Kinship Pointe’s Valentine's Day celebration was fit for royalty.
The assisted living facility crowned Valentine’s Day King Dennis Gustafson and Valentine’s Day Queen Edith Steinmiller on Feb. 13.
During the first week of February, residents and staff voted for three men and three women who live at Kinship Pointe. The following week, they ranked the top three who received the most votes in each category. Kinship Pointe tallied up the votes, and the man and woman who placed the highest overall were crowned as Valentine’s Day royalty during Friday’s celebration.
Kinship Pointe Activities Director Lindsay Mobley said the royals are often happy to be crowned, especially as they know their peers chose them.
“I'm just spellbound and honored,” said Steinmiller, a resident since 2021.
Don Baldwin and Naomi Luebbe were first runners-up, and Delbert Junge and Sharon Stumme were second runners-up. The four of them joined the winners at the front of the room throughout the celebration.
The king and queen were adorned with a crown and tiara, respectively, and a regal-looking shawl. They each received a box of chocolates. They will join the kings and queens before them on Kinship Pointe’s wall of Valentine’s Day photos, which dates back to when the tradition began in 2010.
Those who attended the ceremony received raffle tickets upon entering the event and won prizes, including sun catchers, candy bars, door hangers and stuffed animals after the crowning. They also enjoyed snacks.
“I just love doing these kinds of activities with the residents, because it makes them happy,” Mobley said. “It brings them all out in a big group, and they can socialize and they are the ones that actually get to pick the king and queen.”
Steinmiller, who was a teacher for 54 years, said she was surprised to learn she won the title.
“I certainly wasn't expecting it, because I'm a person that likes to read and play the piano and do all these things,” she said. “I'm not a very social person, so I was quite shocked.”
Gustafson, a former pipeliner, has lived at Kinship Pointe for eight years. He, too, did not expect to win.
“I was very surprised and very honored,” he said.
Gustafson said Kinship Pointe is filled with nice people, and he enjoys socializing with them at its events, like this one. Steinmiller agreed.
“These events just add so much,” she said. “You get to know people, and it’s a joyful time.”
