Roland Peek, retired chief psychologist for Minnesota

Roland Peek, retired chief psychologist for the state of Minnesota, believed the state's mental patients needed to be treated in a dignified and humane way.

Peek, who helped oversee a sea change in mental health care, when society began to close its mental institutions and move patients to community and home care, died May 8 in St. Paul. He was 87.

"He was very concerned about people being treated in very humane ways," said Sam Scher of St. Paul, a psychologist and former colleague.

Peek grew up on a farm near Freeborn, Minn. In 1940, he earned an associate degree in chemistry in Albert Lea, and in 1942, a bachelor's degree in English education from the University of Minnesota.

After military service in the Pacific during World War II, he returned to the university.

Peek completed most of his Ph.D. requirements in clinical psychology but put school on hold to take the job of chief psychologist of Hastings State Hospital in 1951.

His son, Charles, (C. J.) of Minneapolis, also a psychologist, said his father was a pioneer in Minnesota, especially in how treatment is organized.

While at Hastings, Peek helped establish mental health research and an internship program for University of Minnesota students.

He received his Ph.D. in psychology in 1968 and soon was back at work as a state employee, rising to chief of psychological services for what is now the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Treating patients as people

There, he was responsible for advising and evaluating mental health agencies throughout Minnesota, defining the role of psychologists, recruiting them and training them, said his son.

"He treated the patients as people in his everyday contacts with them," said his son. "He was institutionalizing that attitude."

Peek lived in Grey Cloud Island on the Mississippi River for 50 years and was a former board chairman of the township, helping lead a fight against development.

From the 1960s to the early 1980s, Peek served in township leadership posts, including board president for six years.

J.L. Shiely sand and gravel company had been mining in the area beginning in the early 1950s and was instrumental in the life of the small community.

Peek's son, Tom of Volcano, Hawaii, said that when the firm wanted to expand operations in the 1960s and 1970s, Peek and others fought the rezoning required, and successfully won seats on the township's board.

"He was critical in stopping that development" and establishing rules regulating mining operations in Grey Cloud Island, said Tom Peek.

In retirement he enjoyed photography, writing a memoir, birding and boating along the Mississippi.

Mary, his wife of 58 years, died in 2004. In addition to his sons, he is survived by his daughter, Anne, of Bloomington; brother, Kenneth, of Newbury Park, Calif., and five grandchildren.