News/Blog

I want to take this moment to highlight Donna Bartels and the tremendous impact she has had on Willow Creek. She is not just an asset to our facility—she has truly made Willow Creek a home for both residents and staff.

Donna is more than just a boss—she is a leader in every sense of the word. She has a way of explaining things that resonate with employees, offering encouragement and guidance to help them grow in their roles. Her leadership sets the tone for compassion, hard work, and unwavering dedication.

At Willow Creek, leadership is not confined to offices or meetings—it happens in real-time, on the floor. And that’s exactly where you’ll find Donna. Whether answering a call light, assisting a resident, or providing support during a challenging shift, she leads by doing, not just directing. Her calm, encouraging demeanor makes even the hardest days more manageable.

Her door is always open—literally and figuratively. When she says, “I’m here for you,” she genuinely means it. Whether for a resident seeking comfort or a staff member needing guidance, Donna is present, patient, and engaged.

Every single day, Donna works tirelessly to keep Willow Creek running smoothly—a feat that is no small task. Yet, she accomplishes it with grace, determination, and unwavering dedication that inspires us all.

What Makes a Great Leader?

Donna shows us every single day:

• Integrity – She leads with honesty and makes the right choices, even when they are difficult.
• Empathy – She connects with people on a personal level, seeing beyond roles and routines.
• Vision – She thinks ahead, building a stronger and more compassionate community.
• Accountability – She takes ownership and expects the same from others, fostering responsibility rather than blame.
• Communication – She speaks clearly and listens with both her heart and mind, balancing assertiveness with compassion.
• Adaptability – No matter the challenge, she remains steady and finds a way forward.
• Empowerment – She inspires those around her to be their best.
• Humility – She never seeks credit, but she absolutely deserves every bit of recognition.

Donna, thank you for showing us what true leadership looks like. You care deeply—for our residents, for our staff, and for the mission we all share. Because of your endless hard work, compassion, and presence, Willow Creek is not just a workplace—it’s a family.

You are deeply appreciated, and your leadership is invaluable to everyone here.

Sincerely,

Dee

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “caregiver” is defined as: A person who provides direct care to someone in need. At Willow Creek Senior and Assisted Living in Henning, it means so much more!

Carrie Bushman is our employee spotlight this week. Her role as a caregiver is one of the most important positions in the Henning facility. It involves giving residents the support and care they need to live comfortable, happy lives. And Carrie is very good at what she does!

Carrie Bushman prepares for her day as a caregiver at Willow Creek.

What does an Assisted Living Caregiver Do?

Her day starts early at the computer, where she helps prepare the morning medication pass for the residents. Along with passing out medications, Carrie does skin and wound care, blood pressure checks, and blood sugar monitoring. She changes bedding and clothing and will often do small chores for residents around their apartments, such as watering plants, or putting items away that are hard to reach.

When the residents head off to breakfast, she begins making beds and cleaning. This often includes housekeeping and laundry.  For those who wish to eat breakfast in their rooms, she brings up their tray and gets them settled in for their meal. When breakfast is over, she cleans trays and takes out garbage.

Carrie runs errands around town for residents with mobility issues. She helps in the kitchen if necessary and does housekeeping in the main building as well as patient rooms. The residents have scheduled wash days where caregivers help them bathe, shave, and wash their hair. She also checks on residents daily to make sure daily personal care is not neglected.

But Carrie’s most important job is the socialization she provides. She can often be found laughing and visiting with residents and their guests, lending an ear whenever they need one.

How Carrie Became a Caregiver

Originally from Parkers Prairie, Carrie has lived in Henning for many years and knows many of the residents and their families. This is part of the reason she loves working at Willow Creek. As she puts it, “The staff is great and the residents are the best in the world!”

Carrie discusses the day’s schedule with Tim Kelly, Administrator of SWLC.

Before working at Willow Creek, Carrie was a kitchen manager and waitress at the Underwood Cafe, giving her plenty of experience working with people. She also worked in a pharmacy for 20 years, so she is well-versed in the medical field.

Activities are an important part of life at Willow Creek. Game nights, live music, and afternoon coffee hours run much smoother with experienced caregivers like Carrie helping out.

In her spare time, she enjoys lots of lake time in this beautiful area of Central Minnesota. She loves spending time with her pets and her family, including babysitting her nine grandbabies!

Interested to Learn More About Willow Creek?

Visit our website and contact Donna Bartels, our executive director for more information on what Willow Creek offers. Let us know if you are interested in working as a caregiver! Donna can give you all the details and the training can be done with the amazing staff of Willow Creek. Give us a call today at 218548-6683!

Every great day starts with breakfast!

