Hansen, Russell Raymond 1906-1996

HANSEN, COLE, OLSON, WILLITS

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/27/2016 at 20:18:41

Aug 10, 1996 - Storm Lake Times - Dr. Russell Raymond Hansen, retired Storm Lake physician and surgeon, was born March 3, 1906. He was the youngest of the family, having three brothers, Harvey, Alvin, and Clarence, and a sister Erma Cole, all deceased.

His parents, Charles and Mary Olson Hansen came to Buena Vista County in the late 1880s, settling on a farm six miles north of Newell. Russell attended Newell High School and graduated in 1925. From the time he was six or seven years old, Russell knew that he wanted to become a medical doctor, and in 1926 he enrolled in the Pre-Med course at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake.

After graduation, he began his study of medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and graduated in 1932. While at the university he met Hazel Charlotte Willits from Galva, Illinois. After Russell's graduation they were married on October 4, 1932, and moved to Minnesota and later to Lawrence, Kansas for Russell's work with the CCC camps.

A son, Roger Raymond, was born April 3, 1935 in Lawrence. To continue his medical education, Russell applied for an internship at Amot-Ogden hospital, Elmira, New York. He remained there for two years and describes the experience as follows: Dr. Hansen came to Storm Lake in August of 1937 and went into practice at the Porath Clinic with Dr. W.C. Porath. When Dr. Porath died, he continued his practice at the clinic and his management of the Porath Hospital. In 1941 a daughter, Charlotte Mary was born. The family built a new home on Geneseo Street across from the lake.

In 1943 Dr. Hansen reported to the Navy for active duty and served as physician in the South Pacific until the end of the war. Returning to practice in Storm Lake he was joined by Dr. K.H. Prescott. When the Porath Hospital closed in 1951, Drs. Hansen and Prescott became associated with the Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake. Wanting to improve the hospital and attract new doctors to the area, Russell started making plans for a new clinic.

The Hansen Medical Arts Building, containing a laboratory, X-ray equipment, and space for eight doctors; was completed in 1974. Dr. Hansen continued his practice in Storm Lake until he retired in 1980. In addition to his contributions as a physician and surgeon, Dr. Hansen has been a strong supporter of Buena Vista College and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Storm Lake.

When asked what honors he remembers and values the most, he lists the following: the gift of a pipe organ to the Schaller Chapel in 1969, the completion of the Medical Arts Building in 1974, the ceremony of recognition for forty years of medical practice in 1977, the Distinguished Service and Distinguished Alumnus Awards, the Honorary Doctor of Humanities Award from Buena Vista College in 1980, and in 1982, the fifty year award from the American Medical Association and the Iowa Medical Society.

A comment from Dr. Hansen: "I feel that I practiced in the Golden Age of Iowa medicine. I was truly a family physician, caring for the entire family and receiving the respect and good will of all the people in the area. It is my wish now to see an ethical medical profession continue, working together for the good of the hospital and the city of Storm Lake.

Dr. Hansen died on Monday, August 5, in Sayre, Pennsylvania. He had moved to New York state to live with his son.