Volunteer Spotlight

Note: This is the seventh in a series of features spotlighting volunteers who have served the hospital for 30 or more years.  We wish to thank all of our committed volunteers by featuring a handful who have made significant contributions.

Beth Echerd joined the Auxiliary in 1978 at the suggestion of her daughter-in-law, who was working here at the time.

In this Volunteer Spotlight, Beth tells us about her hobbies and interests and some fun adventures.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering here?

The interaction with the people on my shift and the other volunteers.

What is your most memorable volunteer experience?

Mardi Gras celebrations each year with the Tuesday shift. We distribute beads and candy throughout the hospital to staff, visitors and patients.

Tell us about your family.

I have three children. Two sons and a daughter, all married. Six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  My daughter-in-law, Gail, is the Pediatric Endocrinology section manager at Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City, MO.

What are your hobbies besides volunteering?

Traveling, reading, and cooking.

What did you do before retirement?

When I first married I was a RN and then used my medical training later as an oral surgery assistant at an Army dental facility.

What is your favorite book?

Anything by Jan Karon – the Mitford series.

What is your favorite movie?

Under the Tuscan Sun.

What would be your dream vacation?

An extended stay in a Tuscan villa.

If you could meet a famous person, who would it be and why?

Queen Elizabeth. I admire her many years of service and the part she's played in history. 

What gift have you received that you will always treasure?

The gift of roses at unexpected times from my husband.

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

River rafting trip down the Snake River in the summer of 2009!

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Drivers on cell phones.

What’s a fun fact about yourself that your fellow volunteers don’t know about you?

I lived in a tent in an Indian village in Honduras for nearly a month. I bathed in the nearby river with the cattle and interacted with tribal members.

How would your friends best describe you?

Loyal, caring, and fun-loving.