Local Family Keeps Care Facility Running, Son Succeeds Father
After 35 years overseeing facilities for Sanford Health long term care and retirement operations in Bemidji, Chuck Jensen retired on December 8, 2025, and his son Matt Jensen stepped into the role of facilities manager at Neilson Place. The handoff preserves continuity of care for residents and signals stability for staff and families in Beltrami County.
On December 8, 2025, a quiet but significant change occurred at Neilson Place in Bemidji as facilities veteran Chuck Jensen closed a 35 year chapter and his son Matt took over as facilities manager. Chuck spent his career with Sanford Health long term care and retirement operations in Bemidji, working at locations that include North Country Nursing and Rehab and Neilson Place. The transition was marked by a celebration with family and colleagues that underscored both personal legacy and institutional continuity.
Jensen’s path into facilities work began unexpectedly with custodial and boiler work for Bemidji Area Schools. Over decades he moved into leadership roles within the health system, and he was part of the operations shift to Neilson Place in 2004. His responsibilities covered building systems, maintenance planning, and the daily tasks that keep residents safe and comfortable. He took particular pride in serving longtime residents, including World War Two veterans, and he emphasized the practical work that supports quality of life in a residential care setting.
Matt Jensen brings a decade of experience at Neilson Place along with a childhood familiarity with maintenance work. His promotion keeps institutional knowledge in the community and offers a smooth operational handoff for staff and residents. Facility management in a long term care setting touches many aspects of daily life for residents, from heating and ventilation to accessibility and emergency preparedness, and the continuity promised by an internal succession reduces disruption.
For families and staff in Beltrami County the change means stability. Retaining an experienced local manager helps protect resident safety and comfort, supports staff retention, and preserves community trust in long term care services. Chuck plans to pursue volunteer work and long distance bicycling in retirement, and he expressed confidence in Matt’s ability to manage the facility going forward. The handoff between father and son is both a personal milestone and a practical reassurance for residents and their families in the region.
