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    Eken, Willis Roy

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1971-72 (District 66A); House 1973-84 (District 2B)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 4/12/1931
    Birth Place: Ada, Minnesota
    Birth County: Norman
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 5/8/2010
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Twin Valley
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Twin Valley High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1949

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Betty
    Children: Four children: Loren, Lee, Kyle, and Bernhard Kent "Kent" (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Kent Eken  - Son

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    He served as President of the Minnesota Farmers Union from 1984-1991.

    His Star Tribune obituary reported that his political career began with advocating for improved education for special needs children. He was the father of a son with an intellectual disability.

    He died, of complications related to Alzheimer's Disease, at Twin Valley Living Center in Twin Valley, Minnesota. His funeral was held on May 18, 2010 at Zion Lutheran Church in Twin Valley, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 4958

    SESSIONS SERVED

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 8/1/1984 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farming
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Farm Policies and Programs
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Permanent Rules (Chair)
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Economic Development Division
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He resigned on August 1, 1984. A Majority Leader was not elected to finish his term; rather Harry A. Sieben, the Speaker of the House, appointed himself to the position.
    Reason for unfinished term: Resigned
    Session Notes: He resigned on August 1, 1984 to become President of the Minnesota Farmers Union. A special election was not held for this seat.

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Reapportionment and Elections
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Permanent Rules (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Personnel (Chair)
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    Leadership Position: Majority Leader
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Programs and Policies
    • Education
    • Education: School Aids Division (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1979 only.]
    • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) [He was the Chair in 1980 only.]
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Division II - Property and Natural Resources Division

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
    Counties Represented: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Education
    • Education: School Aids Division (Chair)
    • Taxes
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: State Departments Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 02B
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
    Counties Represented: Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: State Departments Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Local Government
    • Transportation
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 66A
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Twin Valley
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Norman, Polk
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Environmental Preservation
    • Local Government
    • Transportation

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Adams, Jim. "Willis Eken, Former House Majority Leader." Star Tribune, May 14, 2010, p. B6.

    Dunn, Ruth. "Like Father, Like Son/Daughter: Legislative Service is Family Affair for Six Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 22, 2005, p. 20.

    Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.


    Archive Collections
    Willis R. Eken Papers, 1978-1984 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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