Dr. Williams was a member of the MIP department since 1983. She was nationally and internationally known for her work on wildlife diseases, particularly chronic wasting disease and brucellosis, and for restoration of the endangered black-footed ferret and Wyoming toad. At the time of her death she was editor of the international journal, Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Her husband Tom was a former employee of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, where he had served as acting director. Combined, Tom and Beth represented a remarkably effective husband-and-wife team dealing with wildlife health and disease issues in the western United States.

A memorial service for Beth and Tom was held at the Fine Arts Auditorium on the University of Wyoming Campus on Wednesday 5 January 2005.

Donations in Beth's and Tom's memory can be made to the University of Wyoming Foundation, marked in the bottom left hand corner: "Beth" or "Tom", and sent to the Department of Veterinary Sciences, c/o Mrs. Beth Howell, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, WY 82070.

At this time we do not know what permanent memorial to Tom and Beth will be most appropriate and we have not yet spoken to their families. It most likely to be a training/travel fund for young wildlife biologists and veterinarians interested in the discipline.