Good Shepherd Lutheran Community

A Serving Arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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In this addition of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Community newsletter:

Pat Bentsen

Visting Ejeda Hospital the summer of 2006, and where Pat commenced her profes-sional career in Madagascar over 30 years ago.

One of the residents at Johansen Manor, Patricia Bentsen, has spent most of her professional life in another country, the Great Red Island of Madagascar, as a missionary nurse. When Patricia first went to Madagascar, she worked as a nursing supervisor and anesthetist at a 60-bed hospital located in a rural community of southwestern Madagascar. Since then, she has seen many changes, economically and politically, as well as with the Malagasy Lutheran Church Health Department (SALFA).

There are nearly 40 SALFA health centers located around the island, all staffed with Malagasy doctors and nurses, who provide the patients with treatment and care taken from the Lord’s command found in Luke 10:9 which says "heal the sick."

Pat's role has changed immensely over the years. Instead of working in a health center, Pat has an office at SALFA headquarters where she works closely with Mr. Andreas, the SALFA director. Some of her responsibilities include responding to email messages from English-speaking people, translating reports from the different health centers, assisting with unpacking and inventorying 20 foot sea containers filled with medical supplies, visiting the SALFA health centers, being a member of the teaching staff at the Lutheran nursing school to name a few.
 

Nurse Norbert and prisoner named Victor working at the Antanimora Prison Infirmary in Antananarivo.


Pat also is involved with a prison ministry, accompanying Christian lay-people called "shepherds" to some of the nearby prisons, where informal worship services are held, followed by prayer and the laying on of hands to anyone who so desires, providing the prisoners with much needed rice and medicines, and distributing Bibles and other Christian literature to those in-mates taking confirmation instruction.

Pat covets our prayers for her ministry in Madagascar, and thanks the Lord for good health and a network of Christian Malagasy friends.

Freedom thru Functionality
 

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A new program in the therapy department called "Freedom Thru Functionality" is really a blessing here at Good Shepherd.  AEGIS Therapies has provided us with five state of the art pieces of Nautilus Equipment. Valued at over $25,000 Nautilus delivered a Leg Press, Triceps Press, Compound Row Machine, Low Back Machine and Neck machine to assist in strengthen the neck muscles. The therapy department has been busier than ever.

Some of the reasoning we were so blessed with all 5 pieces of

Equipment is that Good Shepherd is very strong and active in community activities, especially with the elder continuum. Our facility has a good reputation, census has been consistent and stable for several years and many of our patients admitted to our facility return home.

Over the past year our admissions requiring therapy services has raised to 15% an average of 15-20 patients per month. We are having a "Look at Me Now" coffee on May 19th for residents who have been discharged to their homes to come see the new equipment and also see the new bathing suite.

  

Kermit and Dagmar Goll
Kermit and Dagmar Goll were a "couple", well known to the Blair Community. Long-time residents of Blair just referred to "Kermy and Dag" and there was no need to bother with a surname. They lived just across the street from Good Shepherd and a block from First Lutheran, two of the places they held dear. When the time came that it was necessary for Kermy to move across the street, Dagmar spent much of her spare time visiting. When she became non-ambulatory, she also moved across the street but for some time she continued doing the bookkeeping for Tyson Co. where she had been employed for many years.

Kermy was born in Tekamah, Nebraska, and graduated from high school there before having a career with the U.S. Air Force. After he retired from the military he was employed with Civil Service at Offutt Field. Dagmar was born in Herman, Nebraska, and graduated from high school there and then attended Dana College. Kermit and Dagmar were married June 8, 1948.

This couple shared their many interests, one of which was music. Kermy was a member of the Blair Melody Men and Fremont Pathfinders musical groups. For many years the "couple" sang and played for funerals, weddings and other events throughout the community. They also had a special appreciation for the beauties of nature. They traveled throughout the United States and some foreign countries. Their special place was the Snowy Range and its trout streams in Wyoming.

Their lifelong commitment to their religious faith was evident in the way they lived their lives. They were faithful members of First Lutheran Church, participating in the church choir and other activities. Dagmar served as Sunday School officer for over 25 years.

