For 40 years, Dr. Gerald “Jerry” Henrickson cared for generations of families at Lakewood, building relationships that reached far beyond the exam room. Along the way, he shared his knowledge, supported his colleagues and helped guide medical students finding their own paths in medicine.
To honor his life and legacy, we invited former colleagues and medical students to share their favorite memories, reflect on his mentorship and describe the person they knew. Their words offer a personal glimpse into his years at Lakewood and the lasting difference he made in their lives.
We are grateful to everyone who shared these heartfelt tributes. Through their stories and the photos collected here, we remember a physician, mentor and friend whose influence continues in the care others give.
From Tim Rice, retired LHS President & CEO:
"Dr. Henrickson and I started the same year in 1980, and we had 40 great years together.
Professionally, he was unwavering in doing what was right for patients. Dr. Henrickson played a key role on review of care that was provided. He served on the medical review committee and he studied every case that was being reviewed and was fearless in addressing any care that was not up to standard and if further education and training was needed. I had worked at a previous health organization where this was not the case and this is one of the key factors on why Lakewood has been so successful. The Lakewood providers ALL focus on doing what is right for patients and are open to feedback and discussions on how to ensure exceptional care is provided by everyone on the team. Dr. Henrickson was a champion of that high quality care and Lakewood and the community have greatly benefited from that. We are so grateful for that passion and commitment.
For many years, Dr. Henrickson was the lead negotiator on the medical services arrangement between the clinic and Lakewood. Just as he put everything into providing exceptional care for his patients, he never came to a meeting without being prepared. I always knew that I had better be ready as well or that meeting was over before it started. He cared deeply about his patients and the Lakewood clinic practice - the ultimate advocate to do what was right and make sure that operationally things were done the right way.
Personally, we hunted together and have great memories of our dads hunting with us. His dad was Bill and my dad was Ted, so we always said it was like 'Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures.' Dr. Henrickson was an excellent hunter and outdoorsman and it was fun to see his pictures and hear about his hunting and fishing success.
Lynn and I were experiencing infertility issues and after many failed attempts, Dr. Henrickson asked if we would consider adoption. With his guidance, he connected us with Children’s Home Society. He reviewed all the medical information sent from South Korea to ensure were adopting a healthy baby. We so appreciated his help and support in the adoption of our youngest daughter Kelsey.
Thank you for making a difference both professionally and personally."
From Dr. Julie Benson - LHS family medicine partner and friend:
"I should have told you this before you left us. Why do we wait? But I sincerely hope you know how much you were loved. As tributes to you flood in, it is clear that you made a powerful impact on so many people both as a physician, but even more as a person. You were a person of integrity, quiet support, patience, calmness, faith and profound intelligence.
My career with you started as a third-year medical student in the 1992. I must confess, I was a little scared of you at first. You were unflappable. Always calm and seemed to know all the answers. You knew all your patients and listened with your whole body. You never rushed anyone and always had a comforting touch.
I remember driving to Eagle Bend with you and impressing you that I spotted a pheasant in the ditch. Steve had taught me to scan the ditches as a hunter. I think I made a few points with you that day.
You were also practical. I remember a drunk patient coming into the ER with a fishing spear through his foot. We painstakingly got his boot off and then you ran home to get the right tools - a hack saw to finish the job. That was when I knew I was in rural Minnesota - and I loved every minute of it.
It took me a long time to call you Jerry after I joined the group as a partner in 1997. You were Dr. Henrickson - I just couldn’t call you anything else. You made me feel an equal so quickly. You told me there was no such thing as seniority in this practice. We all had a voice, an equal vote and shared in the responsibilities. You immediately made me feel seen and valued. You always made sure I understood the business of medicine and were willing to answer questions. You were a great advocate for our practice that centered around doing what was right for our patients.
Thank you for all you taught me. For your kindness, patience, knowledge and compassion. Thank you for teaching me the art of medicine. Thank you for being my friend and partner for 13 years. You have no idea the impact you made on my life. I am forever grateful to you and for the gift you were in my life. Love you Jer Bear."
From Kelly VanVickle - former LHS RN and NP:
"When I think of Dr. Henrickson or GWH, the words that come to mind are thoughtful, intentional, steady and gentle.
I had the privilege of working alongside him in the ER, caring for his patients in the hospital, and later as colleagues in the clinic.
I genuinely believe he could have written the book on bedside manners. He never seemed rushed. He had a gentle voice, a gentle laugh, and a calming, steady presence. He listened with his full attention, not waiting to speak, but truly hearing whoever was in front of him. He would be sure to get down to eye level with patients, sometimes placing a hand on a shoulder or knee, small gestures that showed how much he cared, and he was truly with you.
When I asked him questions about patient situations, he would often respond with, 'Well, what do you think?' He had a way of making you feel respected and capable, a reminder that your thoughts and judgment genuinely mattered to him.
And for all his brilliance, his handwriting could challenge even the most seasoned nurse! But those of us who worked with him got pretty good at translating it.
