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Redalen, Elton R.

House 1977-82 (District 35A); House 1983-91 (District 32B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/??/1926
Birth Place: Fountain, Minnesota
Birth County: Fillmore
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 7/10/2009
Gender: Male
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Fountain
Occupation (when first elected): Dairy Farmer

EDUCATION

Lanesboro High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; Attended College;
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio; Attended College;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Fountain, Minnesota (School Board, Chair); 19?? to 19??
Military: United States Navy (World War II, Officer, 2.5 years); 194? to 194?
State Agency: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Commissioner, Appointed by Governor Arne Carlson); 01/1991 to 06/30/1995 [Appointed]
State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Clerk Pro Tem, He was appointed so he could give his farewell speech at the House podium.); 01/08/1991 to 01/08/1991 [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Joyce (she preceded him in death)
Children: Seven children: Sharon and Jane (daughters); Craig, Gary, Steven, Donald, and Jeffrey (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was born on a farm near Fountain, Minnesota.

He died of cancer at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minnesota. His funeral was held on July 15, 2009 at Root Prairie Lutheran Church in Fountain, Minnesota.

He was a member of Root Prairie Lutheran Church in Fountain, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1979-80.

Total Days Served: 4771

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
Body: House
District: 32B
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/10/1991 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/8/1991
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
Session Notes: He was reelected but resigned shortly after being sworn in due to his appointment by Governor Arne Carlson as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. He was appointed Clerk Pro Tem so he could give his farewell speech at the House podium.

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
Body: House
District: 32B
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Environment and Natural Resources: Game and Fish
  • Labor-Management Relations
  • Labor-Management Relations: Unemployment Insurance and Workers' Compensation
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Property Tax

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
Body: House
District: 32B
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Finance Division
  • Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
  • Agriculture: Farm Programs and Policies
  • Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming
  • General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Veterans Affairs and Miscellaneous Legislation
  • Regulated Industries
  • Rules and Legislative Administration
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Property Tax Division
Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
Body: House
District: 32B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agricultural Land Use
  • Agriculture: Rural Economy
  • Regulated Industries and Energy (Chair)
  • Regulated Industries and Energy: Energy
  • Regulated Industries and Energy: Gaming (Chair)
  • Regulated Industries and Energy: Utilities
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Local Government Finance Division

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
Body: House
District: 32B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
  • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Gaming Division
  • Regulated Industries
  • Regulated Industries: Beverage
  • Regulated Industries: Special Projects
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax System Subcommittee

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Commerce and Economic Development
  • Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Affairs and Tourism
  • Regulated Industries
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Tax Laws Division

71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Higher Education Division
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Energy and Utilities: Utilities Regulation and Pricing
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Safety and General Transportation

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
Body: House
District: 35A
Elected: 12/10/1977
Residence: Fountain
Term of Office: 12/19/1977 to 12/31/1978 (Special Election)
Oath Date: 12/19/1977
Counties Represented: Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Neil Haugerud. He was sworn in on December 19, 1977.

Articles & Books About

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.