As any good consumer knows, it’s advantageous to try a product before buying it. That’s exactly what Ken and Betty Detweiler did when shopping for a retirement community. They needed a community that would support their active lifestyles, be the right size, and have friendly and engaging neighbors. And that’s what they found at the Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial.
“Holly Creek is the right fit for us,” said Betty. “We found there’s a lot of people just like us: very active, involved and social.”
Ken and Betty started shopping for retirement communities four years ago and came to Holly Creek at the recommendation of their friends Mary and Milford Harr, who already lived there.
“Betty and I wanted to find a community while we are still relatively young and healthy, so we could take advantage of all the amenities retirement living offers,” said Ken. “We wanted a community where Betty could continue doing the things she loves, including singing.”
“Officially, we’re still not residents of Holly Creek,” added Betty. “We move into our cottage home on December 20, but we’ve spent so much time there that we already know many of our neighbors, and I sing weekly in the choir. I joined Holly Creek’s choir as a total stranger but now some of the members are my best friends.”
Betty jokes that Ken is a “professional listener” of Holly Creek’s choir. Ken adds, “I only sing in the shower and currently, the choir area doesn’t have a shower stall.”
In addition to singing as a soprano in the choir, Betty also attends Holly Creek’s bible study group. Both she and Ken have lunch at the Bistro weekly during its luncheon for priority waitlist members.
Ken and Betty’s decision to move into a cottage home was partly influenced by the size of their Colorado family and the ability to host holidays there. They came to Colorado in 1965 when Ken took a job with Mountain Bell Telephone, later becoming AT&T. Ken’s career took them to six different states but they always planned to return to Colorado. Their 62 years of marriage have produced three daughters and seven grandchildren; Two of those children and five of their grandchildren live in Metro Denver.
“Moving into our cottage home this December will be somewhat of a Christmas miracle,” said Betty. “It’s a new place to create holiday memories for our family.”
