Charles Donald Behrens

He passed in the same hospital where he had spent his career as an internal medicine specialist. He served as president of the hospital's medical staff, chaired the Department of Medicine and sat on the hospital's board of trustees. His affiliation with the hospital spanned more than 35 years.

Chuck was born on July 22, 1928, in Carrington, North Dakota to Charles F. Behrens and Mabel Stoughton Behrens. When he was 2 years old, his family moved to Fort Benton, Montana where he spent his childhood.

Chuck had a modest Depression-era upbringing but he had the audacity to dream big. He frequently visited the town's Carnegie Library to view stereoscopic photographs taken in other countries, which whetted his appetite for travel.

In his final years of high school, Chuck set his sights on a career in medicine. He graduated from Fort Benton High School in 1946 as salutatorian.

Chuck attended college at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in bacteriology. He was a Sigma Chi.

He then went to medical school at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1955. After medical school, he performed his internship at Denver General Hospital.

Chuck met Mary, the love of his life, at Bryce Canyon National Park, where they both had summer jobs.

"Mary and I quickly became friends. On her part, I think that I was something of a novelty and a relief from the mix of high school students and returned missionaries that were the only source of men at Bryce. For my part, I found her very attractive and fun to be with. She was also the first girl from the South that I had the opportunity to know," he wrote in his memoir.

After a long-distance romance, Chuck and Mary were married in Birmingham, Alabama, and would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on June 30.

Chuck and Mary moved multiple times as he pursued his medical training and fulfilled his military service, finally settling in Salt Lake City in 1962, where he established his medical practice. As Chuck neared retirement, he opened a part-time medical practice in Park City.

He was a member of the committee that founded the Utah Medical Insurance Association, which provides medical liability insurance. He served on its board for 22 years, three years as chairman.

The Behrens had four children, Charles Jr. (Bo), Cathy, Sarah and Mike. The family lived in Salt Lake and Holladay. In retirement, Chuck and Mary built a home in Park City but returned to Salt Lake in their latter years.

Chuck and Mary traveled extensively. They visited all 50 states and some 40 countries, missing only the continent of Antarctica.

They enjoyed collecting art, spending time with their grandchildren and socializing with friends and acquaintances. Chuck was fond of a nightly Gibson martini.

He also enjoyed golfing, gardening and in earlier years, hunting game birds. In recent years, he was part of a handsome group of former golfers who met regularly for lunch.

Chuck was committed to helping others in rural Montana succeed in their plans to work in health care. After the death of their father, Chuck and his brother Claude founded the Charles F. and C. Mabel Behrens Scholarship to help high school students to pursue careers in health care with the hope they might establish their careers in the region.

Chuck is survived by his wife Mary; sons Bo (Marjorie) and Mike (Ellen), and daughter Sarah, all of Utah. He was the proud Poppa of five grandchildren, Liz (Wyn), Grace, Matthew, Anna and Ally. He is also survived by his brother Claude and nieces Zoe (Kevin) and Rema.

His parents and daughter Cathy (Ron) preceded him in death.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Town Club, 1081 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Behrens Scholarship fund in care of the Chouteau County Health Care Foundation; P.O. Box 91; Fort Benton, MT, 59442, or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Utah chapter, at P.O. Box 58768, Salt Lake City, UT 84158.