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  • Wayne Sletten, ’56 DVM, Rapid City, S.D. died on Aug. 21, 2023, at age 90. Sletten and his wife, Karen, moved to Faith, S.D., where they began the Faith Veterinary Service practice and raised their five children. His business flourished and his practice spanned over 50 years. He also served as president of the South Dakota Veterinarian Association. Sletten is survived by his wife, five children, 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and his sister and brother-in-law.

    Issue:
  • Daniel Suther, ’54 DVM, died on Aug. 8, 2023.

  • Robert W. Page, ’54 DVM, Alexandria, Minn., died on Aug. 11, 2023, at age 95. Page built a career as an epidemiologist, earning international recognition as a leader in animal disease control and eradication. He is survived by his son, Bill Page.

  • Delmar Finco, ’59 DVM, ’68 PhD, Watkinsville, Ga., died on June 8, 2023, at age 86. In 1970, Finco became a professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine where he taught and conducted research in small animal nephrology and urology until his retirement. He was a founding diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Finco is survived by his wife, his former wife, four children, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister, two sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews.

     

  • R. George Lyon, ’53 DVM, Pelican Rapids, Minn., died on June 15, 2017, at age 89. He owned and operated Lyon Animal Clinic for many years. Following the sale of his practice in Pelican Rapids, he moved to Princeton, Minn., and worked as a veterinarian there until he retired. Lyon is survived by his son, daughter, four grandsons, granddaughter, 10 great-grandchildren, his brother, and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Issue: Fall 2022
  • George Walters, ’59 DVM, passed away on Oct. 5, 2019.

    Issue: Fall 2022
  • Elroy Hexum, ’57 DVM, Pelican Rapids, Minn., died on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at age 89. Hexum moved to Pelican Rapids and worked as a veterinarian for more than 40 years. He also was involved with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. Hexum is survived by his two daughters and son, seven grandchildren, his sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Issue: Fall 2022
  • Peter Franz, ’59 DVM, Edina, Minn., died on Oct. 23, 2022. He practiced veterinary medicine in Austin, Minn., focusing on large animals. An illness forced him to stop practicing and the family relocated to Edina where he worked for International Multifoods, Zinpro, and subsequently started Tech-Mix. He is survived by his wife, Marion; four children; four grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

    Issue: Fall 2022
  • Donald Boyd French, ’53 DVM, Chatfield, Minn., died on Sept. 3, 2022, at 93. French founded Chosen Valley Vet Clinic in 1955 in Chatfield. The practice operates to this day, though French retired from being on in 1989. He continued to treat horses up until 1996. He and his wife, Isabel, also generously created the Dr. Don and Isy French Large Animal Medicine Fund to provide equipment upgrades, clinical outreach, and research to the UMN College of Veterinary Medicine. He is survived by two sons and one daughter, four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, his sister, his great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Issue: Fall 2022