Ehmke, Petersen retire from MCMH Board

Two familiar faces have announced their retirement as members of the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.
Roger J. Ehmke was born on July 26, 1944 in Ponca, Neb. Ehmke was raised on a farm and graduated from high school in 1962. He then attended the University of Nebraska and soon after began his career at AVCO Financial Services in Fremont, Neb., McPherson, Kan., and then branch manager in Atlantic.
Ehmke remained with AVCO Financial Services from 1968 until 1974, when he joined Lutheran Brotherhood in Carroll and worked as an insurance sales and registered representative. In 1977, Roger transitioned to North Central Adjustment in Red Oak, and served as branch manager and insurance adjuster.
 Ehmke began his career with Montgomery County National Bank in 1978 and worked as an installment, real estate, and commercial loan officer as well as an ag lender over his 22-year career at the bank. As branch manager, Ehmke oversaw four other offices in Southwest Iowa before retiring in 2000. In 2001, Roger joined First Federal Savings & Loan, which became TierOne Bank one year later. As branch manager, Ehmke oversaw two other banks until the bank closed in 2010.
Ehmke joined the Board of Trustees of Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in January 1999. As he prepares to retire, Ehmke described what he was most fond of about his tenure.
“What I have enjoyed most about serving on the Board has been working with all the people and helping to make sure the hospital continues to serve the community well and meet the health care needs of the people in Southwest Iowa,” Ehmke stated. “Over the years, I have enjoyed working with all the Board members and all the employees of the hospital. There have been many changes in health care over the years. Our hospital employees and the Board have worked hard to keep up with all the changes in health care. We have, as a board, strived to provide a hospital, which provides quality health care for the residents of Southwest Iowa.”
His fellow board member, Lorin Petersen was born in Murphy Memorial Hospital in Red Oak. He graduated from high school in Stanton, enrolled at Clarinda Community College for an Associate of Arts Degree, and then attended Iowa State University for a Bachelor of Science with a major in Mathematics.
After graduation, Petersen taught high school math and physics for one year at North Central Community School in Manly, then taught high school math for 10 years at Perry Community High School and was also an assistant football coach for three years.
Petersen was a self-employed farmer in the rural Stanton/Villisca area beginning in 1978 and he retired in 2022. His farming operation consisted of row crops, hay and pasture, and a
cow-calf operation. Petersen served many years as a Washington Township trustee and as a director on the Hacklebarney Watershed Board.
In 1988, Petersen became a volunteer EMT, serving with the Villisca Volunteer Ambulance Association until 2006. During his time as an EMT, he helped transport patients to area hospitals, including MCMH + Clinics.
“The Emergency Department at MCMH was always professional and worked to provide quality care for the patients we delivered to the hospital as well as support and guidance to our EMT crew,” commented Petersen
Petersen was appointed to the MCMH Board of Trustees in 2000 to fill a vacancy. His experience as a hospital trustee has been a rewarding one, with the opportunity to be a part of an organization that strives to provide quality healthcare to its patients. In his opinion, the staff of MCMH is top-notch, working to provide the best of outcomes for each patient.
The hospital has faced many challenges and opportunities during his time as a trustee, and the administration and staff have worked to provide the best solutions possible for the people of the MCMH service area. The Board of Trustees have always worked together to arrive at decisions that all members could support. This unity has always been a hallmark of the MCMH Board of Trustees.
The number of outpatient services provided at MCMH has increased over the years, allowing area residents to access medical care close to home without having to drive to the city. Many diagnostic services and providers have also been added, the latest being the in-house MRI capabilities. Petersen said he would remember his time as a trustee fondly.
“It has been my definite honor and pleasure to have been able to serve on this board,” said Petersen.

The Red Oak Express

2012 Commerce Drive
P.O. Box 377
Red Oak, IA 51566
Phone: 712-623-2566 Fax: 712-623-2568

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