House 1955-64 (District 59); House 1967-72 (District 59B); House 1973-99 (District 7A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/20/1911
Birth Place:
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Birth County:
Otter Tail
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
7/11/1999
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Evangelical Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Duluth
Occupation (when first elected):
Retail Trade/Motel Business, Operator
EDUCATION
Fergus Falls High School; Secondary; 1932
University of Minnesota, Duluth; Attended College; Extension
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission (State Grain Inspection);
19?? to 19??
State Agency:
Minnesota State Department of Agriculture, Marketing Division (Duluth, Chief of Foods Section, Office of Price Stabilization, Produce Inspector);
193? to 19??
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Martha Winter (first wife; she died in 1960, while he was in office); Widower; Frances Hotch (married in 1966; she died in November 1997, while he was in office); Widower
Children:
Two children: Patricia "Patsy/Pat" (daughter), and Willard Jr. (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was the longest serving member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for many years at 42 years, 7 months plus. His record was surpassed by Rep. Lyndon Carlson and Rep. Phyllis Kahn in 2015.
He was born and raised on a farm near Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
He ran unsuccessfully as the Farmer-Labor party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1934 election.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1952 election.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota Senate in the 1964 special election.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
The Willard Munger bicycle trail in Minnesota was named after him.
He died from liver cancer at the hospice unit in St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota while still in office. His funeral was held at Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Duluth, Minnesota. He was buried in Oneota Cemetery in West Duluth, Minnesota.
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.
Religion provided by his obituary.