Evergreen Place managers grateful for caring residents and staff

Two managers with ties to the community are happy to be working at Evergreen Place after growing up in the area. Benedictine Living Community-Ellendale would like to tell you more about these individuals and thank them for their dedication to our Assisted Living and Basic Care residents.

Kayce Deering, RN-BSN, currently serves as Housing Manager at Evergreen Place, starting in the position in February 2022. Previously, she was Clinical Manager at Evergreen Place.

Kayce has long-standing ties to Benedictine. In high school, she began working in the dietary department at Prince of Peace Care Center. She then worked there as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and later as a nurse after graduating from Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Following her time at Prince of Peace, she worked as an Emergency Department nurse and Labor and Delivery nurse at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, SD, and as Clinical Nurse Coordinator for Avera Family Physicians.

Currently, her main responsibilities are managing Evergreen’s day-to-day operations, overseeing nursing functions, scheduling and overseeing staff, bringing in new residents and assisting them with move-ins, helping residents with their care, and coordinating with residents’ families and healthcare providers.

Kayce was born and raised in Ellendale. Her husband, Nick, is also from the Ellendale/Fullerton area. With their young son, Hank, they live on Kayce’s great grandparent’s farm just outside of Ellendale where they raise cattle. Her immediate family all reside in the Ellendale area, and her grandparents are also in the Ellendale and Fullerton areas. She has two brothers, four sisters, a nephew, and three nieces.

Ellendale has always been home to her, and she was happy to return following her time in Aberdeen. She enjoys being closer to her extended family and working again at Benedictine.

“I love the residents and their families at Evergreen. We have a great community here; this is truly their home. I also have great staff and am thankful for each and every one of them,” stated Kayce.

“We have such thoughtful residents here who love the staff. I had one resident come to me with a poem she had written for a staff member. I assisted her in editing it and typing it up for her to give to the associate. She was so proud of it and the staff member loved receiving it. It’s so great to see the connection everyone has here,” she added.

She credits her time working at Prince of Peace Care Center in high school as a great stepping stone to her future career.

“Working at Prince of Peace in high school in both dietary and CNA roles gave me excellent, diverse, hands-on work experience before I had even graduated. I was able to ‘try out’ different positions and it helped me decide that nursing was a career I wanted to pursue,” Kayce explained. “It was definitely an advantage when I applied to college, and I highly recommend current high school students look into the many opportunities available to them at Benedictine Ellendale, including part-time work, flexible schedules, and job shadowing.”

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading books, crocheting, camping, photography, and watching movies.

Miranda Sumption, LPN, began as Clinical Manager at Evergreen Place in February 2022.

Her responsibilities include scheduling appointments, following up with residents’ questions, assessing health status and change in conditions, noting healthcare providers’ orders, overseeing medications, and incorporating the nursing practice to enhance residents’ overall health.

She grew up nearby on a farm east of Frederick, SD, which her family continues to run. She has three brothers and one sister, who is pursuing a degree in nursing as well.

Miranda attended Bismarck State College, where she received as Associate of Applied Science degree in Administrative Assistant – Medical Office. After graduating from BSC, she began working as a CNA at the nursing home at Ashley Medical Center. During this time, she obtained a CMA II (Certified Medication Assistant) certificate to gain more experience and help prepare her for nursing school. She later earned a Licensed Practical Nursing diploma from Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD.

Previously, she worked full time as an LPN at Ashley Medical Center and fills in there occasionally on weekends.

“I see Ellendale as my home. I appreciate the great staff members at Evergreen that are always willing to help out and work together. I also enjoy the interactions with our residents,” Miranda said.

“One time a resident was having a hard day. She was sitting in my office and we were listening to music and talking. Another resident came in and offered to pray with her. We all prayed in my office together and went over applicable Bible verses. It was beautiful and something I will never forget,” she recalled.

Miranda is currently pursuing a degree to become an RN. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, going for drives, working with animals, going to the lake, and playing with her dog.

“We are so fortunate to have such caring, well-educated, ‘home grown’ staff that have now returned and share a fondness not only for the Ellendale, Fullerton and Frederick communities but for our residents as well,” stated Naomi Grueneich, executive director of Benedictine Living Community-Ellendale.

“We are grateful to have them part of the Benedictine family, and thank them for their many contributions and commitment to ensuring the highest quality care for our residents.”