Submitted Photo Posing in front of Heart of America Medical Center’s Tree of Giving are from left, Kayleigh Gayle, Pastor Gary Dorn, Aimee Henning, Diane Leier, Cindy Schwartz, Susan Anderson, Bev Paul, Gerry Brenno, Marge Heilman, Marlene Schaan and Laurie Odden.

Members of Rugby’s Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary Board stood in the icy evening air at Heart of America Medical Center Dec. 1 to welcome the Christmas season with their 30th Annual Tree of Giving Lighting Ceremony.

The ceremony began inside the hospital, where Auxiliary Co-Chair Laurie Odden spoke on the importance of remembering the memory of loved ones lost and thinking of others during the holidays.

Hospital CEO Erik Christenson spoke of the vital role HAMC played in Rugby and surrounding communities.

After a prayer offered by Chaplain Gary Dorn, Odden and Co-Chair Susan Anderson read a list of names of loved ones honored by donors to the Tree of Giving.

Lights in white, green, clear crystal and blue shine on the tree each night during the holiday season, each purchased to raise money for any needs the hospital has.

According to Odden, some of the funds raised by this year’s Tree of Giving will go to the hospital’s Build 2024 campaign, an effort to raise money for a new hospital building on the east side of Rugby.

Odden said in a written message, “Funds raised through this project help with ongoing needs at Heart of America Medical Center and Johnson Clinics.”

“Previous projects benefited from the tree include HAMC’s infusion suite, 3-D mammography, HAMC Hospice, acute care, Haaland Estates and HAMC Care Center,” she said.

Donors can sponsor a white light for $5, a green light for $10 a green light, a crystal light for $25. Sponsoring a blue light costs $100.

Each light purchased includes the name of a person a donor would like remembered. Although Anderson and Odden read names of loved ones at the ceremony for donors who had already sponsored lights, Odden said lights are still available for sponsorship.

After Odden and Anderson read the names of loved ones to be remembered, singers from Rugby’s Calvary Evangelical Free Church sang, “Heaven Everywhere,” a song telling of love and the meaning of Christmas.

Lights on the tree honored the memories of the following people named in the ceremony: Wes and Lylis Christenson; Danny Vetsch; John Hanson; Jordy Hageness; Daniel N. Brossart; Theresa Burgard; Wayne Jelsing; Eunice Clements; Richard Lavik; Ruth Fedje; Theresa Brossart; Nancy Thury; Mitch Schmidt; Janet Pousson; Monica Grove; Joe and Charlotte Tuchscherer; William Paul; Richard Bundy; Ardyce Volk; Mel Bickler; providers and staff at Johnson Clinics; Christ Heintz; Leroy Johnson; Archie Grove; Perry Schwartz; Elaine Goodman; Frank and Rose Voeller; Carol and Leonard Jacobson; Adam and Lorna Mae Sattler; Bud and Amy Block; Walter and Tillie Schmitz; Delmer Ostrem; Roy Baustad; Howard and Fern Anderson; LeRoy Johnson; Robert L. Johson; Andy and Rose Hager; George and Elizabeth Leier; Vince Bachmeier; Richard Heilman; Edward Fritel; Ernest Fritel; Catherine and Judy Fritel; Wendel and Margaret Heilman; Robert Heilman; Ken and Bonnie Livedalen; Bob Johnson; deceased family members of Angie and Walt Busch; Roger Schell; Marvin and Katherine Odden; Jon Brenno; Terry Brenno; Will Zaiser; Gabe Scheet; Herman and Doreen Brenno; Frank and Emma Mahar; Clem Brossart; Dale and Angie Kuhnhenn, Daryl and Mark Kuhnhenn and Pete and Kathryn Hoffart.

One donor sponsored a light to wish Merry Christmas to Duane and Shirley Olson.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a light can mail their contribution to:

HAMC, Attention: Tree of Giving, 800 S. Main Ave., Rugby, ND 58368.