Recognizing community spirit

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

A special dedication will take place at The Healing Garden adjacent to Bonner General Health on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. A beautiful stone bench will be dedicated to Linda Plaster, who, along with a dedicated team of volunteers, helped make The Healing Garden a reality in 2003. Along with her work at The Healing Garden, Plaster was the manager at The Company Store for many years, worked as a wedding decorator and a barista. She passed away in June 2016.

The stone bench dedicated to her memory. Photo by BGH.

“Along with working countless hours in the garden planting, weeding and watering, Linda was also the Garden’s fundraiser and along with several other volunteers, raised enough money to pay for the garden initially and then to fund the maintenance and upkeep of the garden for the last 13 years,” said Sheryl Rickard, CEO of Bonner General Health.

A band of volunteers continue Linda’s passion by making The Healing Garden a place of natural beauty, as well as giving a place for people find comfort in the Chapel, and honor and remember loved ones they have lost.

“This bench is a fitting tribute to a woman who truly made a difference in the lives of those of us who had the good fortune to call her a friend,” said Rickard. “Linda’s passion, kindness and beautiful spirit will live within all of us forever. The bench is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman who will be forever missed but never forgotten.”

If you would like to donate to The Healing Garden, checks can be made out to Bonner General Health with “The Healing Garden” in the memo line and mailed to: Bonner General Health, 520 N. Third Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864. To volunteer in The Healing Garden, call Mary Ann at (208) 610-9630.