Ray and Helen Fretz
Ray and Helen Fretz left an enormous legacy in so many ways. Part of their legacy was through a gift of more than $2 Million left to Benefis Healthcare Foundation in 1998 to improve the lives of those facing cancer. Ray and Helen did not have children of their own so the estate they amassed over their lifetime benefited Benefis Healthcare Foundation and other local charities. Because of their generous gift to support Sletten Cancer Institute, the beautiful garden area in the cancer center proudly recognizes their contribution by naming the garden the Ray and Helen Fretz Healing Garden.
Anonymous Gift to Build Peace Hospice of Montana Residential FacilityWhat may be one of the most wonderful services in the state of Montana opened on July 1, 2002. An anonymous gift totaling $7.1 million was given to Benefis Healthcare Foundation to build an inpatient hospice facility, including a nearby administrative office building, and create a permanent endowment to ensure the program continues. Peace Hospice of Montana Residential Hospice Facility provides inpatient care in a home-like environment for patients who are experiencing a terminal illness and in need of 24-hour care. The facility provides 12 large private rooms with a home-like environment. This amazing facility would not be a part of our community if not for the generosity of this anonymous donor.
Williams/ArioBenefis Healthcare Foundation, in appreciation of contributions from Carter and Judy Williams and Keith and Olive Ario, named Benefis Healthcare’s emergency department the Williams-Ario Regional Emergency and Trauma Center in 1998. Distinguished for their lifetime of giving to the community, each family donated more than $650,000 to Benefis Healthcare Foundation towards the construction of the Williams-Ario Regional Emergency and Trauma Center. These exceptional gifts represent the well-known care and concern these families hold for the people of Northcentral Montana.
Keith and Olive Ario EndowmentThe legacy of Keith and Olive Ario will live on forever thanks to gifts through Keith’s estate plan that provided more than $6 million to local non-profit organizations. Of this amount, $3.7 million was directed to Benefis Healthcare Foundation to create a permanent endowment with the annual income to be used at the discretion of the Foundation’s Board of Directors to further the Foundation’s mission. One use of these funds is by assisting Benefis in the recent purchase of the da Vinci Surgical System robot. Keith, who died in 2004 at the age of 95, was married to Olive for 57 years. She died in 1991.
Art and Alvina KramlichAlvina and Art lived modestly but cared deeply about others. Alvina left a significant gift of $350,000 in her estate in 2003 to Benefis Healthcare Foundation to benefit the Gift of Life Family Housing Centers. Gift of Life Housing provides a home away from home for those who live outside of Great Falls and require extended treatment at Benefis. Primarily used for cancer patients being treated at Sletten Cancer Institute, Gift of Life also provides housing for our NICU families, Wound Therapy and rehab patients and families.
M. Kathy RiceWhen Kathy was asked to chair the Sletten Cancer Institute capital campaign in 2004 she knew it would require many hours of her personal time. Even so, she did not hesitate and took on the challenge with great passion, in part, because her family had personally experienced the devastation of cancer. She understood the difficulty of navigating through a cancer diagnosis and she wanted to be a part of the dream to build a comprehensive cancer center. Not only did Kathy put in countless hours of her time towards the project, but she also personally donated $250,000 to the project. Kathy is a Benefis Healthcare Foundation Founding Board Member and a current member of the Benefis Healthcare Foundation Board. Her tireless efforts have made a tremendous impact on healthcare in our region. Kathy continues to give generously of her time and her financial support to the Foundation.
Sletten CompaniesSletten Companies and their employees, shareholders and officers donated $1.3 million dollars in 2004 toward a new comprehensive cancer center. As a result of such a major contribution, the cancer center was named Sletten Cancer Institute. Erik Sletten, President of Sletten Companies, said they believed in the vision of the Foundation and what a great service this cancer center would add to the community of Great Falls and the people of Montana. Thanks to their lead gift, Benefis Healthcare Foundation was able to successfully conduct a capital campaign that contributed $8.8 million towards the construction of the new cancer center.
Duane and Lois DockterIn 2006, Duane and Lois Dockter gave a very generous gift of property to Benefis Healthcare Foundation in the form of a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Both Duane and Lois were long-time educators with the Great Falls Public School District and they both retired in 1993. After many year of managing rental property, Duane and Lois decided they wanted to enjoy more free time and decided it was time to sell the property. They approached Benefis Healthcare Foundation about what options would offer them the best tax benefits as well as benefit Benefis Healthcare Foundation. The unrestricted earnings at the time the trust matures will be used where the need is the greatest.
David and Tanya CameronThrough a very generous donation from David and Tanya Cameron in 2008, Benefis’ new auditorium in the Patient Tower is named the Cameron Auditorium. The new state-of-the-art auditorium will be one of the most innovative hospital education facilities in the state. Because education has been such an important part of their lives, they were pleased and privileged to be part of such a wonderful project. Tanya is the vice-chair of the Benefis Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors and is a passionate volunteer and advocate for excellent healthcare in our community and region. David was a longtime educator at the post-secondary level. Together they have been carrying on the ranching business, Dana Ranch, established by David’s father in 1946.