Another interest was the collecting of antiques. Their success in this venture was quite apparent in the results of the two day auction held after they had both moved to Good Shepherd.

Many charities have benefited from their generous gifts and from their estate. They established perpetual annual academic scholarships to Dana College for Tekamah-Herman and Blair High School senior students. They were major contributors toward the beautiful stained glass windows in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and the new stained glass windows for First Lutheran’s new Life Center. The remodeled bathing suite here at Good Shepherd is being dedicated to Kermitt and Dagmar. Their generous gifts have brought both beauty and comfort to be enjoyed by the residents of Good Shepherd, now and far into the future.

In the Kitchen with Leona Plambeck
Leona Plambeck, 94, who lives on the 600 hall at Good Shepherd, hosted about 15 or 16 staff members and residents at a recent chicken-noodle feast. Even her doctor joined the group. Years ago, when her husband was a resident at Good Shepherd, Leona visited him often and often brought him some of his favorite foods. One day she shared one of his favorites with some of the nurses. It was a treat they didn’t forget. When they reminisced about what a fabulous cook she was and how wonderful her chicken-noodles were, she admitted she missed being able to prepare a meal. One comment led to another and before long they had made plans for a home-cooked meal, prepared by Leona. Some of the invited guests made arrangement for acquiring the ingredients. The kitchen in the therapy wing was turned over to Leona. The day before the scheduled event, Leona made her whole-egg noodles and laid them out to dry. The next morning she put the chicken on to cook. She had some help de-boning the chicken and by noon she had prepared a feast for her friends. They all agreed it was a real treat and Leona admits it was fun to get into the kitchen and to have such appreciative diners. Some of the diners brought cheese cakes to top it all off.

Gifts & Memorials
SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 to MARCH 31, 2007
In Memory of Claire Andersen
LeRoy and Julie Andersen
Tom and Linda Andersen
Dan and Kathy Frahm
David and Carol Kuhr
Phil and Florence Larsen
Gordon and Linda Lippincott
John and Imogene Lutz
Louis and Emily Nappolini
Ellenora Plugge
Donald and Ardith Rasmussen
Durward and Margaret Sidebottom
Shawn and Amy Thallas

In Memory of Ernie Andersen
Tom and Janice Lippincott

In Memory of Hazel Andersen
Raymond and Carole Dickson
Tom and Janice Lippincott
Sharon Watkins

In Memory of Dorothy Anderson
Robert and Ruth Anderson
Clyde French
Dick and Nancy Goeken

In Memory of Robert Blobaum
Lois Blobaum

In Memory of Marie Bock
Jacqueline S. Horan Trust

In Memory of Alex Bukasky
Richard and Cecil Larsen

In Memory of Ninna Engskow
Enid Andersen
Merritt and Gloria Andreason
Friends and Family
Verdell Gnuse
Leona Hansen
Phil and Florence Larsen
Jean Lemke
Tom and Janice Lippincott
Helen McNichols
Roger and Dorothy Olson
LaVonne Rolland
Ray and Ellen Ryder
Leona Thone
Iva Zander

In Memory of James Hansen
Family and Friends
Clint and Amie Clausen

In Memory of Roy Hansen
Clyde French
Elva Hansen
Lois Harris
Dean and Winifred Ogle

In Memory of Walter L. Hansen
Gerald and Florence Allen
Friends and Family
Gerald and Doris Gottsch
Grace Kerstetter
Harriet Palle
Phyllis Suverkrubbe
Lester and Pearl Thunn

In Memory of Blondie Harpster
William R and Shirley Wofford

In Memory of Hazel Harris
Phil and Florence Larsen

In Memory of Bob Hindley
Arlu Hindley

In Memory of Leola Jensen
Gene and Charlotte Buscherhof
R. Dale and Lois Diefenbaugh
Family of Dorothy Gallagher
Lorraine Hartman
Merritt and Norma Sue Klotz