Dee Kropuenske knows this better than anyone. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) working at Willow Creek in Henning and every morning she helps residents who need a bit of extra care, to the dining hall for a hearty breakfast. Always wearing a smile, she contributes so much to the assisted living community!

A Day In the Life of an LPN at Willow Creek

Dee starts every day at Willow Creek in the same place: at her computer station reviewing the day’s medication orders. She receives a report each morning from Donna Bartels, the Willow Creek Executive Director, detailing the day’s schedule.

Originally from Staples, Dee’s family and friends live in the Henning area and she has worked at Willow Creek for the last four years. She has been a nurse since 1996, bringing lots of experience in many different nursing environments to the role.

After breakfast, Dee helps clean up and assist residents to their rooms, and then she starts her medication duties. Keeping detailed and organized records is essential for any care facility, and much of Dee’s day is spent around this task.

She makes sure every residents gets the attention and medication they need at the time they need it. This means checking and double-checking medication orders and delivering them to residents throughout the day.

When she isn’t caring for the residents, she is caring for her family and friends, including two grandkids. She loves camping and fishing, and warm, summer nights!

Nursing’s Role in an Assisted Living

It is not uncommon to see Dee around town, running errands to and from the local clinic. As an LPN, she can collect samples for testing and drive them into the clinic without the patient needing to leave Willow Creek. 

One of the many perks of living at Willow Creek is the weekly visit by the in-house provider. When the doctor visits to check in on residents, Dee is available to assist. Her duties might include further monitoring and reporting to the doctor, or running to the pharmacy for updated medications.

Dee is also available for the residents when the doctor is not. She can dress and monitor wounds, alerting the doctor if additional care is necessary. Residents can have their vital signs checked and their blood drawn without leaving their home! 

What is Dee’s favorite part of working at Willow Creek? “Getting to know the residents!” she says, with a big, bright smile. Indeed, the residents ultimately benefit the most by having an LPN on duty. According to Donna, “Dee is vital to Willow Creek. She is truly a leader here in Henning!”

Interested In Assisted Living?

Willow Creek has many more amazing perks to offer its residents. If you’re interested in an assisted living facility, give us a call! Contact us for more information about the beautiful community of Henning and our facility.

It’s an early winter morning in Henning, MN, and Patty Winkler, the cook at Willow Creek Senior Community moves around the dining hall refilling coffee cups and cleaning off tables. As she works, she smiles, waves, and converses with her fellow employees and Willow Creek residents. It is clear, she takes pride and joy in her work.

Mornings at the Assisted Living Facility

A typical morning for Patty starts by preparing the kitchen for the day ahead. She makes her way between the refrigerator, cooktop, and pantry, adding a dash of this and a pinch of that to breakfast. Always taste testing to ensure the meal is up to par.

This morning’s meal includes pancakes, whipped up and perfectly cooked by Patty. Residents at Willow Creek are treated to three homemade meals every day. Patty stands by her cooking, making as much as she can from scratch.

The secret to her world-famous pancakes? A hint of vanilla and her own recipe, made with love.

After breakfast, she cleans and preps the kitchen for the next meal. She continues to chat with residents while restocking the dining hall. And she escorts any resident who needs help back to their apartments. Patty, like all employees at Willow Creek and St. William’s Living Center, is willing to step in and help wherever she is needed.

Patty’s Pies!

Born in Wadena, Patty considers herself a lifelong resident of Henning and has been with Willow Creek for many years as the head cook. Cooking isn’t just her job, it is one of her favorite pastimes, particularly baking!

Once a month, Patty treats the residents and staff to homemade pies. From apple to key lime, she has a knack for creating the perfect pastry. Lemon meringue is her personal favorite and one of the most requested pies on the menu.

Cooking isn’t the only thing that brings a smile to Patty’s face. She also enjoys singing, often humming a tune while hard at work in the kitchen at Willow Creek. In her younger years, she was a taxidermist and attended art and craft fairs around the country displaying and selling her artwork.

Nowadays, Patty likes to stick close to home. She spends much of her time with family, including her son and two adorable grandbabies. Her favorite thing to cook at home? Chicken dumpling soup! Her own, special recipe, of course.

When asked what her favorite part of working at Willow Creek is, “The people!” she says, without hesitation. The residents and staff at Willow Creek are a cherished second family to her. Everyone is willing to go above and beyond, and that suits Patty just fine!

Assisted Living is Living Done Right

At Willow Creek, resident satisfaction is our number one priority. There is never a shortage of smiling faces and full bellies in the dining hall, thanks to Patty and the rest of our amazing staff. If you or a family member is considering an assisted living facility, check out Willow Creek.  Contact us for more information about the amenities available in Henning!