“We never wanted to live anywhere else.”
Even before she moved into Bethany Heights, Gladys Blois had already helped shape its story.
“We were always involved in Bethany—from the very beginning,” she shared. “Saint John Lutheran in Honey Creek, our church, was one of the fifteen that helped build Bethany back in 1975. I was in the Ladies’ Aid, and my husband Darryl served on a few boards. I remember touring this building when it was still being built.”
Gladys and her husband, Darryl, were lifelong farmers in Honey Creek. After raising their three daughters on the land they loved, they spent five years in an apartment before making the decision to move to Bethany Heights in 2016.
“It just felt right. We already knew the people and the mission. We were comfortable from the very beginning.”
Their transition was smooth, filled with the kind of hospitality and familiarity that Bethany is known for. And when Darryl’s health began to decline, the Bethany team made sure the couple stayed together.
“I told them, ‘If you take him down to the nursing home, I’m going too.’ They said, ‘We’ll keep him with you,’ and they did. That meant the world to me.”
A Reflection on Community
Now at 96 years old, Gladys continues to thrive as an active tenant at Bethany Heights. She enjoys meals in the dining room, daily activities, and outings—especially the country drives.
“I love the countryside—I lived there most of my life. Those bus rides helped us feel free and connected.”
During the lead-up to Bethany’s 50th anniversary, Gladys was a passionate advocate for the new bus campaign, encouraging others to give.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, that dream is becoming a reality—Bethany will soon have a beautiful new bus that will continue to take tenants like Gladys on adventures near and far.
“The people here care. That’s what matters. I’ve never run into anyone who didn’t treat me kindly. You feel at home here.”
A Message for Future Tenants
Gladys’s advice for anyone considering Bethany?
“You’ll feel very comfortable here. You’ll feel at home. The people will take care of you. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else.”
Her story is a living legacy of what Bethany stands for—faith, community, and compassion. And as we begin the next chapter beyond 50 years, we do so standing on the shoulders of people like Gladys who built, supported, and lived the mission.
“Even after Darryl passed, I never felt alone. Bethany is family.”
