86-year-old Shirley Krier is truly hitting her stride at Good Samaritan – St. Martin Village in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“The location is absolutely gorgeous. I walk almost three miles every day on the path. It is outstanding,” Shirley says.
Trusting her retirement route, the former VA nursing leader of 26 years became resident No. 1 at the location back in 2012.
“There was nothing out here. There was my (twin) home and the office building,” Shirley says. “It’s like I live out in a cabin in the hills. It’s really gorgeous. And you have beautiful Terra Sancta,” a Catholic Diocese of Rapid City retreat center.
Good Samaritan bought much of the land in this valley from the Benedictine sisters of St. Martin Monastery to develop a full continuum of care campus.
Still learning new skills
Not one to sit around, Shirley quickly caught wind of a part-time job across the street.
“Kitchen help wanted at the monastery,” Shirley remembers from a church bulletin.
She applied and got the gig thinking she’d be washing dishes for the sisters.
“‘We’d like to hire you,’ (a sister) said. ‘I’m just interested, what kind of meals do you usually cook?’ I said, ‘cook? You didn’t tell me I had to cook. I don’t know how to cook.’ She said, ‘it’s not that hard.’ So anyway they hired me,” Shirley says with a smile.
Giving us a tour of the kitchen she worked out of, Shirley jokes, "well, I think you’re supposed to know how when you get here. But this is where I learned how to cook."
Now, the monastery kitchen is used to serve residents of Good Samaritan. The organization bought the building from the sisters in 2023, renovated it and reopened in 2025.
“We are in Unity Place, former monastery for the sisters, Benedictine sisters,” senior living manager Jimmy Ray Dalton says. “This building became a memory care for 10 people, a hospice for six and on top level is our assisted living."
Bringing much needed senior services to the Rapid City region.
“I think that’s wonderful. I am so glad they bought that property up there,” Shirley says.
“I hear people say, 'I’m so glad we have a memory care.'"
'Very blessed that this place is here'
While Good Samaritan provides care and much more, having active residents like Shirley creates community.
“Shirley is a really cool lady. She has a big heart and she loves to do things for people,” Jimmy Ray says.
"It means that their heart is in the campus. They want it to succeed and thrive. They’re just not living here; they’re becoming part of the campus."
Shirley has even recruited several family members to join her at Good Samaritan over the years.
“At this point in my life, I really wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I feel very blessed that this place is here,” Shirley says.
