Bethany Village history

C. Laube served as the first president of the newly established Board of Trustees and continued to serve on the board until his death in 1944.

Bethany Lutheran Home for the Aged, Inc. was founded in 1950, by ten cooperating LCA churches.

The original nursing home opened in 1952 and has been upgraded and improved since.

1953 – Realizing that children are better served in foster care than orphanages, the Church directs that the children’s home be phased out and Bethany begin its new mission as a Christian home for the aged.

1954 – Bethany begins operations as a retirement home with 18 guests and a budget of less than $4,000.

August 1960 – Ground is broken for improved facilities on Shadow Lake.

Bethany Home Original Board Members, 1963 - (l to r) John De Vries, John Vrieling, Doctor Harold De Jong, Jennie Holfman, Teeke Workman, Lena Spaman, Russell Douma, Orlinda Donker, Bert Van Dyken, John Vander Kraan, Charles Viss, and William Boersma

One such undertaking took place in 1975 when the construction of a three million-dollar addition took place doubling the homes occupancy.

1982 – The first phase of construction begins on the Shadow Woods Independent Living homes on the peninsula between Shadow Lake and the Crystal River.

1983 Bethany House of Hospitality is founded by Mary Grafe, SC and Dee Sizler, SC and Barb Poppe to offer hospitality to homeless women seeking shelter.

1984 Incorporates as a non-profit organization with a Board of Trustees, Code of Regulations, and Articles of Incorporation.

1985 Mary Stanton, RSM, is named Director of Bethany House; case management plan of social service delivery is implemented.

1987 Outgrows the original location in Episcopal Church rectory on Hollister Street in Mt.

1989 Bethany House Services (change of name and purpose) to reflect the daily focus and operation of social services and the formal Outreach Advocacy and Transitional Housing Programs.

1990 A more sophisticated administration structure is developed for the Staff and Board, with an Executive Director and Program Directors.

1992 – The Pines, RCAC connects 20 apartments to the skilled nursing facility – creating a precursor to the assisted living model.

In the summer of 1993, the groundbreaking for Bethany Homes, the first permanent housing program for the agency occurs.

1994 Bethany Homes opens on Yearling Court offering 24 units of affordable housing, family picnic grove, playground and parking lot areas.

1995 Bethany Homes creates a Tenant Council and initiates a Children’s program on site.

1996 BHS Board of Trustees votes to require random drug testing for Bethany Homes tenants in order to promote a drug-free residential environment.

1998 As a result of welfare reform, the needs of the population being served by BHS changes and BHS responds by changing its social service delivery system to accommodate the widespread challenges facing the families.

1999 Celebration of the Fifteenth Anniversary year.

2000 BHS initiates the Family Shelter Partnership Program in collaboration with the Hamilton County Department of Human Services and five other family shelters in Cincinnati.

2001 BHS creates a Post Shelter Support Program and adds Volunteer Program to Bethany Homes.

2002 BHS Family Shelter Partnership Program thrives as a model of collaboration.

In 2003, another major construction project resulted in 24 new apartment settings and 17 new nursing facility rooms that allowed us to become the first nursing facility in Dubuque to offer all private rooms to our residents.

2005 The new BHS Social Services Center opens after the purchase and renovation of a home next to the Administration building and across the street from the shelter.

2006 The Vehicle Campaign raises funds to purchase a new van for food and supply pick-ups and delivery of items for fundraising events and general cargo use.

2007 – Bethany begins offering Outreach Services, benefiting the greater community.

2009 BHS celebrates 25 years of providing a home for the homeless.

2010 BHS is awarded Rapid Re-housing grant, which is a new Transitional Housing Program funded by HUD.

2011 Board launches the comprehensive Campaign for endowment, capital and the program.

Downtown offices open – March 2012

2013 The Board of Directors publishes a Strategic Plan.

Construction Begins (meaning the large project) – August 2014

On July 1, 2015 BHS adds a new housing program when they take over Mercy Health-St John Shelter Diversion program.

Main Street/ Christine’s House Opens – May 2016

June 2017 – Three story building opens up adding 18 short-term rehabilitative suites, 18 long-term dementia rooms, and 18 long-term skilled nursing rooms.

April 2018 – The Pines, CBRF dementia unit opens up.

2019 was Bethany House’s most impactful year ever ensuring 606 families found safety in shelter, established a new home and developed a path to independence.