The Redfield community lost a beloved doctor and friend, Dr. Matthew P. Owens, on his 60^th birthday on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at the Redfield Community Hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family as well as his hospital family, who he had the privilege of working with for the past 25 years.

   Matthew Peter Owens and Michael Benjamin Owens, his twin, were born on November 29, 1963, at the Valentine Hospital in Valentine, NE. Michael passed away shortly after birth.

   Matt’s interest in the outdoors and wildlife started early in his life. As a small child, he was involved in hunting with his Grandfather Peterson and his father, Richard. Many a fall evening found Matt and Dick out in the timber with the coon dogs or spending time together at a fishing pond. His interest continued through his adult life. Many of his last days were spent with long time friends as they looked for game. He also was an avid fisherman.

   Matthew graduated from Sioux City West High in 1982. He was active in musicals, choral groups, band, and was a student sports trainer. He enlisted in the United States armed forces between his junior and senior years at West. After high school graduation, he left for Advanced Infantry Training as a medic at Fort Sam Houston, TX.

   Matthew enrolled at the University of South Dakota in the pre-med program in 1982. During this time, he was employed as an aid by several group homes. After graduating from USD, he was accepted into medical school and entered the Master’s program. He earned his MD in 1993. Matthew first practiced medicine in the community of De Smet and Lake Preston, SD. He married Wendi Kooiman on September 26, 1998 in De Smet. Their children are Kyle, Hannah, and Olivia.

   Matthew valued building families and communities through his practice in rural family medicine. He built positive relationships with patients and community members, encouraging them to get involved in rural health programs.

   Dr. Owens recognized the need for more people to be trained in early response techniques in rural areas. Partnering with the Department of Labor and SAMSHA, he spearheaded grants that provided funds for training in those areas. Dr. Owens developed the Dakota Responder Training program and, in partnership with Agtegra, has currently trained over 400 people in Stop the Bleed™, Narcan use, and AED use. He was passionate about training people in rural communities to be prepared to step in and help if they came upon a person in need before EMTs arrived. That program also built interest and provided a pathway to additional education for people to become Emergency Medical Responders and eventually Emergency Medical Technicians, then Paramedics, if interested. There are eight additional EMTs in the Redfield community thanks to Dr. Owens’ coordinating efforts.

   Dr. Owens' achievements were many, including:

• In the 90s, when he was at CMH, he was a member of the team that developed and implemented the
  • 1^stCritical Access Hospital chest pain program in SD
  • 1^stCritical Access Hospital trauma program in SD
  • 1^stCritical Access Hospital stroke program in SD
• 2006 – Appointed Clinical Associate Professor at USD Sanford School of Medicine.
• 2013 – Received the Golden Stethoscope Award in recognition of his significant contributions to Rural Experiences for Health Professions Students.
• 2016 – Promoted to Clinical Professor for USD Sanford School of Medicine (Still serving as a Clinical Professor up until his retirement).
• 2017 – USD Sanford School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine Edward J. Batt, M.D. Memorial Award for Outstanding Faculty Member.
• 2020 – Award from SD EMS Association for a successful EMS training refresher.
• 2021 – Received the Dr. Earl Kemp Excellence Award - “recipient exemplifies excellence demonstrated by commitment to community service, academic achievement, rural practice, full-spectrum family medicine and care of underserved populations locally, nationally or internationally.”
• 2023 – Awarded the COPIC Humanitarian Award honoring a physician for volunteer medical services and contributions to their community. With this award was the designation of $10,000 to a healthcare related 501(c)(3) organization. He chose the Community Memorial Hospital/Clinic Foundation as the recipient and with those funds ditch kits were purchased to equip Agtegra vehicles with proper tools to help others in need.

   Matthew is survived by his wife, Wendi, and children Kyle, Hannah, and Olivia, his parents Dr. Richard and Verlee Owens of Sioux City, Iowa, his sister Laurie Vinkavich-Cole and brother-in-law Robert Cole from Hawaii, brother Jonathan Owens from San Diego, California, mother and father-in-law Den and Kathy Kooiman, sisters-in law Deb and Kim as well as nephews, nieces, and cousins.

   His services will be held on Thursday, December 7, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Keith C. Kraft officiating. Military honors will follow the service outside the church. Lunch will then be served in the fellowship hall. 

   Dr. Owens’s funeral service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below his obituary. Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield has been entrusted with arrangements (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

   In lieu of flowers and in honor of the programs Dr. Owens was so passionate about, his family would appreciate memorials directed to Redfield CMH Foundation, 111 West 10th Avenue, Redfield, SD, 57469.  Please include "Dr. Owens Memorial" in the memo.