Kidron Bethel Village set to mark 100 years
This May, Kidron Bethel Village will observe a century of connection, care and continuity in the senior care and living industry, marking a milestone that honors its rich heritage while looking toward a vibrant future for generations of residents and staff to come.
What is known today as Kidron Bethel Village began in 1926 as the Bethel Home for the Aged, an auxiliary ministry of the Bethel Deaconess Hospital. The need for such a community had been evident for nearly two decades. Since the hospital’s opening, requests had steadily grown for both temporary and long-term care for older adults, prompting the creation of a dedicated home to meet this emerging need.
By the early 1950’s, state regulations for nursing homes became more stringent. Bethel Home for the Aged worked continuously to remain in compliance with evolving standards and licensure requirements, adapting its facilities and practices to ensure resident safety and well-being.
As the senior care landscape continued to evolve, a new era of vision took shape in 1977. That year, a group of innovative leaders and committed collaborators led by John Esau, who today is an independent living resident at Kidron Bethel Village, proposed exploring “a new type of retirement community”. Their work led to pursuing a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop low-income rental housing in North Newton. The name Kidron, Inc., was chosen for the initiative, and marked a significant shift toward a more comprehensive continuum of care.
The subsidized housing apartments of Kidron, Inc., consisting of six four-plexes and 55 apartments in a central building, were completed in 1982, by which time the Board of Directors of Kidron, Inc., and the administration of Bethel Home for the Aged were having discussions regarding bringing the operations of both missions under the same organization. Kidron Bethel Retirement Services became active to plan for further levels of retirement care on January 1, 1984, and at the same time, Bethel Home for the Aged officially separated from Bethel Deaconess Hospital to come under the new organization of senior care in the area.
“It was exciting and a privilege to be involved with Bethel Home for the Aged and the establishment of the new organizations, Kidron, Inc., and Kidron Bethel Retirement Services,” said Marvin Ewert at the time. Ewert served as President of Bethel Home for the Aged beginning in 1957, then transferred to President of Kidron, Inc., and Kidron Bethel Retirement Services until 1987. “The development of Kidron Bethel Village is the fulfillment of a vision for creative and meaningful retirement living, providing security, services and life-enriching social and recreational activities.”
The first two independent living duplex units were constructed in 1985. By 1989, plans were in place for more homes, including eight duplex townhomes and the 36-unit apartment building of Village Heights, and a long-term care unit. Bethel Health Care Center opened September 12, 1991, and 59 residents from Bethel Home for the Aged moved in a single day to the new community, ending the 65-year chapter at the original location and beginning a new one at Kidron Bethel Village.
Further highlights of Kidron Bethel Village history:
For more than six months, independent living residents Linda Koppes and Vern Bowers have been researching and compiling the 100-year history of Kidron Bethel Village.
“I was interested in when things were built and how it happened,” said Bowers. “I encouraged a couple of people to put together a presentation for Town Hall meetings and they weren’t interested in doing that, so I did! I knew Linda was a person who knows how to get things and find things, so really, she’s done all of the work.”
Koppes, who worked for 10 years at the Harvey County Historical Society, is interested in recording and preserving history and jumped into the project whole heartedly.
“There were a lot of interesting events, probably tense discussions and forward-thinking ideas that are part of the history of Kidron Bethel Village and I think that is worth recording and sharing,” said Koppes. “It’s important to remember where we came from.”
Editor’s note: Bowers presented the first 60 years of Bethel Home for the Aged/Kidron Bethel Village in November 2025. The last 40 years will be presented at Town Hall on Tuesday, April 14, at 3 p.m., in Kidron Hall. A come-and-go celebration and display of the 100-year history is being planned for summer 2026. Further information will be communicated as it becomes available.