Will Serve as 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall
Randy Sullivan
Over the past few months, healthcare workers around the world, especially those in the public health field, have had a particularly challenging workplace environment. Recently we sat down with Randy Sullivan, Powder River County's first Public Health Nurse, to discuss some of the challenges she went through in her 30 plus years of service to the community.
Randy grew up in Shoup, Idaho, a tiny town along the Salmon River, west of the Big Hole Valley, MT. Her family moved to Anaconda while Randy was a teen, and then back to Idaho, where she graduated high school in Salmon, Idaho.
Sullivan began her nursing career by attending St. Patrick's School of Nursing in Missoula, graduating in 1959. St. Pat's opened in 1906 and operated a three-year nursing program for women aged 18-33, eventually graduating 1,243 nurses before closing down in 1978. Randy told us the program was very intensive, featuring 12-hour clinical days, along with lectures held at night.
During her time at school, Randy met the love of her life on a blind date – the late great Marshall Sullivan, who would go on to become a well-loved teacher in Broadus. Marshall worked as a smokejumper in Missoula, and the two hit it off immediately.
Upon graduation, Randy worked in St. Patrick's Hospital for a year, until the couple moved east. Randy then worked at the VA in Miles City. On May 28, 1961, Randy and Marshall were wed, in Broadus.
The couple operated the Broadus Merc from 1960 to 1969, and during this period their son, Kristen, and daughter, Heather, were born in 1962 and 1964, respectively.
Randy worked on Jesse Ambulance during those days – she told us "My first trip on the ambulance, I delivered a baby!" Randy would continue to work with the ambulance throughout much of her healthcare career.
In 1969, Marshall went back to school to attain his teaching degree, and Randy applied for a new position which had just opened up – Powder River County Public Health Nurse. Randy was hired and set forth into a new career.
The nursing position, which at that time was in its infancy, initially consisted of immunizations of both children and adults, and home visits to folks who needed health care but had trouble making it into a healthcare facility. Over the years, the job expanded its scope of operations, with family planning coming about in 1971. Eventually Randy would conduct tasks such as screenings for school and sports, and health classes in school, where she would teach proper personal hygiene and check for scoliosis.
One memory that stuck out for Randy involved a very confident pre-school aged boy, who was sent to the clinic alone for his shots. When Randy came into the room, the boy asked "Is the syringe clean?" Sullivan assured him the needles were all new and clean. The boy promptly turned around and took his shots, without a hint of hesitation.
Another facet of Randy's job was to visit the rural schools, which at that time were full of kids, to administer their shots and conduct healthcare exams. Randy told us that Doug Wilbert, then teacher at Belle Creek, warned his students that when they got out of line he would call Randy and have her come out and give them more shots. Apparently, the ruse worked quite well in quieting down the class!
Randy said that over the years, the biggest changes she noticed in the job were the changes in regulations, as well as the licensing involved.
Randy retired from ambulance runs in 1996, after helping to save many folks. She officially retired from her Public Health Nurse position in May of 2003, replaced by Jaci Phillips until 2009, when current Public Health Nurse Darlynn Williams took the helm.
In retirement, Randy has been enjoying life, where she has taken up hobbies such as quilting and working with stained glass. She has also spent a great deal of time traveling, enjoying visits to Mexico, Nova Scotia, and Ireland. Many of these trips were done alongside longtime friends, which made the trips even more entertaining.
Marshall passed away due to a fast-moving bout with cancer, in 1997. The couple's son Kristen lives in Kalispell, and has a son and a daughter. Kristen enjoys trips home to Broadus for visits and hunting. Heather lives in Missouri, and has three boys, one of whom is getting married this July.
When asked about her thoughts on her 40 plus years in healthcare, Randy replied "It's been so wonderful working in this community. I still have grown adults who I once helped treat when they were kids come up to me on the street and give me a hug. Broadus is a wonderful community, and I don't think I've ever met an unfriendly person in Broadus."
This 4th of July, Randy will be the Grand Marshall of the 2020 parade in Broadus, hosted by the Powder River Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. The group chose to honor Randy for her years of service to the community, and we look forward to seeing her at the parade.
Randy, ever the caregiver, wants everyone to help support Public Health Nurse Darlynn Williams during the pandemic, and wants everyone to be conscious of social distancing. After all these years, Randy is still looking out for the people of Powder River County.
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