Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links > >

Otremba, Mary Ellen

House 1997-2010 (District 11B)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/26/1950
Birth Place: Bertha, Minnesota
Birth County: Todd
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 7/16/2014
Gender: Female
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Former Name: Mary Ellen Dinkel
City of Residence (when first elected): Long Prairie
Occupation (when first elected): Teacher, Family and Consumer Science, Swanville High School

EDUCATION

Long Prairie High School; Secondary;
College of St. Benedict; B.A.; Home and Community Service
St. Cloud State University; M.A.; Child and Family Studies

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Ken (before she served); Widow (while in office)
Children: Four children: Andrew, Timothy, Kateri, and Elizabeth
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Ken Otremba  - Husband
Steve Dehler  - Cousin-in-Law

GENERAL NOTES

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

Her funeral was held at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Total Days Served: 4799

SESSIONS SERVED

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs (Chair) Minutes
  • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
  • Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs (Chair) Minutes
  • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes - Ex Officio Member
  • Finance Minutes
  • Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
  • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Minutes
  • Health and Human Services: Mental Health Division Minutes

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development Minutes
  • Health Policy and Finance Minutes
  • Health Policy and Finance: Health Care Cost Containment Division Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture Policy Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Policy Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Policy Minutes
  • Ways and Means Minutes
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 11B
Elected: 11/4/1997
Residence: Long Prairie
Term of Office: 11/13/1997 to 1/3/1999 (Special Election)
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Teacher, Family and Consumer Science, Swanville High School
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Agriculture Minutes
  • Education Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Minutes
  • Health and Human Services: Health and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
Session Notes: She won the seat held by her husband, Ken Otremba, before his death in September 1997.

Articles & Books About

District Files

2001 (11B)
2002 (11B)
2003 (11B)
2004 (11B)
2005 (11B)
2007 (11B)
2008 (11B)
2009 (11B)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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.