When Ole Berntsen first stepped foot on American soil it was to leave the ship from Norway and step out onto Ellis Island in New York harbor. Twenty years later, Ole, now Dr. Olav S. Behrents and his wife, Ida Johnson Behrents named their first son, Ellis Gordon Behrents. Gordon, as he was most commonly known, was born in what was then called Kioshan, Honan, China, the son of medical missionaries from the United States. Gordon's first school experience was at the American School at Kikungshan in China where many missionary kids were sent while their parents worked in the mission field. Gordon's quiet good humor which endeared him to everyone was constantly apparent, in his silk caterpillar farm (in his dresser drawer), sneaking in the first ice cold dip of the New Year and totally refusing to eat potato soup the rest of his life after those early years of austere living.
The family returned to the United States for the last time in 1927, withdrawing from the mission field in a time of great turmoil and danger to settle in Three Rivers, MI. Gordon adored his father and remembered these years of private practice with mixed emotion as he saw his father's health decline. He determined to follow in his footsteps, graduating from St. Olaf College in MN and University of Chicago (Rush Medical School).
Dr. E. Gordon Behrents married his college sweetheart, Alice Margaret Norby on July 5, 1941. He and two of his siblings served proudly during the second World War. He returned after the war and he and his young family settled in Galesburg, IL. The family continued to grow and flourish as he established a popular obstetrical practice, becoming one of the founding fathers of the Galesburg Clinic. His quiet confidence and gentle manner made him a favorite wherever he went.
In 1976 Gordon suffered a career ending stroke. With years of determined therapy he was able to function well in most respects and he and his beloved Alice traveled and spent wonderful times with their four children and eight grandchildren, scattered across the country. On August 31, 1997, Gordon died very suddenly. He is so sorely missed by all who knew him but most especially by the family he left behind.
The family returned to the United States for the last time in 1927, withdrawing from the mission field in a time of great turmoil and danger to settle in Three Rivers, MI. Gordon adored his father and remembered these years of private practice with mixed emotion as he saw his father's health decline. He determined to follow in his footsteps, graduating from St. Olaf College in MN and University of Chicago (Rush Medical School).
Dr. E. Gordon Behrents married his college sweetheart, Alice Margaret Norby on July 5, 1941. He and two of his siblings served proudly during the second World War. He returned after the war and he and his young family settled in Galesburg, IL. The family continued to grow and flourish as he established a popular obstetrical practice, becoming one of the founding fathers of the Galesburg Clinic. His quiet confidence and gentle manner made him a favorite wherever he went.
In 1976 Gordon suffered a career ending stroke. With years of determined therapy he was able to function well in most respects and he and his beloved Alice traveled and spent wonderful times with their four children and eight grandchildren, scattered across the country. On August 31, 1997, Gordon died very suddenly. He is so sorely missed by all who knew him but most especially by the family he left behind.
When Ole Berntsen first stepped foot on American soil it was to leave the ship from Norway and step out onto Ellis Island in New York harbor. Twenty years later, Ole, now Dr. Olav S. Behrents and his wife, Ida Johnson Behrents named their first son, Ellis Gordon Behrents. Gordon, as he was most commonly known, was born in what was then called Kioshan, Honan, China, the son of medical missionaries from the United States. Gordon's first school experience was at the American School at Kikungshan in China where many missionary kids were sent while their parents worked in the mission field. Gordon's quiet good humor which endeared him to everyone was constantly apparent, in his silk caterpillar farm (in his dresser drawer), sneaking in the first ice cold dip of the New Year and totally refusing to eat potato soup the rest of his life after those early years of austere living.
The family returned to the United States for the last time in 1927, withdrawing from the mission field in a time of great turmoil and danger to settle in Three Rivers, MI. Gordon adored his father and remembered these years of private practice with mixed emotion as he saw his father's health decline. He determined to follow in his footsteps, graduating from St. Olaf College in MN and University of Chicago (Rush Medical School).
Dr. E. Gordon Behrents married his college sweetheart, Alice Margaret Norby on July 5, 1941. He and two of his siblings served proudly during the second World War. He returned after the war and he and his young family settled in Galesburg, IL. The family continued to grow and flourish as he established a popular obstetrical practice, becoming one of the founding fathers of the Galesburg Clinic. His quiet confidence and gentle manner made him a favorite wherever he went.
In 1976 Gordon suffered a career ending stroke. With years of determined therapy he was able to function well in most respects and he and his beloved Alice traveled and spent wonderful times with their four children and eight grandchildren, scattered across the country. On August 31, 1997, Gordon died very suddenly. He is so sorely missed by all who knew him but most especially by the family he left behind.
The family returned to the United States for the last time in 1927, withdrawing from the mission field in a time of great turmoil and danger to settle in Three Rivers, MI. Gordon adored his father and remembered these years of private practice with mixed emotion as he saw his father's health decline. He determined to follow in his footsteps, graduating from St. Olaf College in MN and University of Chicago (Rush Medical School).
Dr. E. Gordon Behrents married his college sweetheart, Alice Margaret Norby on July 5, 1941. He and two of his siblings served proudly during the second World War. He returned after the war and he and his young family settled in Galesburg, IL. The family continued to grow and flourish as he established a popular obstetrical practice, becoming one of the founding fathers of the Galesburg Clinic. His quiet confidence and gentle manner made him a favorite wherever he went.
In 1976 Gordon suffered a career ending stroke. With years of determined therapy he was able to function well in most respects and he and his beloved Alice traveled and spent wonderful times with their four children and eight grandchildren, scattered across the country. On August 31, 1997, Gordon died very suddenly. He is so sorely missed by all who knew him but most especially by the family he left behind.
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