SOLHEIM’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Part 1

The original By-Laws, adopted on November 11, 1923, named a fifteen-member Board of Directors. No surprise, Adolph Larson was the first President of the Board. He was President for five years, until ill health caused him to resign. He was replaced by Olaf Halvorson in 1928. The first Board members were all men, and there were no terms; therefore, no term limits. Over time, many of the Board members were Lutheran Pastors. The primary function of the Board was to provide money for operations, often out of their own pockets, if payment for services proved insufficient. The Board also hired the staff. It was an on-going concern of the Board to maintain competent and caring staff to see to daily operations, especially with high turnover in the Matron position.

Sources:

“Solheim Lutheran Home, Its Life and Times, 1923-1996” by Elizabeth Batchelder and Joyce Dohlin, 1996