‘We’re like a family’

Senior Centers have been around for many years, yet not everyone understands the value and importance they bring to a community.
The Minneota Senior Center isn't just a building where older adults can go and have coffee and talk about ailments. This is a bustling center that allows seniors to stay active in their golden years, while warding off loneliness for some and providing valuable friendship for others.
"The Center is a warm and friendly place," said Joanne Myrvik, who has been the Senior Center director for the past 30 years. "We are like a big happy family here. We look out for each other, we respect each other, and we welcome new input and new things to do."
The Minneota Senior Center continues to expand its activity list and now has something going on inside the city-owned building Monday through Friday.
On Monday, the Senior Center offers Mahjong; Tuesday's schedule is filled with exercise class, Bien and 500 card games, and quilting; Wednesdays offer the card game Hand, Knee & Foot; Thursdays are Bingo and exercise; and Friday is Bien, 500 and quilting. Those participating will take turns bringing treats to share with the others.
"I love to quilt," said Rita Engels of Ghent. "I really like to come and work on quilts in Minneota because it's very cozy and the lighting is really good. It's just such a fun place to come to. Everyone gets along so well and everyone is so friendly."
"I now go three times a week to play cards," said Alice Bot of Minneota. "I like getting out and visiting with the others. I don't know what I would do otherwise. I sure missed going there during COVID."
Exercise class draws around 15-20 participants each time, with Myrvik leading the class.
"We work all the muscle groups," she said proudly.
Studies have shown that senior centers that offer physical and mental activities aids in degenerative conditions, while also preserving cognitive abilities.
Joining a gym can sometimes be overwhelming for seniors who maybe haven't worked out in years or are living with health challenges. Exercising together at the senior center puts everyone on the same comfort level.
"It's not hard work," said one person in the exercise group. "But I always seem to feel better after exercising."
Myrvik has expressed time and again how much she enjoys her job and the people at the center. And those who regularly come there feel grateful to have someone like her in charge."The things that impresses me about Joanne is that she not only keeps everything going smoothly, she even goes and picks up some people that don't drive and brings them here," said Engels.
Often, when people reach retirement age, it becomes increasingly difficult to meet people. The Minneota Senior Center is a welcoming facility where anyone can walk in a make new acquaintances.
This senior center is rich in history. The current building was actually the men's department of the historic Big Store, which is now home to the Minneota Public Library.
The Senior Center started out in the basement of the current American Legion building in 1969 and was home there until moving into the current location on April 22, 1992.
"When the Senior Center was located in the basement of the Legion, Barney would bowl and I liked to play Bingo," said Bot, referring to her late husband.
Virginia Hochstatter was hired as the first director of the Senior Center and she remained in that position until 1989. Lee Jeremiason, Clara DeRoode (twice), Wendy Sarazyn and Marie Moorse all briefly held the director position.
The City of Minneota then announced that it had purchased the building next to the Big Store from Virgil Gislason to be used for the new Senior Center in 1992.
Fundraising was then the top priority for the seniors in order to remodel their new building. Grants were obtained from various foundations, as well as donations from local individuals, organizations and businesses.
On Oct. 26, 1992, Myrvik became the Meal Site Manager. Lunches were prepared at the former Minneota Manor and delivered to the Senior Center for those wishing to enjoy a hot meal with others at a reasonable cost. The average number of seniors dining five days a week at the center was 23 back then. Some seniors would bring family members with them to eat for birthdays and other occasions.
"We used to serve big Christmas and Thanksgiving meals here, too," Myrvik noted. ""We used to even have a Presidential Election Supper every four years. The Manor would make the meals and they were delicious."
No meals have been served at the Senior Center since COVID hit in 2020.
On June 24, 1994, Moorse resigned and Myrvik was hired as director, a position she does not plan to resign from any time soon.
"I'm a people person," she said. "That's what keeps me going. When they first asked me to be the director, I said I don't think that will work because I don't play cards. They promised me that I would not have to play cards and I hold them to that even today. Now I've been here longer than some of the woodwork."
Repairs and bills are paid for by dues, which are only $10 per year, fundraisers, or memorial money donated to the Senior Center.
Some of the fundraisers held by the seniors at one time or another include the popular salad luncheons, quilt raffles, pie and ice cream socials, spaghetti feeds, craft and bake sales, and much more.
The large uppercase letters spelling out SENIOR CENTER on the outside of the building were destroyed by inclement weather last summer and were taken down, so the name is no longer visible. The letters are expected to be replaced when the weather warms up.