Marion Owens — An Unassuming Benefactor and Thank You NER Donors

by Becky Bollinger, Program Compliance Manager

The Owens’s path to Northeast Residence (NER) started years before NER opened. Ken and Marion Owens’ daughter, Nancy, attended North St. Paul Learning Center, located at North Presbyterian Church, in the late ’60s. Through the Learning Center, she met several people who would later be integral to NER, including Pattie Butcher and Sister Jackie Sailer. The Parents' Club,

with Ken Owens on the Board, and Sister Jackie, envisioned a group home designed to provide temporary placement where children with disabilities could learn life skills like dressing, eating, and toileting. This home became Northeast Residence. When NER began offering Respite Services in the early ’70s (managed by Corrine Schmidt), Nancy would attend as often as she could. Around the time that North St. Paul Learning Center was devolving, NER opened their first “house” at the convent. Corrine asked if Nancy would be interested in moving in, but Marion and Ken were not sure that Nancy could manage the large set of stairs.

When NER began plans to open a second house on Rollingview Court in 1994, Ken and Marion jumped at the chance. Nancy and three of her housemates have been living there ever since. The fourth housemate has been living in the house since 2002. Marion loves that Nancy has bonded with her housemates so well and that they have been a second family for so long.

Ken was on the NER Board of Directors from February 1997 until he passed away in November 2010. At one point, Ken suggested that it would be nice for the Board to make a donation to NER. Although the Board declined, several individual board members and their families decided to donate. They asked Corrine Schmidt, by then the administrator of NER, how the funds could best be used. She responded that they had started giving something to employees to help them with their schooling.

Ken and Marion were very “big into education” as Ken had a PhD in chemistry and Marion had a master's in chemistry from the University of Minnesota. They were happ to have the donation go to helping employees further their education. After several years, Corrine asked if they could make it into a scholarship fund and name it the Ken and Marion Owens Scholarship Fund. In their typical humble way, Ken and Marion pointed out that several others had donated to the fund each year.

Eventually, as the instigator of the scholarship money, the Fund was named after Ken and Marion. After Ken passed away in November 2010, Marion continued to donate money for scholarships each year. She thinks Ken would be happy with how many people it’s helped. To date, over 50 employees have received an educational scholarship from this fund.

“I love Northeast Residence,” says Marion. Nancy’s getting the best care she possibly could. It’s fun donating to the scholarship. The personnel are what makes Northeast so good. From the beginning, it has always been the personnel and the idea of small group homes. I think the best care and training for people who are developmentally disabled has been accomplished!”

Ken Owens, instigator of the Ken and Marion Owens Scholarship, and his dog.

Marion (middle) with 2014 scholarship recipients Jaclynn Bock and Spencer Dorf.

Marion (left) with Nancy, Jenny, and staff on the dance floor at the NER luau.

Marion and Nancy with lead staff Lynette Vickerman and QA staff Brittany Furey at the 2019 NER Fundraising Luncheon. Nancy, Ken and Marion's daughter, has been receiving services through Northeast Residence since the early ’70s.

You can donate directly to NER by using the enclosed envelope or go online and visit NERinc.org and click donate to make your contribution. Thank you for your generous support.

NORTHEAST RESIDENCE DONORS

Donations from Jan 1, 2021 - Sept 30, 2021

American Legion Post 507 Bruce W. Anderson Elwood Anderson Bruce Baumeister Dave Baumeister Diane M Bruns Kelly and Theresa Daily Barb and Allen Damerow Paul and Charlotte Donahue Andre Dube Tom and Vicki Estrem Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation Curtis and Betty Gjengdahl Heather N. Hamilton John and Kathy Hamilton Greg Hanson Sharon and Sandy Hindahl Dale and Jackie Kruse Britt Lampert Piers and Katherine Lewis Don and Lorraine Mathiowetz Rick and Bonnie Mereness Steve and Debbie Morelan Kathy and Ken Nypan Steven and Michelle Olson Daniel Owens Sharon Pipes Laura and Gary Poulsen Norm and Joan Purrington Paul and Marie Rossez Ron Toensing Amanda Morelan Trnka John Tulloch Sandra Weaver Gary and Mary Williams John Williams

If there are corrections to your name that need to be made, please email Michele Swanson at Michele.Swanson@hammer.org