to healthcare and improve wellness among area seniors. As part of the facilitated dialogue process, a group of community stakeholders is focused on increasing Mayo Clinic Health System community engagement and collaborative programming. Now in its second year, the newly renamed Community Health Care Collaborative has a new mission: community partners collaborating to improve health and well-being of the community through awareness, education and resources. A subgroup of this collaborative is focusing on health care and wellness challenges that specifically affect our senior population. Some of the challenges this group has already identified are the following: • Transportation — getting to medical appointments. Rural living can be a barrier for many. • Education and understanding of various diseases, insurance and financial processes and technology. • Socializing and mental health issues. • How to best reach people not living in senior living communities or connected with senior organizations. • Improving physical well-being of area seniors.
• Respite care available for seniors • Understanding medications and resources available to help with medications and costs. This group meets every other month to find solutions to the above listed topics and any new concerns that arise. Through this collaborative effort, the following events have taken place to help educate seniors: • A monthly health talk series took place this past year. Professionals from Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin, along with community partners such as Freeborn County Public Health, the Albert Lea Family Y, Blue Zones and Senior Resources, have joined efforts to provide education for all area seniors on topics such as depression, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Educational opportunities are planned to resume in April and will again be open to the public. • Thorne Crest partnered with the Albert Lea Family Y to provide a diabetes prevention class that is open to the public and being held weekly at Thorne Crest for 16 weeks and then monthly after that, through the end of the year. For a nominal fee, participants were given access to the many amenities of the YMCA, to help improve their health and well-being and prevent diabetes through education and physical fitness. • For a small fee, SMART Transit has begun
to provide service between Albert Lea and Austin to help alleviate challenges seniors may face with transportation between the two communities. • A Women’s Health Symposium on caring for the caregiver is planned on April 13 at the Hormel Historic House in Austin. This group looks forward to continuing to find solutions to health care challenges that our area seniors face. If you are interested in joining the efforts of this group please contact Catherine Buboltz, sales and marketing director, Thorne Crest Senior Living Community, at 507-369-6929 or
Jackie Hillman, Executive Director, Senior Resources of Freeborn County, at 507-377-7433.
Skyline Plaza 1701 W Main St • Albert Lea Call us today (507) 369-2144
St. John’s Lutheran Community Knutson Place Apartments on Luther Place Independent Senior Living with Services at an Affordable Price One Bedroom & Spacious Studio Apartments Currently Available • 24/Hour Emergency Call Service • Free Deluxe Continental Breakfast - Additional Meals Available • Transportation to Local Medical Appointments • Scheduled Enriching Social Activities and Outings • Many More Services Available
CALL 507-373-8226 FOR A TOUR
901 Luther Place | Albert Lea, MN | 507-373-8226 | www.stjohnsofalbertlea.org
PAGE 4 | SENIOR LIVING | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019
New Richland Care Center nurse celebrates 25th work anniversary By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
A lot has changed in nursing since 1994, a New Richland Care Center nurse said, but one thing has not: where she works. Becky Schauer has worked at New Richland Care Center for 25 years, starting as a nursing assistant and now employed as a licensed practical nurse and charge nurse. “I’m very fortunate to be able to work in such a nice rural community, and what a great bunch of people in a place that cares for their residents and family and staff, so yeah, I guess I’m lucky,” she said. Schauer, originally from Waldorf, went to South Central College in Mankato for nursing. “Originally, when I was going to go to college, I wanted to go to school for secretary, but my mom wouldn’t let me,” she said. Her mother told her there were more jobs in nursing, and told her she had to do that instead.
Becky Schauer began at New Richland Care Center in 1994, about when this photo was taken. PROVIDED
“Once I got here, I’ve liked it and haven’t left.” — Becky Schauer, New Richland Care Center charge nurse Becky Schauer has worked at New Richland Care Center for 25 years. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
“Once I got here, I’ve liked it and haven’t left,” she said. While in Mankato, she worked as an aide in a nursing home. “I knew I wanted to work with older people, with older residents, but yeah, I mean, no, back in the day you used to think about a
nursing home as nothing happens, but my God, it’s wild here some days,” she said. Schauer said she likes working with families and residents and working with several different doctors and nurses. She is a primary nurse on the 200-hall, so she cares for those patients
consistently, passing out medications, taking care of doctor’s orders, calling families, making appointments and handling treatments. She likes that every day is different, she said. “I’m happy being here,” she said, citing good benefits and co-workers. Schauer lives in Waseca
with her husband, Neal. He owns Southside Marine in Waseca. When Schauer is not working at the care center, she is working there, she said. The couple have two children: Caitlin, 20, and Braden, 15. They also have a chocolate lab. Schauer also enjoys traveling. Schauer said her residents told her not to put it off.
“I don’t want to wait until I’m not able to travel and have too many aches and pains,” she said. Recently, she came back from a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. She anticipates staying at New Richland Care Center to work, she said. “It just feels comfortable — like this is kind of where I belong,” Schauer said.
Senior Spotlight: Dorothy Adams Name: Dorothy Adams Age: 92
Education: Through eighth grade, then helped on the family farm.
Native of: Hayward and Albert Lea
Former Housewife
Place of Residency: Thorne Crest Senior Living Community
What is your favorite childhood memory? Taking horse-drawn sleigh rides into Hayward with her father to go to the creamery.
Family: Two sisters (deceased), one daughter, two sons, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren
occupation:
What is your favorite memory from adulthood?
Her future husband came home from World War I and they were married three months later. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Being able to stay healthy this long and raise a wonderful, loving family. Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had given you or you would have listened to when you
were young? She would have liked to have gotten more education. What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? Believe in God and always be kind. What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? She enjoys and partakes in all of the wonderful activities at Thorne Crest. There is always something to do.
When your loved one develops signs of dementia...
what do you do?
Dorothy Adams PROVIDED
Washington Avenue Apartments
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