In Memory of Sally Dee Jensen
Dr. Jack and Peggy. Kaufmann

In Memory of Walter Koenig
Katherine Koenig

In Memory of Rozella Laaker
Lillian E. Hansen
Phyllis Suverkrubbe

In Memory of Carmen Larsen
Betty Rybin
Harriet Palle

In Memory of Clifford Larsen
Glenn and Darlene Hazard
Harriet Palle
Phyllis Suverkrubbe

In Memory of Dick Lippincott
Harriet Palle
Louis and Emily Nappolini

In Memory of Bob Macholan
Clyde French

In Memory of Dorothy McClain
Grace Kerstetter

In Memory of Jurene Merselis
Baird Holm and Gary Radil

In Honor of Eugene and Susie Meyer
Alfred and Marjorie Johnson

In Memory of Irma Moen
Dick and Nancy Goeken

In Memory of Bernett Monson
Phil and Florence Larsen
Tom and Janice Lippincott
Dorothy Schultz

In Memory of Donna Osborn
Dick and Nancy Goeken

In Memory of James A. and Ella Paulsen
Donald and Patricia Paulsen
Maryann Todd

In Memory of Mildred Paulsen
Gene and Charlotte Buscherhof
R. Dale and Lois Diefenbaugh

In Memory of Clarice Pence
Louis and Emily Nappolini

In Memory of Ed Rademacher
Louis and Emily Nappolini

In Honor of Rev. Dr. Robert and Darlene Rademacher
David and Carol Kuhr

In Memory of Kenneth Radler
Geoffrey and Jennifer Baer
Robert and Beth Baer
William and Judith Hardy
Ada Jeppesen
Eleanora Plugge
Roger Plugge

In Memory of Bob Richards
Cheryl Baron
Clint and Amie Clausen

In Memory of Ruth Ann Samson
Barbara Hunt

In Memory of Martha Spanton
Friends and Family
Mabel Kastrup
Phil and Florence Larsen
Daryl and Janice Miller

In Memory of Agnes Staben
William and Loretta Briggs
Laura Dey
Lois Ferguson
Elizabeth Fischer
Clyde French
Dick and Lorraine Hansen
Loren Laverne Haynes
Richard and Marlene Korte
Virginia Lanouette
Richard and Cecil Larsen
Glenn and Lilly Lund
Carl O.and Sue Nord
Donald and Ardith Rasmussen
Jeffrey and Cynthia Smith
Lester and Pearl Thunn
Esther Zimmerma

In Memory of Jean Stokes
James and Susan Bensen
Dr. Leslie and Ardis Grace
David and Carol Hovendick
Julie Kuhr
Martin and Eunice Kuhr
Jack and Opal Jensen
Elizabeth Johnson
Phil and Florence Larsen
Roger and Donna Nelson
Lola Rahlfs
Mitchell and Mary Jean Rahlfs
Ray and Ellen Ryder
LaVonne Rolland
Howard and Linda Taylor
Glen and Betty Vogt

In Memory of Verna Stork
Tom and Janice Lippincott

In Memory of Clifford Todd
Donald and Patricia Paulsen

In Memory of Howard and Helen Woodard
Russell and Lois Woodard

OTHER GIFTS
Walter and Ellen Behrens
George and Margie Buck
Dennis Carlson
Arvin and Betty Hernes
Gertrude Hutton
Leora Jackson
Jim and Lillian Johnson
Robert and Violet Lawson
Martin Pedersen
Mitchell and Mary Jean Rahlfs
Marie Thomas
Edward Robinson Trust
Kenneth and Lorene Jensen Memorial Endowment
C&K Enterprises
Washington County Recycle Assoc.
Royal Neighbors #1132
Royal Neighbors #2288
Good Shepherd Auxiliary
Pella Lutheran Church Women
Women of Immanuel Lutheran, Orum
First Lutheran Church, Blair
First Lutheran Church, Fremont
Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church
Thrivent for Lutherans

NON-MONETARY GIFTS
Emmaus Lutheran Church
Gordon and Bev Soderburg
Rose M. Wulf
Jim and Penny Huettner
Randy and Andrea Troxell
Bomgaars
And many other Friends of Good Shepherd who share with us.

 © 2008 Good Shepherd Lutheran Community