Living Options

Happy brought joy to Prairieview

Many years ago, Happy (Norman) and Dorothy Bettenhausen heard about Prairieview Lutheran Homes, visited our home, and started a lifelong relationship.

Happy started to play his accordion for our many residents. Everyone swayed and danced and sang together to German polkas and waltzes. He and Dorothy visited all our homes many time, and he has a stack of scrapbooks to prove it! Although they entertained at many nursing homes, Happy said that Prairieview was his number one place to play, and they were especially impressed by the cleanliness.

Over twenty years ago the Bettenhausans decided to join the Friends of Prairieview and commit to giving every year. They gave their yearly donation to contribute to the extraordinary loving care given to every resident. As a child, Happy loved automobiles. As an adult he worked at Phillips Chevolet in Frankfort, IL until he was 90. In retirement he continued to write for their newsletter.

After his wife of 73 years passed away, Happy moved into Luther Place Independent and Assisted Living. His name fit him well as he brought joy to all around him. We were blessed to know Happy. He passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022, but is fondly remembered by many.

The Prairieview Way!

Donna began working at Prairieview in 1989. She was director of housekeeping for 20 years before she retired in 2009. Donna says, “It feels like home and it’s hard to sit and watch everyone work! I feel I’m very lucky to do my therapy here because I visit people at other nursing homes and the other places don’t measure up to Prairieview. There is more of an atmosphere of family and working together here. It’s the individual resident that counts. That’s always been the Prairieview way! This therapy department is the best! They kindly knock on my door and it’s so much fun! The nurses and activity professionals are great too!”

Donna has been tending the Prairieview gardens since she retired in 2009. She hated not being able to care for the flowerbeds in 2019. However, after being discharged from Prairieview and feeling better, Donna was looking forward to working in the gardens again in the Spring of 2020. Unfortunately, to her dismay, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was not allowed to pass through the halls of Prairieview to get to the inner courtyard. But, this long-time gardener is not just sitting around twiddling her thumbs! She says she has been busy working in her own yard, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and pulling more weeds!

We are glad Donna came to stay with us when she needed care and time to heal, but we are even happier that Donna can now enjoy the beauty of her flowerbeds again, like she has done for so long!