Benefis Surgeon Was A ‘Bright Light’ For Ulm Man

In August 2024, Carl Rutherford Jr. told his wife, Terry, that he had been experiencing abnormal bleeding … for a whole month. She insisted that an emergency room visit was in order.

Carl and Terry drove from their home in Ulm to Benefis’ Emergency Department, where they discovered an ulcer. But the bleeding continued. Unfortunately, the ulcer wasn’t Carl’s only problem. About two months later, the emergency team found a tumor.

Carl was scheduled to meet with Jeremy Jensen, MD, of Benefis General Surgery, and that, Terry said, is when their story took a turn for the better.

“He has a very soothing command of the situation,” she said. “Dr. Jensen was the first bright light in this situation. He came into that first appointment with a thorough knowledge of Carl’s case already.”

Terry says Carl had a colonoscopy with no abnormalities just months before the bleeding started.

“Dr. Jensen wanted to go in and take a closer look. We were happy with that idea.”

Carl says he was excited to meet with Dr. Jensen, and more excited about the relief he felt after hearing about his plans for the surgery. “He eased my mind about what was going to happen.”

In January 2025, Dr. Jensen completely removed the cancerous tumor. Carl’s health has been improving since then. He has been receiving follow-up care at Benefis and “doing much better.”

“There were three months of bleeding before the surgery, and the stress on both of us was devastating,” Terry said.

During a night that Carl was hospitalized, Terry recalled how worried she was staying alone on their property in Ulm.

“I didn’t know how I would stay there without him,” she said. “We’ve built this place together. What would I do without him?”

But that was a worry Terry didn’t have to face.

“Having Dr. Jensen come into our lives when he did meant everything to us at that time. He and his entire care team were amazing and compassionate.”

Throughout their journey, Terry was tickled and comforted by the “small world” connection she and Dr. Jensen share; his daughter was one of Terry’s former students from her elementary school teaching days. She says it is an example of how Benefis is truly part of the community it serves.

“There is a give and take relationship of kindness and empathy between staff and patients at Benefis,” she explained. “And we are so grateful for that.”

Carl recently paid Dr. Jensen a visit in the General Surgery Clinic’s renovated space at Medical Office Building 12.

“You look great,” Dr. Jensen told him. “Now you have no reason to come back here.”

Carl is hoping the same. He says he is feeling great and is back to his normal activities.

“Hopefully taking care of all this added some years onto my life.”

And he plans to make good use of those years. Currently, Carl is planning an Alaskan fishing trip with one of his children.