Frye leaves WCHS after two decades

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Correspondent
 
The most valued employees are those who are loyal, hardworking and dependable. Terri Frye is described as such by others she’s worked with. After her almost 22 years on the job, Frye’s co-workers were sad to see the information technology department manager retire from Weston County Health Services on Dec. 31. 
When Frye first began working at WCHS in 1998, she started with maintenance. She was responsible for outside work, such as painting and taking care of the lawn. Frye said that she enjoyed the work because she always liked painting. 
Frye’s work in maintenance eventually expanded to include electrical, plumbing and other needs at the facility. The hospital used to have five boilers, and Frye’s job was to make sure they were running properly. After about six years, Frye started doing a little bit with computers before she transferred to information technology full time in 2006 when the hospital got a computer network.
The man who built the network decided to teach Frye how to take care of everything when he was gone. Frye said that it was very interesting work. However, after the man left and Frye was responsible for the computers, she said, she was a bit intimidated. She called companies for support and advice, though, and caught on before long. 
“After a while, you just get the hang of it, and I liked it,” Frye said. 
Maureen Cadwell, who has been CEO at WCHS for almost eight years, said she’s known Frye throughout that time. Cadwell said that Frye’s work ethic is extraordinary and that she always had a willingness to stay until the job was done. Frye had a lot of good input, Cadwell said, that made things at the hospital run more smoothly. 
“She was very involved in making sure everything is as it needs to be,” Cadwell said. 
A couple of Frye’s coworkers, Amy Benson and Rita Garcia, also talked about Frye’s impact on the hospital and the people there. 
“She was always very willing to do her best to help you,” Benson said. “She always had a good attitude.” Frye was always positive and ready to jump in to help wherever needed, Benson said. 
Garcia, who has known Frye for 18 years, noted Frye’s reliability, compassion and constant smile. Frye always encouraged and helped Garcia whenever she needed it, she said. 
“I have loved working with Terri,” Garcia said. 
According to Garcia, everyone at the facility is going to miss Frye immensely, but she’s also very happy for Frye to be retired and do things she’s always wanted to do. 
Looking back, Frye said that she has had a very interesting and fun life. Her parents always had a strong work ethic, she said, and they instilled that in her. 
One story Frye remembers was when she and her family moved into a new house. There was a large field on the property with an overgrowth of weeds. The whole family mowed them all down by hand, Frye said. She said that she remembers thinking that hard work is enjoyable and satisfying. 
“Hard work gives you a really wonderful reward,” Frye said. 
Frye said that she has one piece of advice for the younger generation: to be willing to work. She said that even if you don’t know what you’re doing, approach things with the attitude that you’re willing to give what you have and do your best. She also wants to remind younger people that it’s okay to not yet know what you want to do but to just expose yourself to many different things to figure out what you might enjoy. 
Frye moved around a lot when she was younger, and she even went to high school in Taiwan — where she graduated. 
“Living in a foreign country is a really good experience,” Frye said, adding that she thinks everyone should have the opportunity to do so at some point in their lives. She said that it is amazing to see what other countries do and how smart the people are. 
Frye has also traveled while selling the knives that her husband, Bruce, makes and sells. They’ve been to shows in Las Vegas and all around the country selling his knives. They’ve even had orders from Europe. 
Frye also credits God with who she is today, and she said that she finds deep joy in reading the Bible because it offers her comfort, strength and the desire to help others. 
“I have a really strong faith in God,” Frye said. 
Now at this stage of life, Frye is excited to spend time with her husband, her children, Clayton, Dade and Shauna, and her grandkids, Sylas, Asia, Echo, Lexa and Quinn. 
Frye said she also loves the outdoors and enjoys adventuring in the Black Hills, and she plans to do a lot of hiking. 
“There’s just an endless amount of things that I’d like to do,” Frye said.