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Mehrkens, Lyle George

House 1979-82 (District 25B); Senate 1983-92 (District 26)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/7/1937
Birth Place: Featherstone, Minnesota
Birth County: Goodhue
Birth Country:
Date of Death: 1/21/2018
Gender: Male
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Red Wing
Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

Red Wing High School; Secondary; 1956
University of Minnesota, School of Agriculture; College Graduate; 1958

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: National Guard (9 years); 19?? to ?

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Karen Erickson (married on May 29, 1959)
Children: Two children: Todd and Leah
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: transportation, education.

His religion was reported in his obituary. (Red Wing Eagle, January 23, 2018)

His memorial service was held on January 26, 2018, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Red Wing. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Total Days Served: 5117

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
Body: Senate
District: 26
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona
Occupation: Realtor
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Consumer Protection/Regulated Industries (Liquor)
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Education
  • Education: Early Childhood/Special Populations
  • Education: Education Funding Division
  • Education: Joint Senate/House Libraries
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Regulation Division
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Commercial Policy
  • Transportation: Public Transportation

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
Body: Senate
District: 26
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Funding Division
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation and Semi-States Division
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy, Rural and Commercial
  • Veterans and Military Affairs

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
Body: Senate
District: 26
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Aids Division
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation and Semi-States Division
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy and Rural and Commercial
  • Veterans

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
Body: Senate
District: 26
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/4/1983
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Aids
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
Body: Senate
District: 26
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/4/1983
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Olmsted, Wabasha, Winona
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Education Aids
  • Finance
  • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Semi-States
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
Body: House
District: 25B
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Wabasha
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Semi-State Division
  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Corrections
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Safety

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
Body: House
District: 25B
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Red Wing
Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979
Counties Represented: Goodhue, Wabasha
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Appropriations
  • Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division
  • Appropriations: Semi-State Division
  • Judiciary
  • Judiciary: Judiciary Law Reform
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Bridges and Highways

Articles & Books About

  • "Lyle G. Mehrkens" (obituary), Red Wing Eagle, January 23, 2018.

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.

Photographs

Senator Lyle Mehrkens examines proposed legislation during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
Senator Lyle Mehrkens testifies in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1983-1986. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..