Berthoud's Waldo Honored with 'Quiet Disciple Award'

By Laurie Hindman
Berthoud Recorder

There are not many people who could claim to have taught Sunday school for over half a century, but longtime Berthoud resident Shannon, better known as “Sam,” Waldo can claim just that. The Peaks Sub-district of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church recently honored Waldo with the “Quiet Disciple Award.”

Waldo was nominated by the Berthoud First United Methodist church because of her many years teaching Sunday school and for her dedication and commitment to serving others. “Sam has touched hundreds of thousands of little lives,” remarked Stu Boyd, the Lay Chairperson for the Berthoud United Methodist Church. “Talk about somebody who makes a difference in peoples’ lives—she really has.”

In addition to her work at the Methodist Church the 82-year-old Waldo has a long list of volunteer activities: She has delivered food to the ill and disabled through Meals on Wheels for over 20 years, conducts Sunday worship services at the Berthoud Living Center, is a Lion’s Club member and works all their charitable and fund raising projects from flipping hamburgers at Berthoud Day to taking tickets at BHS sports events, sits on the Berthoud Elementary School Accountability Committee, works almost every election as a volunteer election judge, organizes senior citizen dances every month, is a long-time member of the Johnstown Parks and Recreation Board, started a kitchen kazoo band in her basement 25 years ago which still performs for free in venues all along Northern Colorado and is a weekly docent at the Berthoud museum.

If that list hasn’t made you tired just thinking about it, add in that Waldo only retired from her half-time position with Larimer County Parks and Open Space in March where she worked for 20 years. Waldo, who has lived in Berthoud since the early 1960’s, has three granddaughters and three great-granddaughters.

Waldo and other reward recipients were honored at a banquet in Grand Junction. When asked why she gives so much of her time and energy to others Waldo points to the scripture quote on the plaque she received. It reads, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. Mark 9:37.”