Original 74-bed Nursing Home, 1963 - Click Image to Expand

The Bethany Home Society of San Joaquin County, Inc. was established in 1958 by Ripon area church and community leaders. The Articles of Incorporation state that "This corporation is formed exclusively for charitable and eleemosynary purposes and the principal object and purpose of this organization shall be to establish and maintain a Christian Home for the aged and for those needing particular nursing and rest care due to infirmity or caused by illness, or as the result of age, excepting for those needing mental care."

Bethany Home Board Members, 1963 - (l to r) John De Vries, John Vrieling, Dr. Harold De Jong, Jennie Holfman, Teeke Workman, Lena Spaman, Russell Douma, Orlinda Donker, Bert Van Dyken, John Vander Kraan, Charles Viss, and William Boersma

These ideas of "home" and "care" were implemented in the years following by establishing a 74 bed skilled Nursing Center in 1963, building Garden Apartments for the elderly between 1968 and 1986, constructing a Manor Apartment complex in 1979, opening an Adult Day Care Center in 1989, completing Beth Haven, an adult residential care facility in 1990, expanding the Nursing Center in 1997, adding Alzheimer units to Beth Haven in 2000, and completing 36 Sunset Apartment units in 2001. Collectively these entities serve over 320 elderly persons.

Aerial View of Bethany Home, 2002 - Click Image to Expand