Robert Klein was born in Langdon, North Dakota and grew up on a farm in Northeastern North Dakota. He attended school in Langdon and after completing high school, remained on the family farm to help with the family farming operation. Robert grew up watching the television show, “Emergency” and was inspired by Paramedic’s Johnny and Roy. He wanted to someday be that person who responded and helped those in need during an emergency. So, in 1987, his EMS career began. He took an Emergency Medical Technician course at the hospital in Langdon, ND and began volunteering with the Langdon Ambulance Service. In 1994, Bob decided to advance his EMS skills and enrolled in the Paramedic Program at F-M Ambulance in Fargo, ND. He completed the program in 1995 and began working part time as a Street Medic for F-M Ambulance in Fargo. He continued his work on the family farm and also continued working with Langdon Ambulance as a Paramedic. In 2004, Bob became the Director of Langdon Ambulance in Langdon, ND while still working part time as a Paramedic for F-M Ambulance and managing his family farm. In 2006, Bob was offered a full time position with F-M Ambulance in Fargo, ND as their Liaison Coordinator. He made the decision to leave his family farm and his job with Langdon Ambulance and moved to Fargo, ND to take on this position. For eight years, he was responsible for providing the education and training to the members of the ambulance services, quick response units, fire departments and police departments of Cass and Clay Counties. In 2012, Bob decided that he was ready for a change and began working as a Lead Educator for F-M Ambulance. He assists in educating the students enrolled in the North Dakota State College of Science Paramedic Program which is affiliated with F-M Ambulance. He also instructs BLS, ACLS, PALS and PHTLS classes. In 2008, Bob received the F-M Ambulance Achievement in Excellence Award for his dedication and work with the EMT’s and First Responders in Cass and Clay Counties.That same year, Bob was honored with the North Dakota EMS Instructor of the Year Award. Bob is a member of the F-M Ambulance Service Disaster Services Committee. When not in the classroom, Bob can be found in his garage working on his motorcycles, vintage snowmobiles and classic cars. Bob is married to Margaret Nowatzki-Klein and they live in Horace, ND.”

As a child, Kathy loved swimming, and as soon as she turned 16 and could earn her lifeguard certification, she did. She became a lifeguarding instructor/trainer and a first aid and CPR instructor in the late 1970s. Swimming has remained a focal point of Kathy’s life, and she has managed the city’s swimming pool since the early 1980s and still gives swimming lessons.

Kathy’s connection with Hillsboro started when she decided to further her medical training and enrolled in an EMT class in 1980—she had barely started the course when she found herself a member of Hillsboro Ambulance Service. She served for 14 years as an EMT, then in 1995  she passed the NREMT-Intermediate exam.

Throughout her years of volunteer service, Kathy has held several roles. She’s a certified EMS instructor teaches numerous EMS courses. She served as the squad training officer and as president for over 10 years, and she has assisted on the ND EMS testing team. Kathy even began a program—volunteering her time—to teach all local high school sophomores CPR.

She continues to work as an EMT for Hillsboro Ambulance Service today and remains a key figure in the organization. Kathy is known to take a spare AED home many evenings and respond on calls, even while not on duty, when a train is passing through town and delaying an ambulance response. She covers numerous call shifts and is always available as a backup crew member.

Kathy has been a strong supporter and leader over the years, and her continued dedication and commitment have helped the service move forward not only in EMS but during changes with the structure and administration of the ambulance service.

Kathy owns Uniquely Yours, an antique and craft boutique store in Hillsboro. When the pager goes off and additional help is needed, she closes her store without a second thought and responds.

She has cared for countless patients throughout her career, and she has taught and mentored many people who have entered the field of EMS.

She is married to Dennis Duval, and they have three grown children, Audra, Jared, and Jenessa. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, painting, going to concerts, and traveling the upper Midwest to visit her children, grandchildren, and family. 

Jason Eblen was born in Fargo, North Dakota, and grew up on his family farm and home in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he attended Hillsboro Public Schools. In his high school years, he developed an interest in the medical field. Jason attended a first responder course after his sophomore year in high school in 1995, then began volunteering for the Hillsboro Ambulance Service.

Jason took a full time position at F-M Ambulance in the summer of 2001 while he continued his education at North Dakota State University. He began paramedic school at F-M Ambulance and Bismarck State College that same year. Jason was promoted to a Paramedic position at F-M Ambulance and continues to work full time as a field provider.

Jason was a key contributor when F-M Ambulance implemented their initial system of live system status monitoring and demand analysis. In 2013, Jason took on a newly developed role as a Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance Specialist and SIM-ND Educator. As a SIM-ND educator, Jason participates in a grant-funded project providing mobile simulation education on high mortality-low frequency scenarios to rural ambulance services and critical access hospitals throughout the state in an effort to improve patient outcomes.

In 2011, the Minnesota High School League recognized Jason for his role in resuscitating a high school basketball player who experienced sudden cardiac arrest during a game at a rural school and was subsequently able to return to the court.

In addition to his previous volunteer service with Hillsboro Ambulance, Jason was a member of the ND EMS Association Board of Directors for several years. He also volunteered as a reserve deputy sheriff for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

In his spare time, Jason appreciates working with computers, firearms training, and spending time with his family. He is also an avid NDSU football fan. Jason is married to his wife, Tiffany. They live in Reile’s Acres with her sons, Tristan and Trenton, and a Shih Tzu-Bichon cross, Max.