Murray County Ambulance

05/08/2026

04/25/2026

EMS workers shine: Trish Rowden

April is National Volunteer Month. We have been shining a light on local volunteers. Last edition we had a story on a husband and wife that volunteer for the Pipestone County Medical Center. This month we have profiles on three Murray County EMT's. Each year, the staff with the Murray County Ambulance cover between 450-500 calls at any hour of the day and in any weather that Southwest Minnesota can produce. Here are three members of the team that we are highlighting for their faithful service, dedication and willingness to sacrifice their personal time to cover call. The staff work tirelessly and play such an important role as they serve the community on the ambulance service.

• Emergency Medical Responder (First Responder) for Murray County Ambulance (since 2014)
• Administrative Assistant and Safety Coordinator for Schmitz Grain in Slayton for 13 years

For Trish Rowden, serving with emergency services is in her bones. She has a brother that is in law enforcement and a brother that was a firefighter and her brother is a policeman. She has taken serving her community to a higher level.
“In 2010, I donated a kidney,” she said. “I had a friend whose dad needed a transplant.”

The donor needed to have 0+ blood, and she not only fit that criteria, but she was also willing.
“I never thought in a million years that I would be a match, but as it turned out, I was almost a perfect match,” she said.
She considers being able to donate one of her kidney’s one of her greatest accomplishments in life.

“Besides raising my daughter and being a grand, that’s my greatest accomplishment,” she said. “He lived another 15 years.”

While she still has to get lab work done each year as a result of the donation, she says she has had no side effects.

In her work as a First Responder, although difficult, helping people is what she thrives on.
“At the end of the day, you can take a lot of tough calls but knowing you were there to help and save a life – there aren’t words to describe that,” she said.

She says that the EMS family is also a reward in this line of work.
“I get to work along side some really great people,” she said. “We all have a weird sense of humor, but they are a whole other family to turn to in life.”
She says that EMS family is her support in decompressing and managing the trama she works with in emergency situations.

“At the end of the day, going back to the ambulance garage and talking about the call – crying if you have to cry, screaming if you have to – it helps you get through,” she said.
“Everyone has a call that will stick with them for the rest of their life”, she says. “But sometimes helping someone else comes full circle.”

Trish remembers a call she helped with one winter: a woman tragically lost her mom, and Trish was able to comfort the woman in her loss. That woman sent her a thank you note after the incident.
“Then six months later, something happened in my life, and she was able to be the calm in my storm,” said Trish. “You may never know the people you help and how someone might be there for you when you need it.”

04/23/2026

EMS workers shine: Danelle Thovson

April is National Volunteer Month. We have been shining a light on local volunteers. Last edition we had a story on a husband and wife that volunteer for the Pipestone County Medical Center. This month we have profiles on three Murray County EMT's. Each year, the staff with the Murray County Ambulance cover between 450-500 calls at any hour of the day and in any weather that Southwest Minnesota can produce. Here are three members of the team that we are highlighting for their faithful service, dedication and willingness to sacrifice their personal time to cover call. The staff work tirelessly and play such an important role as they serve the community on the ambulance service.

• Full-time Office Assistant for Murray County Ambulance (since December 1, 2025);
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Murray County Ambulance (since 2012), Sanford Worthington (since 2017 ) and Marshall North Memorial (since June 2025)

Growing up with a mom that was a nurse, Danelle was always intrigued by the medical field. But a little over 14 years ago when she was pregnant with her youngest child, she started looking for an opportunity to serve.
“I needed something to get me out of the house and to be able to help people,” she said. “I volunteered at night with the Slayton Ambulance at first and it progressively turned into a career.”

Nine years ago, she joined the Sanford Worthington Emergency Services team and later North Memorial Ambulance in Marshall.
“It is a love and passion of mine,” she said. “I absolutely love what I do. Anyone who has met me knows that EMS is in my heart and I love what I do.”
The rewards of her job are many – most importantly the relationships she has developed.

