House 1985-2002 (District 2A); House 2003-2010 (District 1B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
2/19/1923
Birth Place:
Greenwood, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
8/23/2020
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Bernie
City of Residence (when first elected):
Crookston
Occupation (when first elected):
Engineer
EDUCATION
Rockford High School; Secondary;
University of Illinois; Attended College; Engineering
Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana; Attended College; Engineering
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Army (World War II; France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany; Infantryman, Private);
1943 to 1946
County Government:
Polk County, Minnesota (Engineer);
1947 to 1984
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Shirley Bleck (married in 1952; she died while he was in office in 2000); Widower
Children:
Three children: Susan, Heidi, and Jane
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was of German ancestry.
He grew up in Hanover, Minnesota.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2010 election. He lost to Debra Kiel by only 131 votes but he declined to seek a recount.
Of those legislators with known birth dates, he was one of the oldest legislators to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. Rep. Willard Munger was first at 88 years 6 months when he died in office. Rep. Bernie Lieder was second at 87 years and 10 months at the end of his term. Rep. Ron Erhardt was third at 87 years and 2 months at the end of his term in office.
He was the last WWII vet to serve in the state House (Star Tribune Obituary, 9/15/20).
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.