Media Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/18/2015 12:00:00 AM CENTRAL
Updated: 9/18/2015 11:50:10 AM CENTRAL
For more information, contact Katie Johnson.
LRH Honors 46-year Employee During EVS Week

(Fergus Falls, MN)  Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) recognizes all the professionals working in healthcare environmental services for the extraordinary teamwork and leadership required to care for the complex healthcare environment during National Environmental Services (EVS) Week.

One employee in particular, Mary Earle, is being honored at LRH this week for her tenure in the department. Everyone who has ever worked at Lake Region Healthcare’s hospital knows her. She and her linen cart have been a constant presence in the halls for over 46 years.

She’s known most notably for one thing: her smile. “She is a delight. She loves her job, she loves her co-workers, and she will be missed” according to Machell Lee, a co-worker of Mary’s for the past 20 years. Dozens of co-workers echo the sentiments. “She always has a smile and she is always SO positive,” said Jean Reinertson, who has worked with Mary for 25 years. “She appreciates her job so much that it makes others remember why they should be more appreciative too.”

Mary started working part time at LRH while still in school. Then when she graduated from Roosevelt High School, she continued her career there making it a lifetime commitment to be faithful employee and a faithful servant. “I know there is a God who is loving and caring and healing and I try to love and serve him in all I do,” she said.  To her, that’s the simple secret to the smile and the positive attitude that others marvel about.

She’s seen a lot of changes in over four decades, but through it all she says LRH has been a very nice place to work. “I have always had a friendly boss, the employees are nice, I have been able to work full time and part time, and everyone even threw a very nice 65th birthday party for me last month.” 

“The day I say goodbye to LRH will be a sad day. It’s my second home,” she says “but I’ve worked hard for 46 years and I’m starting to wear out!”  Mary did spend some time working in dietary and in housekeeping in the early part of her career, but for the majority of her time, she has worked tirelessly to ensure patients and staff have clean, fresh linens where and when they need them and delivered with a smile. 

After retirement Mary says she’ll stay home to rest and take care of herself. But one has to wonder how much time there will be for rest there amidst her commitments to call Bingo at her apartment complex on Saturdays, play Bingo at the Senior Center on Fridays, exercise at the Senior Center fitness room, and volunteer at Our Lady of Victory Church where she’s been a member for 65 years. “And I’d like to travel a little with my sister, my brother, and my sister-in-law,” she said, “and maybe take up oil painting again too!”  

Mary’s last day on the linen cart at LRH will be October 2nd, 2015. A retirement party will be held in her honor at the hospital cafeteria from 2 to 4pm that day and all who have known her and loved her and her smile are welcome to attend.  “I hope everyone can come to my retirement party,” Mary said, adding “I will miss everybody at LRH. May the Lord watch over me and you.”      

From the LRH "Upbeat" Newsletter, 1990