VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — The Valentine Season is upon us in Colorado's Vail Valley — thoughts of sweethearts, love and caring come to the forefront of our minds. An exceptional sweetheart with a difficult job has blessed countless people for half a decade.

Nurse Willie Benway has been that angel to the nursing profession and to our mountain community. We are extremely grateful for her selfless efforts all these many years.

How many people stick with anything for 50 years? She graduated from nursing school in 1959, and continues to work as a registered nurse at Colorado Mountain Medical, caring for the community of which she has been such an integral part.

She was born and raised in Nebraska, became a nurse, and began a series of adventures in medicine which took her to cities in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

“There were all sorts of opportunities for nurses,” says Willie. “We could work anywhere, and have a good time as well.”

She had a great time in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she met Larry Benway, a bartender and avid skier who would become her husband.

In 1963 the Benways finally settled in a very rural ski resort in the Rockies. Larry became one of the original Vail Ski patrolmen in the days of long, straight skis, with cable bindings and ski-straps.

Vail in the early 60s didn't boast much in the way of medical facilities. Willie set to nursing at the “Vail Clinic,” housed in the Red Lion Building. The fun loving Willie joined the very few nurses and sole physician, Dr. Tom Steinberg. Eventually “The Vail Clinic” evolved into the Vail Valley Medical Center.

“Willie was always an excellent nurse and took her job seriously,” Steinberg says.

Medical mentor

East Vail and Minturn were the only bedroom communities for the fledging ski resort. Eagle-Vail did not exist, except for an old red farmhouse, and as for Eagle — who would live that far away?

There were still sheep and cattle drives down Highway 6 & 24. There wasn't a bus system and there was a true “off season.”

Willie took care of patients with a wide range of illnesses and all sorts of injuries from skiing, ranching, construction, rafting and mining. In those days even fewer people had “family” who lived in Vail. The “ski-bum” population formed a family-like bond.

Willie was always someone you could talk with or go to with a problem and she helped you get the care you needed. She didn't come here trying to make the area into what she left — she's helped make this valley what it is.

The Carneys met the Benways when they first came to town. They all lived in East Vail, where there were only six buildings. Joan Carney remembers “there were cows out in the field across the road” when Larry brought Willie over to introduce her.

Joan's mother lived with them and needed fairly constant medical care. Joan said, “I could call Willie any time of the day or night and she'd come over to adjust an IV or some tubes. You could always count on Willie. She's such a caring person.”

Jack Carney and Joan laugh, however, with memories that make them smile.

“Don't get us wrong, Willie loves a party. She was quite the party girl,” the Carneys said.

The Benway and Carney boys all grew up together, with the families sharing the joys and sorrows in life.

Nurse Ella Burnett and Willie worked together at the hospital and for many of the physicians who have practiced in the valley.

“Willie was a really hard worker,” Burnett said. “She had endless energy and kept us all in line.”

Dr. Phil Freedman hired Willie in 1975 when he first came to town. On their first day together in the office Willie said, “OK let's get to work and I'll teach you a few things about medicine.”

She's never stopped teaching any of us. Willie has shown the ropes to new staff and they couldn't have had a better mentor. Her clinical skills are only surpassed by her skills of the heart. She can calm a frightened child or a worried parent.

Ill and injured patients are relaxed by her confidence, warmth, and compassion. She has a great sense of humor, which often is just the added ingredient.

‘Genuine compassion'

An incredibly hard worker, Willie also helped Larry with a nursery and garden center. The Benways raised three fine sons along with trees and plants at Gypsum Creek Nursery. The boys worked by their sides and became a credit to their love and example.

Dr. Diane Voytko has known Willie since she joined Colorado Mountain Medical eight years ago, and says he is very fortunate to have worked with Willie as her nurse for four of those years. She says she values Willie's enthusiasm and dedication, and enjoys Willie's sense of humor.

“She and I truly work as a team and I treasure her attitude and years of experience,” Voytko says. “It is rare to love your work as much as she does, but Willie makes it evident every day. She talks about retiring some day, and while it will be well-deserved, she will be terribly missed by me, the staff and countless patients who count on her professionalism, warm smile and genuine compassion.”

In my own personal experience as a “new recruit” — and as green as they come — Willie guided, directed and helped me to grow as an employee and as a person. She gave me a gift I could never repay when I became a new mother — she taught me how to care for a son, not just the nuts and bolts of parenting, but when to ease up and look at the lighter side of life.

“So what if he doesn't eat,” she said. “He'll eat when he gets hungry.”

True to her word, our son grew to be a fine man largely due to Willie's guidance. That is a gift I could never repay.

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