House 1979-82 (District 21A); Senate 1983-2002 (District 15); Senate 2003-2006 (District 13)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Stearns, Yellow Medicine
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
6/24/1947
Birth Place:
Lanesboro, Minnesota
Birth County:
Fillmore
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Willmar
Occupation (when first elected):
Clergy/Chaplain, Minnesota Army National Guard/Former Pastor Calvary Lutheran Church, Willmar
EDUCATION
Lanesboro High School; Secondary;
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; B.A.; Business Administration
Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul; M.Div.; Master of Divinity
U.S. Army War College; M.S.S.; Strategic Studies, 2002
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
Minnesota Army National Guard;
19?? to 2???
Municipal Government:
Willmar, Minnesota (Fire Department);
19?? to 19??
Municipal Council/Aldermen:
Willmar, Minnesota (City Council);
1977 to 1978
[Elected]
Board of Regents:
University of Minnesota;
2007 to 2013
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single (when first elected); Avonelle (first listed in 1985, she died in 2005 while he was in office); Widower
Children:
One child
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: criminal justice, business climate, agriculture, welfare reform, transportation, public education, rural economic development, telecommunications, taxes.
He grew up on a farm.
He served as Senate Minority Leader as an Independent Republican member and Senate Majority Leader as a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member.
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.