Early in her nursing career, Lori Dehn’s employer offered her a week off with pay if she volunteered for an American Red Cross disaster response deployment. How could she refuse such an offer? However, back in 2003, securing an official Health Services position with the Red Cross took a while, three years, to be exact!
At that time, the only way to gain the necessary training was through in-person classes at a Red Cross office. Despite policy changes at her workplace by the time she completed her training, Lori’s enthusiasm for volunteering remained undeterred. She joined her local Red Cross disaster team, aiding individuals and families affected by residential fires.
Since then, Lori has become an exceptional Red Cross volunteer. She thoroughly enjoys her role in training others and presenting for the Red Cross. The events of 9/11 intensified her focus on training community partners, such as public health departments and nursing schools, on Red Cross disaster health services. In her early years as a Red Cross nurse volunteer, mentors provided invaluable guidance, teaching her more than she could have learned on her own. Their support was crucial to her growth and development as a Red Cross volunteer.
“Much more than Red Cross”
In her life, Lori embraces a multitude of fulfilling roles. Not only is she a mother of three and a grandmother of nine, but she also stands as a devoted wife and a pillar in her community. These roles are close to her heart.
Raised in Osseo, a suburb of Minneapolis, she moved to Elk River in 1979 and now resides in a quaint cabin in the Chippewa National Forest with her husband of 40 years. This cabin is more than just a home; it’s a sanctuary where she serves and finds refuge. Lori leads a connected and bustling life, engaging in activities like hosting friends and family, being part of a social group called “Women of the Woods,” and enjoying hobbies such as hunting, fishing, gardening, and canning.
When asked about her feelings toward the harsh Minnesota winters, she humorously replies, “nooo”. To escape the cold, she spends several weeks and months in sunny Arizona or Nevada, always keeping her doors open for family and friends to visit.
Professionally, Lori has been a registered nurse since 1993, starting her career in diverse nursing roles including home health care, nursing homes, and case management for individuals with rare diseases. These varied experiences laid the perfect foundation for her eventual journey into volunteering with the Red Cross.
“Semper Gumby”
Choosing early retirement to dedicate more time to volunteering, Lori soon found herself deployed as a nurse volunteer to the 2017 Hurricane Harvey. Quickly, she received a field promotion due to the scarcity of volunteers. Lori’s time during Hurricane Harvey set a template for her future deployments. She humorously shares, “Field promotion is considered a naughty word with the Red Cross,” acknowledging the need for adaptability, or as she likes to say, ‘Semper Gumby’ [always flexible].
During the 2019 California Wildfires, Lori’s flexibility was tested as she managed a care team for over 200 people, including those with various needs and challenges. Her leadership and the support of a group of young paramedic students ensured that everyone received the care they needed.
“Big Picture is the Best Picture”
Lori likes to take a big-picture approach to her work. She strives to inspire and grow the nurse volunteer pool through events and workshops. Recognizing the Red Cross’s reliance on volunteers, she understands the challenge of finding committed individuals but remains optimistic, knowing there’s a place for everyone at this humanitarian organization.
A recipient of the national Red Cross Susan B. Hassmiller Nursing Award, Lori used the accompanying grant to bolster the nine Red Cross chapters in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Her visits around the region have strengthened our community of nurse volunteers. As Lori prepares to pass on her leadership baton this year, she looks forward to future projects with the same zeal and dedication that have characterized her time with the Red Cross.
Lori, we extend our deepest gratitude for your years of service to the Red Cross. Your leadership, dedication, and the relationships you’ve fostered have enriched both your life and the lives of those you’ve served. Here’s to the continuation of your remarkable journey with the Red Cross, guided by its foundational principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteer service, and universality.
Story by Lisa Safer and Andrea Austin, Red Cross Volunteers
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 