Good Samaritan Society-Denton Village
Our history…
By Virginia Langston, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine
In 1922, Rev. August Hoeger was serving as a pastor in Arthur, North Dakota. A fellow pastor put a challenge in the church newsletter to donate two pennies to finance treatment for a boy with polio. Money flowed in and a surplus of $2,000 remained. Hoeger suggested this money be used to help others with disabilities and to that end The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society was formed. The Society is first and foremost a Christian organization. Although it began as a facility for persons with disabilities, the Society expanded its services to include the aged. While the Society has grown during the past 90 years, its mission has remained the same: share God’s love in word and deed…Good Samaritan centers are located in more than 200 communities in 24 states; the centers all form one Society.
Good Samaritan Society was asked to come to Denton by a group of individuals who recognized the need for retirement housing in this community. In 1973, a community fund drive, chaired by Tom Harpool, raised the funds to purchase the land at 2500 Hinkle Drive. It was the hard work of well known community members such as Rev. Fred Cassell, Frank Hall, Tom Harpool and Tom Noel that resulted in the establishment of Good Samaritan Society-Denton Village. Frank Hall and Tom Noel later resided at Denton Village and continued to lend their leadership there.
Denton Village began service in 1976 with the opening of the Health Care Center and the Central Apartments. The Health Care Center offers long and short-term stays. The Rehabilitation area provides space for therapy, therapy equipment and offices. There are 60 twin homes/triplexes. The South Building was completed in 1983. The Central and South apartment buildings are comprised of 93 apartments.
Morrison Residence is the newest level of service. It was the dream of the founders that once a person moved into the Village, they could choose to stay there for the rest of their lives and enjoy the security of a retirement community. Residents and community members donated time and money to add this area, which opened in 2004. Morrison Residence has 14 assisted living studio apartments.
At Good Samaritan, each resident is valued and loved regardless of age or ability. Each staff member is offered respect and opportunities to grow. This demonstrates the vision of the Society, which is to create an environment where people are loved, valued and at peace.
