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    Friedrich, Donald Lawrence "Don"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1975-81 (District 32B)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Dodge, Olmsted

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/7/1929
    Birth Place: Rochester, Minnesota
    Birth County: Olmsted
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 5/8/2021
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Don
    City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester
    Occupation (when first elected): Beef Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Rochester High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1947

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    County Board/Commissioner: Olmsted County, Minnesota (Planning Commission, 8 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Navy (4 years); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Government: Marion, Minnesota (Township Supervisor, 9 years); 19?? to 19??
    U.S. Executive Branch: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service, Minnesota (Director); 06/1981 to 1990 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Betty Kach (married on May 31, 1953)
    Children:
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

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

    He was a forty-eight year member of the American Legion.

    His funeral was held on May 12, 2021 at 11:00AM at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester. He was buried at Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery of Rochester.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2339

    SESSIONS SERVED

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 6/1/1981 (unfinished term)
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Beef Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Liquor
    • Regulated Industries
    • Regulated Industries: Rates Under Bond-Interim Rates
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Election Contests
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Trunk Highways
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed Director of the Minnesota Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service in Summer 1981. Official term end date is uncertain due to his appointment to federal office.
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Beef Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce, Economic Development and Housing
    • Commerce, Economic Development and Housing: Tourism and Consumer Protection
    • Energy and Utilities
    • Energy and Utilities: Utilities Regulation and Pricing (Chair)
    • Governmental Operations [He served in 1980 only.]
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Bridges and Highways

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Beef Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    term photo
    Click to view

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Rochester
    Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/7/1975
    Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted
    Occupation: Beef Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Deinstitutionalization
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "Donald 'Don' Friedrich." Rochester Post Bulletin, May 10, 2021.

    News Sources

    The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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