Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minn., is celebrating a milestone this year. Fifty years of providing professional and loving care, but also so much more. It is hard to put into words just how much the care center has meant to countless area residents and families over the years.
Chosen Valley Care Center (CVCC) opened its doors in 1976. But it almost didn’t happen, and without some determination among city leaders at the time, it may never have been built.
“The city council started working on that in 1972. In February 1974 it was rejected by the state board of health, then re-issued, and they asked for an investigation in 1974. In May 1974 they got the go ahead to pursue the building,” explained Michael Thieke, president of the Chosen Valley Care Center, Inc. Board of Directors.
“Chosen Valley Care Center, INC. is a non-profit corporation. Members of the corporation are people 18 and older who reside in the Chatfield, Minnesota, school district, and have resided therein continuously for one year,” according to Thieke.
A critical step in the realization of the Chosen Valley Care Center was the creation of the Founder’s Committee, which was started before the building to help raise funds. The Founder’s Mission Statement is: “Established in 1975, we exist to enrich the lives of residents/tenants at Chosen Valley Senior Campus through non-profit fundraising, supporting events and directing donations given to the committee.” The Founder’s Committee income has been from our social events. Contributions have also been received in memory of CVCC residents,” noted Thieke.
The 2026 Founder’s Committee consists of Marilyn Seelbinder, Judy Anderson, Shirley Clemens, Judi Daniels, Mary (Betts) Funk, Mary Beth Martin, Diane Meeker, Denise Pagel, Cindy Thesenvitz, Suzanne Thieke and Colleen Allen.
Since opening, CVCC has not only offered care to residents, but also peace of mind to families and loved ones, while providing licensed, both Medicare and Medicaid-certified, skilled nursing care to all residents. “We strive to provide the highest quality of life and highest quality of care in a home where people come to enrich and expand their life experiences physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually,” states the CVCC website, chosenvalleyseniorliving.com.
“I really like it here and this is my home,” noted resident LaVonne “Bonnie” Benike, who lived in CVCC assisted living for two years and then moved into the care center.
Throughout the last 50 years, CVCC has kept up with the times and the needs of the community. In 1990 independent living apartments were opened at the care center, adding 15 units, and in 2006 an assisted living building was completed, which added 20 apartments. The care center itself has 78 beds, so altogether CVCC offers 113 beds.
A remodeling project took place in 2019, in which one of the wings was transitioned into a Transitional Care Unit (TCU).
Additional directors include Jennifer Lange-Collett, Dan Hurley, Mary Allen, Maureen Ruskell, Allison Allen, Tom Keefe, Jean Easler and Nancy Berry.
John Kelly, administrator of CVCC, speaks highly of the staff, saying, “It’s very impressive just the amount of care they give the residents; they treat them like family,” adding, “we are very family oriented up here we try to take care of each other and do the best we can.”
Services at CVCC include independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care (including short-term rehabilitation and long-term care).
Programs offered at CVCC include hospice care, therapy (physical, occupational and speech therapy) through Aegis Therapy, CNA training, Meals on Wheels and congregate dining services.
Activities available to residents are wide-ranging, such as gardening, trivia, field trips and many more, including goats in the courtyard in the summer, which everyone enjoys.
CVCC has a volunteer program with many opportunities and would love community members to get involved. “I feel we need more volunteers to come in here and spend time with our residents. We have so many that are so lonely, and no families. And I have a huge family, and they come all the time, and I love them and they love me,” commented Benike, and she wishes for others to have that company as well.
Denise Drogemuller, Life Enrichment director at CVCC says “the sky is the limit” as far as what volunteers can provide for the residents. Pet volunteers, Bible talks, and music of any kind is “always an uplifting thing.” Playing cards, playing games, or just visiting is appreciated by residents.
“We have a lot of people that come during the day, but we don’t have a lot of people that come in the evenings” to volunteer their time, according to Drogemuller, so that is something to consider. Also, “a lot of people don’t realize that it’s not a daily commitment, it can be once a week, once a month – anything helps,” she noted.
There are approximately 180 employees of CVCC, which adds to the economy of the area.
“It’s one of the larger employers in Fillmore County and I think we may be the largest employer in Chatfield. And a good share of our employees are also teenagers. It is a good teaching ground for those who may have an interest in healthcare.
CVCC is fortunate to have a good retention rate of employees. “A lot of our staff is 20, 30-plus years,” stated Melissa Fenske, a social worker, with 17 years of employment at CVCC.
“And one is 40-plus,” added Thieke.
“It’s one of the main reasons I came here to be honest with you, is that, very tenured employee’s and management team,” noted Kelly.
Gerry Gathje, who has worked in maintenance at CVCC for 25 years, said, “I love working here, it’s a great place to interact with the residents,” and he added that “everybody is kind of a big family,” which was repeated by many employees and residents alike.
As CVCC looks to the future there is an obvious need for an expansion of the kitchen. “We would like to do a project to remodel our kitchen. The kitchen is still kind of the original kitchen from 1976. Very little construction has been done to that, and we need to do some expansion on that,” noted Thieke.
“That is something we are trying to keep in mind and hoping to get community attention for. It’s got really limited space and it’s not efficiently laid out,” added Thieke. Kitchen staff are having to make use of a space designed for preparing meals for far less people than they serve today.
CVCC is planning a celebration for the community on June 25, 2026, to recognize 50 years of caregiving, with a community barbeque and open house at the care center. Watch for further information and plan to attend.
Chosen Valley Care Center is located at 1102 Liberty St. S.E. in Chatfield. For more information phone 507-867-4220 or email info@cvslhome.com.
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