[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12662-12663]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               IN APPRECIATION OF SISTER AUGUSTA JOHNSON

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to express my 
appreciation for Sister Augusta Johnson's many years of dedicated 
service to the Benedictine Sisters of the Mother of God Monastery in 
Watertown, SD. Sister Johnson has recently announced she will be 
retiring after 30 years in a leadership position at Prairie Lakes 
Healthcare System.
  Sister Johnson currently serves as vice president of administrative 
services but began her career as the office manager at St. Ann's 
Hospital before it became Prairie Lakes Hospital. During her notable 
career, she has also served as the controller and chief financial 
officer of St. Ann's. When the organization was merged with Memorial 
Medical Center to form Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in 1986, Sister 
Johnson was named interim administrator. During this time, she was 
responsible for bringing a home-based health care program called Home 
Connections to Prairie Lakes. Prior to her entrance into the health 
care industry, Sister Johnson spent time as an elementary school 
teacher and principal in five South Dakota communities.
  As vice president of administrative services for Prairie Lakes, 
Sister Johnson serves as the administrator for Prairie Lakes Care 
Center, the vice president overseeing the Lab, Radiology and 
Environmental Services Departments, and Prairie Lakes Cancer Center. 
Over her career with Prairie Lakes, she has been the organization's 
representative for four major construction projects, including the 
current $11 Million dollar Prairie Lakes Medical Office Building and 
hospital expansion plan.

[[Page 12663]]

  After receiving her bachelor's degree in education from Mount Marty 
College in Yankton, SD, Sister Johnson obtained a master's degree in 
administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. She went 
on to earn a certificate in hospital administration from St. Louis 
University before returning to South Dakota.
  In addition to her countless obligations to Prairie Lakes Hospital, 
Sister Johnson is one of South Dakota's two delegates to the American 
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and has served on that 
organization's board of directors. In addition, she is a member of 
Sioux Valley's long-term care finance task force and serves on the 
South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations Long Term Care 
Council.
  I commend Sister Johnson for her selfless commitment to the service 
of others and thank her for all of the work she has done for her 
community, her State, and her Nation. Her efforts have truly made a 
difference in countless numbers of lives of people she has never even 
met. I extend my very best wishes to her upon her retirement and 
predict that she will find peace and fulfillment in whatever lies 
ahead.

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