What stands out most is that he treated everyone with that same patience, kindness, and genuine respect. It was simply who he was.
I’m grateful to have worked alongside him and learned from his example. He was a beautiful example of what it means to care for people, not just as a physician, but as a human being."
From Brad Skogen - former LHS chaplain and hunting friend:
"I have fond memories of pheasant hunting in South Dakota with Jerry, Bill, Ted, Steve, David Mennis, Duane Lund, and Jerry’s son Nate. Bill would always make arrangements for the trip and he lined me up to drive out and back with Jerry many times. He was conscientious about everything he did. Everything. I remember him as a kind and diligent clinician."
From Berit Amundson - former RPAP student (2006-07), family medicine partner (2011-2015):
"One of my favorite Dr. Henrickson stories was when a patient stole a prescription pad from the office and tried to write themselves a controlled substance but signed it Hendrickson with such a pronounced D that the pharmacist knew it was a forgery!
When I was an RPAP student, he let me deliver one of his patients (it might have been his 'actual last delivery'). There was a nuchal cord, and instead of reducing, I did a delivery with a baby turn. Afterwards, he told me, 'I liked that move.'
From Donna Nordell - former RN at LHS:
"Lakewood was better because of Dr. Henrickson. He had a deep following for great reasons. I sure appreciated him always."
From Bev Nelsen (and Bruce) - former RN at LHS and neighbors:
"Many thoughts and words come to mind when we think of Dr. Henrickson: kindness, thorough, gentleness, determination, intelligence, steady, mellow and competent.
The following pretty much sums it up: Galatians 5:22,23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (against such there is no law).
On another note. I recall his resistance to the transition to computers too!"
From Dr. Barry LaBine - former LHS provider:
"Dr. Hendrickson was the epitome of an outstanding physician. His clinical skills were outstanding and his bedside manner matched or exceeded those skills. He was genuine and kind to all those around him and served as a great role model for all of the other physicians in the clinic. He had an extraordinary gift of connecting with his patients and they adored him.
When I started a new specialty at Lakewood over 15 years ago, he went out of his way to welcome me, get to know me, and support our department. When I left Lakewood he went out of his way to reach out and be gracious. He was a quiet leader who led by example with class, integrity, and great humility.
I feel very fortunate to have been his colleague for many years, I will always remember our many conversations and his warm smile. He made all those around him better.
Rest in peace Dr. Hendrickson, you will be greatly missed but not forgotten.
Peace to his family."
From Dr. Jon Claussen - former LHS family medicine partner:
"Firstly, I am proud to call him a mentor. He so calmly and graciously helped me every step of the way, especially in my young practice. Frankly, I wanted to be like him. His warmth, dedication, and genuine care he showed his patients was truly inspiring to me.
Secondly, he was our family doctor. As we paraded our eight children into his clinic and occupied most of his schedule for that day, he always seemed generally excited to see us. He calmly and patiently gave his undivided attention to each individual child and never seemed hurried or uninterested. He walked with us, hand in hand, through some very difficult situations.
Thirdly, I knew him as a friend. He loved so very well. He loved his wife and family, he loved me, he loved my family. I really believe he would do anything to help me, as I would do for him. Most importantly, he loved Jesus. He displayed the love of Jesus to everyone he met. And now he is with Him! I find such great comfort in knowing that."
From Kelly Coughlin - former LHS dietician:
"I am going to put some rocks in a backpack and go for a walk." (Dr. Henrickson would often go on walks to build up his endurance for hunting out west.)
From Lisa Smeby, Lakewood DNP, APRN, CNP:
"Dr. Henrickson was an amazing mentor, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him in different roles throughout my career. I first worked with him as a nurse at the care center, where I was always impressed by the amount of time he took with his patients and how genuinely he cared about each of them. Later, I had the privilege of working alongside him as a colleague and seeing that same compassion and dedication in his interactions with patients in the community. His approach to medicine was something special.
One memory that has always stuck with me was when he caught paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during a patient's routine annual exam. When someone asked him how he managed to catch it, he simply said, 'You just have to listen long enough,' followed by that characteristic smile of his. That was Dr. Henrickson. He took his time, paid attention, and never lost sight of the person he was caring for.
When he retired, we joked that he should just stay at the clinic so we could continue to pick his brain. His knowledge was incredible, and he had such a natural ability to teach and share it with others. He was the kind of physician you could learn something from just by being around him. I will always appreciate the years I had the opportunity to work with him and everything he taught me along the way."
From Arden Beachy - former LHS family medicine physician:
Growing up in Staples, I first met Dr. Hendrickson as a youngster, around 10 years old, at the Methodist Church I attended. I remember him as one of the quiet leaders in the church at that time. I remember when my dad pointed him out at church and told me that he was his new primary care doctor. He also stated that Dr. Hendrickson was different because he listened well and had a very calm and compassionate demeanor.
