Skip to Main Content

Avera Prince of Peace
Retirement Community

4500 Prince of Peace Place
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
(605) 322-5600

Prince of Peace Retirement Community: The First 25 Years

  • Mother Joseph Manor and Brady Memorial Home opened in 1961-1962, managed by the Presentation Sisters.
  • Bishop Hoch oversaw expansion of Prince of Peace in the early 1980s.
  • Bishop Hoch and Sister Irene Talbott opened the first office on East 10th Street in the former PACE Headquarters.

Early decisions included:

  • The facility would be church-sponsored and managed by the Presentation Sisters.
  • The facility would be built on the east side of Sioux Falls to be closer to Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center and also on the opposite side of the city from most other nursing facilities.
  • The building site should have room for expansion.
  • Council applied for the State of South Dakota’s approval to add 120 skilled nursing beds to Sioux Falls.
  • Project won approval for 90 beds. Council decided to add other housing options that would lead to an entire retirement community.
  • Council bought a cornfield from contractor John Weber as the future site of Prince of Peace.
  • Initial financing was through bonds raised.
  • Virgil Christiansen, an experienced nursing home construction manager, was chosen as contractor.
  • First building constructed was a model apartment, which also included office space for the staff.
  • In 1985, ground was broken for the 90 bed nursing facility.
    • Future site of Prince of Peace; circa 1985
    • Construction started in 1985
    • Open house for new construction
  • The first 25 apartment units were connected to the main facility by a temporary walkway. The first occupants moved in before construction was finished.
  • Gene Jones led the effort to raise money to construct a chapel. Bettie Cook donated the stained glass windows, which her husband Don saved from the Bishop’s previous home.
  • Prince of Peace formed a new Advisory Board to help facilitate community involvement. Henry Billion chaired the board.
  • Additional apartments with a dining room and congregate housing units with additional dining areas constructed.