Norseland Nursing Home celebrates 50 years of service to the Westby community

Feb. 10, 2025

WESTBY, Wis. – On Feb. 3, 1975, Norseland Nursing Home welcomed its very first resident, marking the beginning of five decades of compassionate care and service to the Westby community. Since its inception, Norseland has been a cornerstone of the area, providing skilled nursing care with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

This year on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. there will be a celebration of Norseland’s 50^th Anniversary celebrating the staff, residents, and history of this facility. The event is open to the public and will include cake, music, memories from staff and residents, newspaper articles from over the past 50 years, and raffle baskets donated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Discussions and planning for Norseland began in 1973 when the City of Westby entered into an agreement with an Iowa-based corporation to develop and manage a skilled nursing facility. On Jan. 1, 1985, the management of Norseland transitioned to The Bethany-St. Joseph Corporation (BSJ) of La Crosse, Wis., which continues to oversee its operations today.

Norseland has been a long-standing staple in the Westby community. One thing that has not changed over the years is the sense of community. The staff at Norseland and those who have provided care and services over the years are unmatched to any other.  

“This area produces some great people; the work ethic here is fantastic. We have excellent employees” stated along-standing, and since passed Administrator, Ned Barstad in a ‘The Times’ article from February 3, 2000, whose words still hold true today.

Two short months after Norseland opened its doors, there was a need to organize a group of local community members that had the same vision in mind; provide services and assistance to the residents and staff of

Norseland. On April 2, 1975, the Norseland Auxiliary was formed. To this day, the Auxiliary provides countless much-needed items to the residents of Norseland that may not otherwise be possible.

Those who remember the early years of Norseland, know how important the coffee social every afternoon was. We will be honoring this history this year on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. with the celebration of Norseland’s 50^th Anniversary. Thank you to all the local businesses, organizations, and individuals that donated items for the raffle, your support is greatly appreciated. 

From all of us at Norseland Nursing Home and BSJ Corporation, we hope to see you on Wednesday, Feb. 26 for our 50^th anniversary celebration as we continue our commitment to providing compassionate care and service to the Westby community for many years to come.