Eldon Seten Memorial Golf Tournament in support of Bethel Lutheran Home

The Seten family are long-time supporters of Bethel Lutheran Home. A few years ago, Joanne Seten Clausen and her brothers Tony and Marty decided to host a golf tournament in honor of their father Eldon who had been a resident of Bethel.

Joanne says her family had always participated in Bethel’s annual golf outing, but when that event was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid, she and her brothers decided to have their own outing. The event was quickly arranged and held in Hartford at the Central Valley Golf Course.

The outing started small with only 4 teams, but they enjoyed themselves so much they decided to make the outing an annual event. Now grown to include many family members and numerous friends, the outing is held the Saturday after Labor Day at Central Valley in Harford.

The Seten family hosted 17 teams in 2023, including family and friends from as far away as Colorado. Their goal is 25 teams in 2024.

The event was especially successful due to generous sponsorship of food, prizes, and even financial donations. Proceeds from the tournament are donated to Bethel in memory of Eldon Seten.

The Seten family’s connection to Bethel was nurtured through their experience with family patriarch Eldon Seten. Eldon courageously battled Multiple Sclerosis most of his adult life. When his need for care surpassed what could be provided at home the family made the difficult decision to move him to a nursing home. Bethel was full at that time, so the family found a place for Eldon in Sioux Falls. A place at Bethel opened a few years later, and Eldon was able to move closer to his wife Peach and the family farm near Nunda. Eldon was a resident of Bethel for over two decades. He became a cherished family member to many staff at Bethel, and the sentiment was returned by the Setens.

Eldon passed away in 2019, but the bonds between the Seten family and the Bethel Community remain strong. Joanne sites the importance of a place like Bethel that is close to home and in a familiar setting as one of the reasons her family continues to support Bethel. She notes how easy it is to overlook planning for long term care until faced with the decision. With so many nursing homes closing in South Dakota, taking for granted that a loved one can find a place for care near their home is no longer viable. The Seten family is one of the reasons Bethel remains a vital resource in the Madison area.

Contact the Bethel Foundation if you would like more information on how you can support Bethel.