Guided by Those We Serve
Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS) is excited to celebrate the addition of assisted living care to the Walnut and Dewald Street Villages and Oakview Terrace – a continuation of Freeman’s tradition of neighbors caring for neighbors close to home.
To address the need for new assisted living options, FRHS leadership explored new models of senior care in 2024. Hospital leaders, providers, and board members toured senior living campuses across South Dakota that combine independent and assisted living. Inspired by what they learned, CEO Courtney Unruh and Senior Living Assistant Administrator Amanda Mettler met with each Village resident in May of 2025 to understand their preferences for future care.
“There was an overwhelming consensus that they did not wish to move again,” Unruh said. “Residents described moving as emotionally and physically challenging and expressed a strong desire to age in place.”
“These are important changes and will make living here even better – and it’s already good!” said Dewald Village residents Delmer and Shirley Hofer
“I am pleased I can stay here longer than I previously thought or expected. I can feel at home and settle in.” Walnut Village resident Darlene Bauer
Rather than asking residents to leave a place they loved, FRHS recognized an opportunity to bring additional services to them. “This approach allows us to strengthen senior living while supporting residents’ independence, dignity, and desires,” Mettler added.
The opportunity to adapt the Villages today is rooted in the vision of community leaders who planned them nearly three decades ago. “The Villages were thoughtfully designed, making the transition to assisted living a smooth process,” Unruh said. “The vision of the 1996 FRHS Board of Directors and CEO James Krehbiel created a facility that continues to meet our community’s changing needs 30 years later.”
In the summer of 2025, FRHS leadership evaluated how the Villages could be modified for assisted living. By August, the FRHS Board of Directors approved moving the project forward.
“By listening to our residents and thoughtfully evaluating how to build on what we already have, we’re creating a model of care that reflects the needs of today’s seniors while honoring the legacy that brought us here,” said Cindi Mutchelknaus, FRHS Board Member.
Since January, the FRHS maintenance team and local contractors have completed several improvements, including a nurses’ station, security system, and sprinkler installation. Additional enhancements include expanded dining, housekeeping, and laundry services, as well as a new call light system.
“We’re grateful for the support of the Freeman Community Foundation,” Mettler said. “Their grant is funding food warming equipment and steam tables that will allow us to serve three hot meals each day.”
FRHS also recognizes the ongoing need for independent living in our community. While today’s focus is creating new assisted living options, leadership continues to evaluate ways to expand independent and senior housing so residents can continue calling Freeman home through every stage of life.
Continuing the Journey
A decade ago, the Salem Mennonite Home recognized that the aging building would eventually need to transition to meet the changing needs and expectations of future generations. Now with less than 10 residents remaining, the time for that transition has come, and two new assisted living options will be ready to welcome each resident.
In addition to making the Villages assisted living capable, FRHS also received state approval to provide assisted living services at Oakview Terrace. A newly refreshed wing is being prepared to provide another welcoming option for residents whose needs are best met in that setting.
“Every resident has a unique story, and every transition has been approached with that in mind,” Mettler said. “We are walking alongside them and their families with compassion and care – listening, answering questions, and helping each person find the setting that meets their needs. Our goal is for every resident to feel supported, respected, and cherished.”
Some residents will move to the Villages, while others will make Oakview Terrace their new home, where compassionate care teams and welcoming environments await. The transition also allows familiar caregivers to continue serving residents they know so well. Assisted living team members from Freeman Regional Assisted Living will continue providing care at the Villages and Oakview Terrace.
Freeman Regional Assisted Living, which has operated within the former Salem Mennonite Home building, will move operations by the end of the summer. Future plans for the building will be prayerfully and thoughtfully considered in the months ahead.
“The Salem Mennonite Home building has faithfully served generations of residents, families, and caregivers,” Unruh said. “The people who lived and worked there created a legacy of compassion, faith, and service that FRHS is honored to carry forward.”
Honoring the Salem Mennonite Home Legacy – A Message from CEO Courtney Unruh
For generations, the Salem Mennonite Home has been woven into the story of our community. It has been far more than a building – it has been a place of faith, service, family, friendship, and care. For many, it was simply home.
We are planning a time to celebrate this ministry and legacy by sharing memories and honoring those who generously contributed over the years. Please watch the Freeman Courier for an announcement next month.
As we continue Freeman’s healthcare journey, we carry forward the responsibility of continuing the Salem Mennonite Home’s tradition of exceptional care while creating new places for our neighbors to call home. This is a tender time of transition where we can move forward with compassion, careful planning, and your support.
We invite you to join us on this journey – beginning with these new assisted living opportunities and continuing toward a new healthcare campus that will strengthen care, expand services, and support our communities for the next 75 years. Together, we can honor the past, celebrate the present, and build tomorrow together.
Sincerely,
Courtney Unruh, CEO/Administrator
P.S. While buildings and campuses may change over time, our mission and commitment to the people who call FRHS home—our residents, patients, families, employees, and communities —remain the same.
It is our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care for all ages to positively impact the lives, health, and wellness of our patients, residents, employees, and communities.