122 Years of Service
(This article is the final installment highlighting long-time employees at West River Health Services, totaling more than 122 years of service.)
Submitted by Frank Turner, Adams County Record in Hettinger acrnews@gspublishing.net
After 46 years of work as a registered nurse at West River Health Services, Audrey Skogen retired in January. According to Skogen, she spent the majority of her time at West River Health Services working in the hospital's Obstetrics Department and Emergency Room.
“As a registered nurse, I managed the care of patients in the medical-surgical department, obstetrics department and E.R. Department,” said Skogen.
Skogen started her nursing career in Wishek, North Dakota after graduating from nursing school in 1973.
“I went to work in Wishek, North Dakota for six months, and at that time they started talking about closing the hospital, so that's when I applied for West River,” she said.
Skogen said that the Hettinger hospital's progressive reputation played a major role in her decision to apply. In the 1970's, Hettinger's hospital was commonly referred to as the “little Mayo” to highlight innovations and reputation similar to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“It was a very progressive hospital,” she said. “I didn't know anything about the community, but the hospital had a good reputation and as a new, young nurse I though that it would be a good experience.”
After moving to Hettinger, Audrey met and married her late husband Dale Skogen, a local rancher. Although living on a ranch played a role in her staying in Hettinger through her nursing career, she said her connection to West River Health Services and the community also played a role.
“I always like working for West River,” she said. “My favorite part was working in the OB department.”
Since retiring, Skogen said she has taken a position at the Adams County Library. Now that she is no longer working weekends, nights and holidays, Skogen also said she has had more time to spend with friends and family.
Looking back on her career, Skogen said her time working as a nurse in Hettinger was “hard work but very satisfying.”
“The hours were not easy, but it was always fulfilling and enjoyable,” she said. “One of the big pluses of working [at WRHS] has been the staff that I worked with through the years.”
Looking back on the combined 122 years of service, West River Health Services CEO Matt Shahan said that each retiree has played an integral role in the hospital's long term success and that they will be greatly missed.
“On behalf of everyone who has served in this organization for the previous 71 years, I want to thank these ladies for their incredible years of service,” said Shahan. “I hope that future generations of healthcare professionals can look to stories like these as a source of inspiration. Our organization will undoubtedly miss these individuals, and we wish them nothing but the best in the retirement they have greatly earned.”