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Dean Lyste named LTC’s 2024 Chaplain of the Year

Dean Lyste was born to be a chaplain.  He was raised in Beaver Creek Township (near Hatton) in a loving family devoted to their Christian community, farming life and their church, Beaver Creek Lutheran Church.  Dean was greatly influenced by his father, a humble man who took his family to church every Sunday, gave credit to God for the opportunities given to him, never said a discouraging word, worked hard, but never on Sunday, helped his neighbors in need and greatly loved his family.  It’s a wonderful thing growing up knowing you are loved by God and your family.

Dean, too, has lived a life of faith.  He has served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, youth pastor and Sunday School Superintendent.  And it is in his chaplaincy that he found his true calling.  In one of his first Sundays as a chaplain, Dean told the residents that he may not be the smartest chaplain, but there wasn’t anyone who wanted to be their chaplain more than him.  After the service one of the residents said to him that we only need to know that you care and you are here because this is where God wants you.  And for 20 years Dean has done just that serving as chaplain at Hatton Prairie Village and Northwood Deaconess Health Center.

Dean graduated from NDSSS (North Dakota School of Science) with a degree in Distributive Education and from Altru Hospital’s chaplaincy program. He proposed to his wife, Sherry, on their first date – a song on the radio that night felt like God was telling him that she is “the one”.  Sherry said yes and 45 years later she still makes his heart skip a beat.  They have two children, Angela, married to Kyle Paulson, and Michael Lyste, married to Jordan, and two wonderful granddaughters, Rylee and Logan Paulson.

“The Bible verse that I first remember hearing went straight to my heart”, says Dean.  “And it’s the first verse I share with a resident.  Twenty-five words that show God’s love for us and His promise to us.”

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Deb Mehus named LTC’s 2024 Certified Dietary Manager of the Year

Deb Mehus found her calling early.  At age 16 she started her career at Hatton Prairie Village as a teenage Dietary Aide and she’s been there ever since, serving as its Certified Dietary Manager for the past 32 years.

Managing a Dietary Department is quite a challenge.  Food is very subjective and residents feel strongly about their food.  Deb has said that in the same meal one resident will tell her it’s the best meal she’s had and another resident will tell Deb it the worst meal he’s had.  How do you keep all the residents happy?  It’s difficult and Deb does it with such expertise and grace and understanding and love.

Deb understands that food is often one of the last real pleasures in a resident’s life and she strives to provide that to residents.  Because she knows each resident so well, she will provide extra treats that she knows that resident likes. She provides meals that residents specifically request (waffles, barbecue ribs, potato bar, stuffed pork chops, pecan pie, etc.).  On residents’ birthdays, she provides the birthday cake each resident requests for his/her birthday.  She provides all the holiday meals and goodies our residents know and love (lutefisk, lefse, flatbread, rommergrot, Norwegian meatballs, streul, rosettes, spritz, etc.).  She commemorates each holiday for residents with special treats (heart cookies for Valentine’s Day, red, white and blue bars for Memorial Day, flag cookies for July 4^th, ghost and pumpkin cookies and bars for Halloween, etc.).  Residents look forward to and so enjoy these special treats.

Deb grew up on a farm near Toby Lake and graduated from Hatton High School in May 1968.  Two months later she married Jeroy, an older man (by 4 years), and this July they will be celebrating 56 years together.  Deb and Jeroy have six children and fourteen grandchildren.  And a dietary career also runs in the bloodline.  Deb’s mother, Deloris, worked in Dietary at Hatton Prairie Village for 20 years and they worked together for four years before Deloris retired.  Deb enjoys cooking, sewing and walking outdoors.

“This recognition was so unexpected and I am so honored to receive it”, says Deb. Thinking back on her early days, Deb said “I was thrilled to get the job at the nursing home because I was making $.50 an hour babysitting and the dietary aide job paid $.90 an hour.  Big money to a teenager.”  She also recalled that dietary employees had to wear dresses – not too short – and they didn’t need to wear a hair net if their hair was sprayed stiff with Aqua Net.  Things have certainly changed but Deb continues to enjoy her career, her co-workers and the residents.  “It’s a good life and a rewarding life”, says Deb.