Raymond O. Benson, '66 DVM, died on January 21 at age 92. After graduation, he established a mixed animal practice in Clarissa, Minnesota, then went on to earn a master’s in science at the University of Minnesota in 1970 and teach at Washington State University for four years. He then returned to Minnesota tonpractice primarily small animal medicine in Hermantown. He later taught at the CVM for almost 20 years, focusing on orthopedic surgery.

Carl Osborne, '64 DVM, '70 PhD, professor and founder of the Minnesota Urolith Center, died peacefully on March 5, 2017 surrounded by his family and best friend, Chloe, his longtime service dog. Osborne was a member of the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty for 53 years. He earned his DVM from Purdue University in 1964, joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine the same year, and earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota in 1970.

Osborne began the Minnesota Urolith Center “on a shoestring” in 1981. Later funded by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, it has since analyzed more than one million stones sent from around the world, and continues to research the prevention of and cures for diseases of the urinary system in companion animals under the leadership of Osborne’s colleague, Dr. Jody Lulich. In recognition of his extraordinary career, the College of Veterinary Medicine created the Osborne-Hills Chair in Nephrology and Urology in 1998.

Robert A. Williams, ’60 DVM, Olympia, Wash., died April 16, 2018 at age 86. Williams had practices in Minnesota, Illinois, Vermont, Colorado, and Washington state. He also was a USDA Federal Veterinary Medical Officer in charge of shipping animals around the world from SeaTac and sea ports. Williams is survived by his wife, Georgia Mae; 4 children; 10 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Frederick M. Wells, ’61 DVM, Berlin, Wis., died Jan. 30, 2018 at age 86. Upon graduating from CVM, Wells purchased the Berlin Veterinary Clinic, where he practiced for 35 years. He is predeceased by his first wife, Kathy, and his daughter, Beth. Wells is survived by his second wife, Sylvia; 2 children; 2 grandchildren; and 5 step-children.

Bennett J. Porter, Jr., ’61 DVM, Wayzata, Minn., died Dec. 14, 2017, at age 86. Porter was founder and owner of Westgate Pet Clinic from 1971 to 1995. He is predeceased by his wife, Mary Jean. He is survived by 4 children, including Bennett Porter III, class of 1982, and Thayer Porter, class of 1959. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.

Roger W. Meads, ’63 DVM, Hortonville, Wis., died April 7, 2017, at age 83. Meads practiced veterinary medicine at the Heritage Animal Hospital in Hortonville for 46 years. He was a proponent of preventative herd health management. He is survived by his wife, Stannye; 3 children; 8 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.

Gerald A. Dahl, ’66 DVM, Park River, N.D., died Nov. 24, 2017, at age 75. Dahl worked in private practice. He was a lifetime member of the North Dakota Veterinary Medical Association and Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. The North Dakota Veterinary Association named him Veterinarian of the Year in 2015.

Ervin J. Baas, ’60 DVM, Richmond, Virg., died April 25, 2018 at age 86. Baas eventually obtained his PhD from University of California-Davis in comparative pathology and laboratory animal medicine in 1971. He was inducted into the Phi Zeta Society of Veterinary Medicine and was an animal disease investigator for the National Institutes of Health. Baas was licensed in Minnesota, Iowa, California, Maryland, and Virginia. He was a member of the College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, District of Columbia Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Association (50 years), American Association of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and Laboratory Animal Practitioners Association. He is survived by his wife, Avis; 2 children; and 2 grandchildren.

Steven W. Anderson, ’60 DVM, Mankato, Minn., died Jan. 16, 2018 at age 81. Anderson treated both large and small animals in private practice for 40 years. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Christine, and survived by his wife, Pat; 5 children; 17 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.