Great Chief: Doctor wins Chamber's top award
<p><strong>Dr. Van Kirke Nelson</strong></p>
Even though Dr. Van Kirke Nelson delivered thousands of babies in his obstetrics and gynecology career before he retired in 2002, he still always found time for numerous valley and state causes, especially in the health-care realm and in the arts.
For his devotion to the Flathead Valley and his work in making Northwest Montana a better place, Nelson was given the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s Great Chief award for 2013 Thursday night at the Chamber’s 109th annual banquet.
In a nominating letter, Jim Oliverson, spokesman for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, detailed the wide variety of recipients of Nelson’s time and energy.
“His shouts for more help for women’s and children’s health were heard all the way to Washington, D.C. He was a driving force behind the improvements at Legends Field. He and his wife served as community leaders on the campaign for the Rebecca Chaney Broussard Center for Nursing and Health Science.”
Nelson, who started his medical practice in the Flathead Valley in 1962, recently retired after 37 years on the board of the ALERT air ambulance, for which he was a charter member.
He combined his knowledge of fine art with his passion for saving lives to help forge the art auctions that have become a main event at the annual ALERT fundraising banquets.
In May, Nelson was presented with the Montana Mentor Award by Flathead Valley Community College president Jane Karas. She wrote a letter in support of his nomination for Great Chief, citing his assistance with the college’s health care programs in fundraising and partnerships with Browning and Blackfeet Community College.
Karas also expressed her appreciation for Nelson’s engagement in the arts, such as his sponsorship of Fine Arts Night and his willingness to help appraise art that has been donated to the college.
“In the spirit of ‘It’s always better to give than to receive,’ Kirke is always first in line to commit to noble and worthwhile causes, especially if it relates to our youth,” wrote Robert Nystuen, president of Glacier Bank, for which Nelson also served on the board of directors. “The generosity of monetary gifts from Kirke (and Helen) Nelson are certainly noteworthy and admirable, but they paled by the gifts of time, dedication and love for this community.”