Kent and Pam Williams understand what living in a small community and making things better for those around you is all about.

Working as a local rancher in 1973, Kent started building buckles in a small custom shop to fill a community need for awards. That small shop was the beginning of Montana Silversmiths — a now-international business that employs hundreds of locals.

Kent and Pam have been doing the same for local healthcare in Stillwater County for decades through repeated financial donations. Recently, the couple donated $25,000 to be specifically used for the employees of Stillwater Billings Clinic – a designation with particular significance, given the heightened pressure healthcare workers have been under since COVID and the exodus from the profession being at an all-time high.

“It’s our community. We care about the people here. We raised a family here. It’s important to us to have a facility here,” said Kent. “We want to keep the them (employees) here.”

The couple points to the convenience of being able to have lab work and x-rays done locally. Pam said she loves knowing that when she gets her blood drawn, it will be from one of three employees – all of whom know her.

“As we get older, it’s even more important for us to have a facility here, with us, where we’re not having to go all the way to Billings to access medical care in an emergency situation,” said Pam. “It’s really a blessing to have a facility like this here – that is a good facility.”

Stillwater Billings Clinic CEO Luke Kobold calls the Williams’ constant commitment to local healthcare remarkable.

“Having served on the board for nine years prior to becoming CEO, I have seen first-hand the extremely generous support of the Williams family. Whether it was our need for a new facility, or our ongoing fundraising efforts to enhance healthcare in this region,” said Kobold. “We are lucky to have benefactors like Kent and Pam in this community because they see the value of investment in local resources to make this the best community it can be.”

Billings Clinic Foundation President Emeritus Jim Duncan echoed those thoughts.

“Kent and Pam Williams consistently and generously support many important needs that elevate community. They quietly help with thoughtful gifts and mentorship that benefit worthy causes and the teams delivering the work,” said Duncan.

Discussions are in progress about how the Williams’ most recent donation will be used, but Kobold said it will unquestionably be used for current and future staff, as is the Williams’s intent.