Robert E Hankins, MD

Robert E. Hankins, MD, 87, Minot, passed away Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in his home.

Robert E. “Doc” Hankins was born in Parshall to Fredrick Hugh and Emma (Eckes) Hankins on Jan. 22, 1927. He attended school in Lidgerwood until his sophomore year, then graduated from Parshall High School in 1944 as co-valedictorian.

Following his high school graduation, he was accepted into the V-12 Navy program and completed his pre-med program in two years in Milwaukee, Wis. He then attended the University of North Dakota Medical School in Grand Forks, receiving a bachelor of science degree in medicine in 1948. He completed his medical degree at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago in 1950, followed by an internship at Milwaukee County Hospital in 1950-51. He was a Navy recruit medical exam physician for a short time in Chicago.

While attending Loyola, he met the love of his life, Florita Thielen, who was a nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Emergency Room. They were married Sept. 16, 1950. In 1953 he, wife Florita, and eldest daughter, Kathy, moved to Mott where he set up his first independent medical practice. Five more children were born of this union, Fredrick H. III, Jeanette, Carol, James and Nancy. He was the primary physician in Mott until the family moved to Minot in 1975, where he was the first director of the UND Family Practice Center (currently Minot Center for Family Medicine). He opened a private practice in Minot in 1980. He retired from his practice in 1996, but continued as the medical director for St. Joseph’s Hospital chemical dependency unit, Trinity Nursing Home and the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot until 1999.

Over the years, he was very active in local, state and national organizations. He was a member, officer and/or state delegate for the North Dakota and American Academy of General Practice, later called the Academy of Family Physicians, the North Dakota Medical Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine and many others. He also worked at N.D. Healthcare Review for a time. He received many professional and personal awards and recognitions including North Dakota Family Doctor of the Year in 1985.

Robert was active in numerous service organizations as well. Robert was a Boy Scout as a child and a Boy Scout leader in his adult years in Mott, receiving the Baden-Powell Award there. He was also active in Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and Elks in Mott and NoAH Horticulture Club, barbershop chorus and quartets, and the Minot Area Council of the Arts in Minot.

He developed a love of music at an early age. Later he participated in music as an extracurricular activity in high school, played trombone with the Milwaukee marching band and ROTC dance band, sang in the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church choir in Mott, and sang in the St. John the Apostle Catholic Church choir, the Nodakords Barbershop Chorus and the Flickertail Four Barbershop Quartet in Minot.

Before and continuing after retirement, Bob and Florita enjoyed gardening, traveling, volunteering, and music and arts activities together. They traveled to all seven continents and participated in several elderhostel excursions. Their love of various hobbies, such as cooking, gardening (veggies, flowers, orchids), bird watching, camping and painting was passed down to their children.

After Florita’s death in 2004, Bob moved to The View on Elk Drive in Minot and bought property at Wolf Creek on Lake Sakakawea, where his children continue to enjoy the lake and gardening.

Robert is survived by: six children, Kathryn (Leroy) Bertsch, Hastings, Minn., Fredrick III, Parshall, Jeanette, Portland, Ore., Carol (Tom) Olson, Bismarck, James, Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Nancy, Coleharbor; seven grandchildren, Cheryl (Mike) Husman, Brian Bertsch, Nicole and Kyla Olson, Jami and Jimmy Hankins, Harley Bossert; and two great-grandchildren, Abrial and Ayden Bertsch.

He is preceded in death by: his wife, Florita; parents, Emma and Fred Hankins; and siblings, Helen Jean (Wade) Williamson and Fredrick Hankins II.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: St. Bridget Catholic Cemetery, Parshall.

Visitation: 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: 7 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: Please send memorials to St. Joseph’s Community Foundation, Minot, Bishop Ryan Catholic School, Minot, Hettinger County Historical Society Museum, Regent, ND 58650, or Don Vitko Xeric Collection at the International Peace Garden, 10939 Highway 281, Dunseith, ND 58329.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at thompsonlarson.com.