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    Mehrkens, Lyle George

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    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
    term photo
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    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    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

    OTHER INFORMATION

    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: This 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: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

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