Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    Nelson, Darby Miles

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1983-88 (District 49A)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Anoka, Hennepin, Wright

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/29/1941
    Birth Place: Tower-Soudan, Minnesota
    Birth County: St. Louis
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 1/13/2022
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Champlin
    Occupation (when first elected): College Instructor, Anoka Ramsey Community College

    EDUCATION

    University of Minnesota; B.A.;
    University of Minnesota; B.S.;
    University of Minnesota; M.S.;
    University of Minnesota; Ph.D.; Zoology

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council (Appointed by Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher); 12/01/2008 to 20?? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Geri
    Children: Two children: Per and Robin
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    "He authored bills that became law in diverse environmental areas including asbestos removal, air quality, recycling and solid and hazardous waste management, pesticide regulation, prairie management and restoration, vehicle emissions inspections, creation of the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, and establishment of a user-fee system to fund cross country ski trails" (Star Tribune Obituary, January 16, 2022).

    Funeral services were held March 5, 2022 at Champlin United Methodist Church.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2191

    SESSIONS SERVED

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 49A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Champlin
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Wright
    Occupation: College Biology Teacher, Anoka-Ramsey Community College
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Appropriations
    • Appropriations: State Departments Division
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Data Practices (Chair)
    • Metropolitan Affairs
    • Metropolitan Affairs: Environment (Chair)
    • Metropolitan Affairs: Transportation

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: House
    District: 49A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Champlin
    Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/8/1985
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Wright
    Occupation: College Instructor
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Division
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
    • Regulated Industries and Energy
    • Regulated Industries and Energy: Energy
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 49A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Champlin
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Wright
    Occupation: College Instructor, Anoka Ramsey Community College
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Physical and Economic Development

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Articles & Books By

    • Nelson, Darby. For Love of a River: The Minnesota. Beaver's Pond Press, 2019.
    • Nelson, Darby. For Love of Lakes. Michigan State University Press, 2011.

    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

    Portrait of Darby Miles Nelson. c. 1985. Photo credit: Minnesota House of Representatives.

    Legislators Past & Present Home