William Bernard Scholten

Dr. William B. Scholten (Bill), 89, of Denver, CO, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer.

He enjoyed a decades-long career as a psychiatrist during which time he helped many people suffering with mental illness and mental illness with complication associated with drug addiction.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife Carolyn, his second wife Charlene, his sister Audrey Venema and nephew Don Venema. He is survived by his wife of nearly 24 years, Glea Rietema Scholten, his three children, daughter Anna (Steven) Chapek, and sons, Gerhard Scholten and Sherman Scholten, along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Bill, as he was known by family & friends, was the son of Gerhard Bernard “Bernie” and Margaret (née Van Vliet) Scholten. He was born and lived in Hull, IA, until leaving for college.

He graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, and then went on to earn his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, IL. It was in Chicago where he met his first wife, Carolyn (née Warner). After graduating, he journeyed to Grand Rapids, MI, where he completed his internship at Butterworth Hospital. After that, it was on to Topeka, KS, where he completed a residency at the Menninger School of Psychiatry.

Upon finishing the residency, Bill enlisted in the Army which took him, Carolyn and Anna to Fairbanks, AK, where he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, as Chief of Neuropsychiatry at Bassett Army Hospital.

It was during the family’s time in Alaska that Gerhard was born. The family then moved to Denver, CO, where Bill began working at Arapahoe Mental Health Center, Denver General Hospital and Bethesda Hospital (later called Bethesda Community Mental Health Center and, finally, Bethesda PsychHealth Systems). At Bethesda, he started as a staff psychiatrist, but was soon promoted to Director and then Chief Medical Officer, a position he held for over 20 years. In addition to his duties at Bethesda, he served on many committees of the Colorado Psychiatric Society, the Denver Medical Society, and the Colorado Mental Health Association.

In 1984, Bill and Carolyn separated and divorced. Several years later he married Charlene Westra-Scholten. During the mid- to late 1980s, mainly due to changes in public health laws concerning mental health care, many private mental health hospitals closed, sadly, Bethesda was one of them.

After Bethesda, he moved to Grand Rapids, MI and worked at Pine Rest Christian Hospital and Kent Oaks Hospital. Bill and Charlene greatly missed Colorado, so they moved back at their first opportunity when Bill accepted a Chief Medical Officer position at Pikes Peak Mental Health in Colorado Springs, CO.

They enjoyed several more years together in Colorado and traveling the world until Charlene passed away in 1999.

In 2001, Bill stepped down as CMO but remained on staff at Pikes Peak Mental Health. At this time he also worked as a psychiatrist at Swedish and Porters hospitals.

During his career Dr. Scholten also worked locum tenens as a psychiatrist at Montrose Memorial Hospital, Montrose, CO. He also did private practice and consultation at nursing homes, community mental health centers and counseling centers around Denver.

It was some time after Charlene’s passing that Bill and Glea met, fell in love and married. They travelled all over the world including trips to; Canada, China, a cruise through the Panama Canal, Russia, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, and to the Holy Land, as well as many other places around the United States.

Even though Bill could have retired sooner, he loved what he did. Just short of practicing psychiatry for 50 years, he finally retired at the age of 79. He often commented that he felt he retired, "At the top of his game." A statement that was backed-up by many of Dr. Scholten's colleagues.

Over all the years of his long life, two things remained extremely important to Dr. Scholten, improving one's self through education and helping people in need.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those wishing to donate in Dr. Scholten’s honor to send contributions to Project Adopt A Village International Ministry at P.O. Box 371014 Denver, CO 80237 or to a charity of their choice.

A visitation for William will be held Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A graveside service will occur Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM at 8600 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A funeral service will occur Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hope Fellowship Church 2400 S Ash St, Denver, CO 80222.

A live stream of the funeral may be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/ScholtenLiveStream