Dr. Robert Dennis McCartney

February 11, 1947 - July 2, 2024

Robert Dennis McCartney, 77, of St. Thomas, ND, passed away July 2, 2024.

Bob was born February 11, 1947 in Alliance, NE to Urlin and Loraine (Phillips) McCartney, and grew up in Bridgeport, NE, graduating from Scottsbluff High School. Bob received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

He pre-enlisted in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1968 and later attended medical school at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO.  He completed his Internal Medicine residency, including a Chief Resident year.  He was elected to membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in 1972, and began active duty as a Captain in November 1975 at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.  

After basic training, he was assigned to the 121 Evacuation Hospital, US Army Hospital-Seoul, 8th Army Medical Command in Seoul, Korea.   He served temporary duty at Camp Ames and at the 41st MASH in Pusan, Korea, the last remaining Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.   In January 1977 he was transferred to Ft. Carson Army Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO and was promoted to Major.  

He married Bonita LaHaise on May 6, 1978, and they moved to Denver, CO where he practiced in a clinic setting and as Chief of Geriatrics at Rose Medical Center.  He was a board-certified geriatrician, a leader in the development of national geriatric practice guidelines, and was the first in the country to adopt electronic medical records in a nursing home setting.

In 2010, after practicing medicine for 37 years in Denver, he became the physician at the Grafton Community Based Outpatient Clinic of the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs.  He retired in 2015.    Bob was a member of the American Medical Society, Colorado Medical Society, North Dakota Medical Society, and Catholic Medical Association.  He was president of the Colorado Society of Internal Medicine and a board member of the American Society of Internal Medicine, and was named the Colorado Internist of the Year in 1994.  Bob was awarded a Mastership in the American College of Physicians, which he saw as his highest achievement.   

Bob was also a member of the VFW Post 3828 of Kennedy, MN, and the American Legion Post 147 of Park River, ND.   He was a member of the 5056 Neche/Cavalier, Norh Dakota Knights of Columbus.

Bob was an active outdoorsman, summiting 49 of the 52 Colorado 14,000-ft peaks, and visited every national and state park in Colorado.  He enjoyed hunting, and drove his Harley to work every day.  

Bob is survived by his wife and children, John (Ingrid Tomac), Ann Marie (Micah) Paulsen, Elizabeth Cambre, Suzanne (Scott) Huberty, and James; sisters and brothers-in-law Daniel (Carol) LaHaise, Mary (Steve) Rudnik, Thomas (Mary) LaHaise, Patricia (Don) Flood, John (Colleen) LaHaise, Jeanne (David) Droske, Elizabeth LaHaise, and James (Kim) LaHaise, and grandchildren: Karlos Tomac McCartney, Harold and William Paulsen, Scarlett and Savannah Cambre, and Sofia and Lincoln Huberty.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Bruce Francis.  

Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 8, 2024 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Crystal, ND.   Military Rites were provided by the Park River American Legion Post and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.  Burial services were held at St. John's Cemetery in Grafton, ND.   Memorials were encouraged to be sent to St. Thomas Fire Department and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.  

https://www.tollefsonfuneralhome.com/obituary/dr-robert-mccartney