Agnes Marie Aamodt

AGNES MARIE AAMODT PhD, RN 84 Nurse, anthropologist, and professor, Dr. Aamodt was the first instructor in the School of Nursing at the University of Arizona. She retired as Professor Emerita from the College of nursing in 1988. In 1971 she was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Washington, Seattle, having done research on the health care of the Papago children on the Tohono O'Odham Reservation. Earlier she received the M.A. degree in child development from the University of Minnesota, and B.S. and RN degrees from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. She then served in the Army Nurse Corps. Dr. Aamodt's primary academic concerns were the concept of caring, the culture of childhood, and the client's view of health care. Of Norwegian decent herself, she also did field work with Norwegian-American women in Wisconsin. She belonged to many professional organizations, and was Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, of the American Anthropology Association, and of the Society of Applied Anthropology. She received the University of Arizona's Creative Teaching Award in 1980, the Marjorie Quandt Award from the College of St. Scholastica in 1981, and many other honors and awards. Agnes Aamodt was born in Minneapolis, MN, April 7, 1921, and died in Tucson, January 31, 2006. She is survived by sisters Karen Aamodt, Denver, CO, Joan Draeb, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Virginia Hecht, Tucson, AZ; aunt Louise Gustafson, Redwing, MN and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was an active member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry and the Norse Federation. A perennial student and traveler, she continued taking classes in the arts, music and the humanities long after she retired from teaching. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Campus Christian Center, 715 N. Park Ave. Tucson. Interment of ashes will be in Gilman Lutheran Church Cemetery, Spring Valley, WI, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lutheran Campus Ministry, 715 N. Park Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719; The College of Nursing, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210203, Tucson, AZ 85723; Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, WI 54767; or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOME , 1050 N. Dodge, Tucson.