October 14, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Roseman, Director of Communications & Development
(509) 474-2395 or (509) 994-5032
For photo availability, contact Jennifer Roseman
He will receive the award at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 13, at Mount St. Joseph, 12 West 9th Avenue, followed by a reception.
The award is named in honor of Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the first provincial superior of the Sisters of Providence in the West, and is given to a person who “exemplifies the values and courage of Mother Joseph.” The award is presented by the provincial superior and the Leadership Team on behalf of all the Sisters of Providence in Mother Joseph Province, which includes Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana and El Salvador.
“Bill Bouten is known to many Sisters of Providence, as well as the Providence Associates,” says Sister Charlotte Van Dyke, provincial councilor and a member of the Leadership Team. “He himself has been a Providence Associate since 1995, but proudly declares that he has known the Sisters of Providence all of his life.”
He is a general contractor and has worked with the sisters in construction projects related to their mission and ministries in many locations throughout the province, she adds. “His reputation for cooperative planning, maintaining projects well within or below budget and meeting time frames is outstanding. His honesty and integrity in dealing fairly with his employees are legendary.”
A native of Spokane, Bouten received his degree in construction management in 1984 from Mankato State University. He worked for a national company for a few years before returning to Spokane in 1986 to work for Bouten Construction with his father. He was nominated for the Mother Joseph Award by Betty Harrington, PA, and by Sisters Michelle Holland and Dorothy Byrne.
“Bill Bouten is a prayerful and generous man with tremendous integrity,” Harrington says. “I admire him because he works hard and gives total respect and honesty to others.” Sisters Michelle and Dorothy wrote that he has a strong association with the sisters. “Even with his busy schedule, he always finds time to support our ministry.”
The remodeling and constructions projects he has undertaken for the Sisters of Providence include renovation of St. Joseph’s Residence in Seattle, remodeling of Mount St. Joseph and Emilie Court in Spokane, and other repairs, maintenance and upgrades of buildings in Yakima, Seattle and Spokane.
“I am deeply touched and honored that my name is associated with Mother Joseph,” Bouten says. “Mother Joseph was a builder and I think of myself as a builder. I am humbled by this award.”
He says he has met many inspirational sisters over the years. One in particular who made a big impression on him was Sister Peter Claver. He also is a nominee this year for the award given in her name by Sacred Heart Medical Center. “I admired her and think of her often,” he says. “The role she played in Sacred Heart as a leader was impactful. Her belief in Providence was motivating.”
Bouten sponsored an employee of Bouten Construction to travel to El Salvador with a group of Providence Associates in 2001 to build homes for the poor. In 1997, Bouten traveled to Romania with Northwest Medical Teams to help children at an orphanage to help make repairs to the facility. Closer to home, he also was instrumental in helping to construct a base for the bronze memorial statue of space shuttle Columbia astronaut Michael Anderson and with locating it near the Spokane Opera House.
For ten years, Bouten has been a volunteer with the winter sleeping program for homeless men at the House of Charity. He also has served on the Holy Family Hospital Foundation, Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the board of Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities. He is a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral.