Huron, S.d. – The Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) Auxiliary hosted their annual luncheon on Monday, October 14 in the HRMC Legacy Plaza Auditorium. HRMC President and CEO, Erick Larson, opened the luncheon with a hospital update and thanked the volunteers for sharing their time and talent at HRMC.
Bob Eickhoff, HRMC Auxiliary president, announced Alison Dennis as the 2024 Volunteer of the Year. Dennis began volunteering in February of 2016 and has since contributed over 1,170 hours of her time to greeting patients and visitors at the main hospital information desk on Friday mornings.
As a nurse for nearly 50 years, Dennis has a strong commitment to the health of the community. She was born in the Sprague Hospital in 1938, graduated from Huron High School in 1956 and earned her nursing degree from St. Johns School of Nursing in 1959. She spent three years at the Delaney Clinic in Mitchell and returned to Huron for the remaining 47 years at Tschetter & Hohm Clinic, starting off as Dr. Ted Hohm’s nurse and eventually working in X-ray at the clinic.
Dennis lived with her husband, Dean, on a farm east of Huron for nearly 40 years. After her husband’s passing in 2012, she moved to Huron. Dennis has two sons, Darrin and wife, Brenda, who live in Castalia, Iowa, and Kent, who lives in New Rockford, North Dakota.
Since retirement, Dennis has enjoyed serving others and staying active. “When I moved to town from the farm, I decided to get involved and give back,” said Dennis. “Volunteering has kept me busy, and I enjoy interacting with people.”
In addition to volunteering at HRMC, she gives of her time at the Huron Area Senior Center, Helping Hands Thrift Store and Country Neighbors Extension Club, serving as their membership chair and former area director. She is active in the VFW Auxiliary and Huron Bird Club. Dennis enjoys gardening, feeding the birds, attending social events and is playing Wist and Spades in local card clubs.
Following the award presentation and a meal, Jordan Finck, DPM, surgical podiatrist, spoke to the volunteer group about his new practice at HRMC, consisting of foot and ankle injuries, arthritis and nerve problems of the foot and ankle, toe and toenail issues, diabetic foot care and more.
Updates were provided by HRMC Auxiliary board members, Judy Tschetter, Bonnie Sheridan and Bob Eickhoff. Auxiliary volunteers achieving service milestones were recognized with a commemorative pin.
The Auxiliary is seeking additional volunteers to provide a friendly welcome to the hospital and provide assistance in hospital lounges, assisting visitors at the information desks and delivering floral arrangements and newspapers to patients. The Auxiliary volunteers also manage and staff the hospital gift shops located in the main hospital and Central Tower lobbies, which support scholarships and other charitable projects. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer, contact membership representative, Bonnie Sheridan at 605-354-1233.
Bob Eickhoff, HRMC Auxiliary president, escorts Volunteer of the Year, Alison Dennis.
New Members
Barb Moser, Cheryl Moody, Jennifer Mitch, Judy Finstad, Linda Thelen, Rosalie Pownell, Ruth Eichstadt and Sidney Tompkins
100 Hours
Barrie Held, Brenda Christiansen, Dianne Gropper, Gloria Schneider
500 Hours
Leanne Voorhees, Pat Meink, Pat Pomerico
1000 Hours
Alison Dennis, Bonnie Sheridan, Lavonne Wipf, Linnet Perryman, Marilyn Hofer, Rella Quam, Shirley Duxbury
1500 Hours
Bob Eickhoff, Donna Schroeder
2500 Hours
Betty Albright, Diane Wipf, Jean Hart
3000 Hours
Judy Tschetter