When I was in sixth grade, right before winter break, my grandma took me to the clinic in Staples, and my parents had scheduled an appointment with Dr. Hendrickson. I had been having right side pain for three days. This was the first time I got to experience him as a provider, and I was more than impressed with his bedside manner.
I ended up being admitted to St. John's Hospital in Fargo, for about two weeks while they did a work-up on my elevated eosinophils. In the end, after having an EGD, liver biopsy and many other tests, they did not find anything wrong with me. I remember when I returned to see Dr. Hendrickson, he was so reassuring and calm. That reassurance really stuck with me and was key moment to later pursuing medicine as a career, especially primary care.
Several years later when I was in senior high, Dr. Hendrickson introduced me to Dr. Freeman. I had no idea at that time how influential these two men would be in my professional career.
Fast forward 12 years, and Dr. Hendrickson became my colleague. I remember in the old clinic on the north end of town, we discussed a lot of things including treatment philosophy and hunting. He was always willing to stop down at my office to go over things or stay longer after work to make sure the younger partners felt comfortable and got their questions answered. I really respected how he was never rushed or pushed you out the door. He took the time to be a great leader for the practice and mentor us younger physicians.
As the clinic and hospital moved out to its current location on Highway 10, my practice got busier and the health system got much larger. We did not see each other as much, but still had good conversations. He always liked to stop down at my office after the physician meetings and make sure I felt like the younger partners had the opportunity to speak up. His concern about fairness and letting everyone’s voice in the group be heard, still resonates with me today.
There are two conversations I had with Jerry that I will cherish forever. The first was after a long day at the clinic in 2015, I stopped down at his office. Somehow, we got talking about the many great individuals who we both knew and interacted with at the Methodist Church. He then recounted the Sunday sermon Eric Walthal and I gave to the congregation for our confirmation requirement. He stated it was cute to watch both of us try and speak with such a pastoral tone. He told me that I was no Les Brown or Reverend Billy Graham, but that he enjoyed the message all the same. We both had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard.
The second conversation that sticks out was when we both attended a conference in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the practice. I remember he patiently waited for me as I stood in line to get a picture with Mel Robbins (who was one of the keynote speakers at the event). We went out for dinner that night and it was awesome. He asked me about my experience being adopted and growing up in Staples. I asked him about where he grew up and how his earlier years formed him. He also discussed Debbie and his decision about adopting their 2 kids. I had never talked in depth with Jerry about our individual experiences before, but it was a great dinner and an impressive conversation. It was one conversation I will never forget.
Jerry, thanks for always being a great friend, mentor, and colleague. You will be missed by many, but your impact will never be forgotten.
Go rest high on that mountain, until we meet again one day, my friend.
Rest in peace."
From Dr. Michael Hudalla - LHS emergency medicine physician:
"Dr. Henrickson was a mentor to me beginning in 1998. He taught me to keep searching for the answer until the answer is found. I remember listening to a colleague speak about his unparalleled clinical acumen and wonder whether they would ever achieve his level of excellence.
He practiced medicine with confidence, patience, kindness and gentleness. He advocated for his patients, partners and colleagues, serving Lakewood with distinction for 40 years. As one of our senior founders, he helped shape an approach that his partners continue to emulate — in patient care, in our relationships with one another and in the relationship between the Physicians’ Association and Lakewood Health System.
Perhaps most meaningfully, he was known for recognizing others with these words: 'Thank you for who you are and what you do.'
Thank you, Dr. Henrickson, for who you were and what you’ve done.
Well done, good and faithful servant."
From Amy Winkels - LHS physician assistant:
"For any of us who were fortunate enough to work with Dr. Henrickson, there are so many of his qualities that we should try to emulate. His patience and kindness with his patients, his respect and acceptance of all colleagues and the time and effort that he put into being an advocate for what he thought was right, are great lessons for all of us.
He was incredibly approachable and had a great ear for listening. His calm nature and reasonable approach to problems could make a difficult or worrisome issue manageable.
I will forever miss seeing his smile that would always reach his eyes letting you know that he was genuine. The world was definitely a better place with Jerry in it. He will be missed."
From Craig Wolhowe - retired LHS Vice President of Clinic and Provider Services:
"Dr. Henrickson had a rare gift for making people feel heard and cared for. He was kind to his patients, soft-spoken, and generous with his time. Near the end of his career, we nearly had to schedule every clinic visit for an hour — not because he was slow, but because he truly listened and wanted to give each patient the attention they deserved.
After he retired, whenever we met in public, he always spoke highly about the years we worked together and would ask how my family was doing. That thoughtfulness was just who he was.
Dr. Henrickson loved the outdoors and his hunting trips out west. A memory that I have of Dr. Henrickson is the small cooler he brought for lunch every day. Many times, his lunch had something from one of those trips. It exemplified his down-to-earth nature and his love of the outdoors.
I’ll remember Dr. Henrickson for his kindness, the care he showed others, and the many years we were fortunate to work together."
