Joanne Brekhus Estate Makes Donation to Grace Chapel

Havre, Montana – The Grace Chapel at the Northern Montana Care Center was recently bequeathed over $11,000 from the estate of Joanne Brekhus, a long-time Care Center employee.

Christen Obresley, VP of Regulatory and Community Services at Northern Montana Health Care, has reported the substantial gift. “Joanne was a long-time employee of the Environmental Services Department here at the Northern Montana Care Center. This gift was a tribute to the time that she spent here caring for our residents.”

Joanne originally worked for Northern Montana Health Care under Roberta Torek. Roberta was the supervisor at the time when NMHC moved the residents of the Lutheran Home into the current Care Center building. Ms. Torek’s daughter, Gloria Heil, relays the story. “Joanne was my mother’s right-hand gal. She trusted her and was always impressed with her work ethic. Joanne personally cleaned all of the rooms at the new facility prior to the move. She then visited the home and pre-cleaned all of the furniture. On move-in day Joanne was at hand to ensure that all was clean and to help decorate all of the rooms prior to the residents’ arrivals.”

Ms. Heil went on to tell of how Joanne cared for “her residents” while she was employed at the Care Center. After Roberta Torek’s retirement Ms. Heil took over as supervisor and worked closely with Ms. Brekhus until her retirement. Prior to the building of Grace Chapel in 2011, church services were held in the Ponderosa Dining Room. “Setting up for services and the subsequent rearrangements were the responsibility of the Environmental Services staff and as such, the building of Grace Chapel was a project that Joanne felt in her heart.” said Ms. Heil. “She wanted part of her legacy to be the completion of such a space.”