Evenson named Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Marilyn Evenson of Stanley received the Outstanding Rural Health Volunteer award at the 2018 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health’s annual banquet June 14 in Grand Forks. This award recognizes the contributions made by a community person who has volunteered to contribute his/her energy, time, and skill toward the betterment of rural healthcare.

Evenson worked for the Mountrail County Health Center as a registered nurse for 50 years. She retired in 2008, but she did not stop working. Evenson is a longtime resident of Stanley and dedicates her life to helping others wherever and whenever there is a need. She volunteers at health fairs and blood drives and makes and sells handcrafted items for auxiliary fundraisers. Evenson is actively involved with the hospital and nursing home auxiliaries. She is also active in her church and senior citizens and is an avid quilter.

Lynn Patten, administrative assistant at Mountrail County Health Center, said she can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.

“Marilyn is an integral part of our facility,” Patten said. “She is an advocate for promoting healthcare in our community. She gives of herself so freely, not just at our facility, but also in the community, and we are all better because of it.”

The Dakota Conference is a joint effort by the North Dakota Rural Health Association; the North Dakota Public Health Association; Altru Health System of Grand Forks; the UND College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines; and the Center for Rural Health.

To watch videos of all this year’s awardees visit ruralhealth.und.edu/dakota-conference/awards/archive.