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.
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• 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.