Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Premiums:
Life insurance	$ 191,254	$ 187,686	$ 181,857
Accident and health insurance	1,546	1,599	1,557
Property insurance	5,076	5,195	5,118
Net investment income	48,560	45,782	41,062
Realized investment losses, net	(1,985)	(5,459)	(19)
Other income	955	1,465	650
Total revenue	245,406	236,268	230,225
Insurance benefits paid or provided:
Claims and surrenders	81,367	78,879	68,269
Increase in future policy benefit reserves	75,881	77,060	81,998
Policyholders' dividends	6,832	10,747	10,102
Total insurance benefits paid or provided	164,080	166,686	160,369
Commissions	44,641	43,625	44,021
Other general expenses	33,356	33,287	36,591
Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(32,732)	(31,104)	(32,071)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	28,515	23,400	21,083
Amortization of cost of customer relationships acquired	2,063	2,317	2,182
Total benefits and expenses	239,923	238,211	232,175
Income (loss) before federal income tax	5,483	(1,943)	(1,950)
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	3,514	1,200	4,020
Net income (loss)	1,969	(3,143)	(5,970)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period	(1,659)	(24,217)	29,328
Reclassification adjustments for (gains) losses included in net income	1,974	5,415	20
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net	315	(18,802)	29,348
Income tax expense (benefit) on unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	110	(6,539)	10,293
Other comprehensive income (loss)	205	(12,263)	19,055
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ 2,174	$ (15,406)	$ 13,085
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ (0.06)	$ (0.12)
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ (0.03)	$ (0.06)