“From the patients that you saved and then to see them with their families again and the people you’ve helped, there are a lot of rewarding things,” she said, adding that even her relationships with some of those who frequent emergency services often is satisfying.

She acknowledges the trust that is put on her when she helps with an emergency call.
“I see people all the time that remember I was on their call,” she said. “But the joy it brings to my heart - to help someone on their darkest day.”

Perhaps the greatest joy and reward come from her three kids who have grown up seeing their mom serve the community.
“My kids think that it is really cool and the older they get, they see a mom who really does make a difference,” she said. “I see my kids proud of me and look up to me.”

And what have her years in emergency services taught her about life?
“It has made me not take life for granted – even for my family and friends and my kids – life is short and can be taken away at any time,” she said. “I am appreciative of every day.”

04/23/2026

EMS workers shine: Nikkya Betz

April is National Volunteer Month. We have been shining a light on local volunteers. Last edition we had a story on a husband and wife that volunteer for the Pipestone County Medical Center. This month we have profiles on three Murray County EMT's. Each year, the staff with the Murray County Ambulance cover between 450-500 calls at any hour of the day and in any weather that Southwest Minnesota can produce. Here are three members of the team that we are highlighting for their faithful service, dedication and willingness to sacrifice their personal time to cover call. The staff work tirelessly and play such an important role as they serve the community on the ambulance service.

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for Murray County Ambulance (since 2018), Fulda Community Ambulance (since 2024)
• Store manager at Sturdevant’s Auto Parts stores, now Auto Value, in Slayton (employed since July 2012 and store manager since December 2024)

In the beginning, Nikkya was tentative about joining the emergency medical services team.
“It took me about six months to actually commit and do it,” she recalls. “I talked to Jenni [Kirchner, Murray County Ambulance director) for a long time.”

She spent her first year in emergency services as an emergency services driver.
“I didn’t think I could handle it,” she said.
But in that year, she went through the Emergency Medical Responder (First Responder) certification. And later Emergency Medical Technician training.

Since June of 2018, she has served as an EMT with the Murray County Ambulance. A little over a year ago, she joined the Fulda Community Ambulance,
Today, Nikkya commits about 48 hours every six weeks to serving on the Fulda Ambulance and anywhere from 12-40 hours in a week serving the Murray County Ambulance.
She says helping fellow members of her community is the greatest part of her role with emergency services in Murray County.

“Being able to help people – in small ways and in big ways,” she said. “Being able to help is rewarding.”
When she started on the emergency services team, her son, who was 8 at the time, took it harder than her daughter, then 10.
“It took away his mom time,” she recalls.

But now she says her kids (now ages 16 and 18) are happy that she assists the community in the way she does.
“I have those skills with me at all times,” she said, adding that her kids are proud that they can come to their mom for help for themselves and others when they are at sports or school events.

She has learned her own way to process the emergency situations she assists with.
“Sometimes I cry, sometimes I need to drive and turn up the music and open the windows. Otherwise, it’s talking to others,” she said. “No two situations are the same and they don’t hit the same. I’m still soft on the inside – I haven’t turned hard yet.”

04/10/2026

Fantastic job by all. Thank you for inviting us to join your event. You are doing important work for your community and future generations!

10/31/2025

10/08/2025

We are looking forward to MCMC’s Pumpkin Contest!!! ❤️🍎🎃 Here is our food themed entry!

08/23/2025

Finishing the dirt track racing season with some great views. 🏎️🚑🚒

08/18/2025

AED Education Night!

Join us for a free AED education session on August 19th at 7pm at the Eagles Nest at Shetek Lutheran Ministries. Whether you're a parent, coach, or community member, knowing how to use an AED can make a world of difference in an emergency.

No registration needed-just show up!

08/18/2025

A Monday morning reminder from AirMed and your local farmer.

08/13/2025

Stop by and say Hi 👋🏻 We are at the fair this week. 🚑