Larry and Becky Williams’ love affair with each other and Glacier National Park spans 60 years. Over the years, it brought them together and connected them with many SCA interns and volunteers, some of whom they remain friends with to this day.
Then And Now: Becky and Larry Williams at Glacier National Park.
After graduating from college, Larry joined the National Park Service in 1965 as a “ranger-general” (a position that has now been divided into various specialized roles) and worked at Glacier National Park for 10 seasons.
Although the NPS hired its first woman park ranger in 1916, jobs available to women were sporadic and limited to certain “non-ranger” roles for decades. It wasn’t until the 1960s that women were allowed to join in greater numbers and with expanded opportunities.
Becky immediately took advantage of this opportunity. Standing in line at her college graduation, she overheard someone mention that the NPS had finally started hiring more women. She applied for every position she could find until she was hired in 1967 to work at Glacier. Initially a seasonal employee, she eventually achieved permanent status as an interpreter, serving an impressive 41 seasons.
Becky Williams served an impressive 41 seasons, primarily as an interpreter, at Glacier National Park in Montana.
While Larry, a music educator by training, eventually left Glacier and became the music supervisor and then the superintendent of the Great Falls Public Schools in Montana, he continued to hike in the park most weekends.
During her tenure at the park, Becky had the chance to participate in a research project that used radio transmitters to track bald eagles during the off-season as they left Glacier to continue their migration. She helped track them down through Montana into Utah and Idaho and, in springtime, followed them back north through Alberta and up to the Northwest Territories.
The couple initially encountered the Student Conservation Association through Becky’s work as an interpreter. After becoming a supervisor, she helped select SCA interns to work at he park and supervised them.
“We met a lot of wonderful young people through this program, many of whom have become lifelong friends. The enthusiasm and quality of the interns stayed consistently high,” she said. “We knew first-hand how momentous their experiences would be.”
Larry and Becky Williams prepare food outdoors at Glacier National Park in Montana.
In particular, she mentored young people from urban areas, encouraging them to explore the park and connecting them with special opportunities to learn about the significant archeological history of the area. She was so successful that several SCA interns – exploring in their off-hours – came across paleontologist Jack Horner during his discovery and excavation of the first dinosaur nest that contained hatchling baby dinosaurs, an experience they would never forget.
Through Becky’s role as interpreter and intern supervisor, they developed deep connections with the SCA and became dedicated supporters. In addition to making regular donations, they also included the SCA in their estate plans. Now retired and living near Glacier, they remain committed to supporting the SCA’s mission.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision. They provide life-changing experiences for young people while enhancing visitors’ experiences. We believe in their programs because we’ve seen how they introduce young people to national parks and inspire new generations of environmentalists,” Larry said. “They do a great job supplementing the park’s interpretive staff, and they provide insights from their own experiences that are different than those offered by the park’s paid teams.”
The Liz Putnam Legacy Society is for those who have taken the special step of supporting the future of youth conservation service work at the SCA through their estate plans or other planned gifts. Learn more about the Liz Putnam Legacy Society.
