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Swenson, Howard

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1995-2002 (District 23B); House 2003-2004 (District 23A)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 12/20/1930

Birth Place: New Ulm, Minnesota

Birth County: Brown

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 3/24/2024

Gender: Male

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Nicollet

Occupation (when first elected): Dairy Farmer

EDUCATION

Bethany Lutheran High School; Secondary; 1948

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Rural Finance Authority Board (8 years); [Dates Unknown]

School Board/Administration: Nicollet, Minnesota (Board of Education, 12 years); 19?? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Jane (married on September 13, 1952)
Children: Five children: Julianne (Julie), Janet, Nancy, and Ruth (daughters); Paul (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Douglas G. Swenson - Brother
Oscar A. Swenson - Grandfather
Swen Swenson - Great Grandfather
Carl L. Swenson - Great Uncle
Lars Swenson - Great Great Uncle

GENERAL NOTES

He had Norwegian ancestry.

He grew up on a farm.

His visitation will be on April 2, 2024 from 4-8 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Norseland Lutheran Church. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Norseland Lutheran Church.

He was a lifelong member of Norseland Lutheran Church.

Religion reported in his Obituary in the St. Peter Herald.

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Total Days Served: 3654

SESSIONS SERVED

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 23A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
Agriculture Policy (Chair) Minutes
Civil Law Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/5/1999

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
Agriculture Policy Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Transportation Policy Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
Judiciary
Transportation and Transit Minutes
Transportation and Transit: Policy, Safety and Administration Minutes

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: House

District: 23B

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Nicollet

Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/3/1995

Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

Occupation: Dairy Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture
Agriculture: Dairy Policy and Soil and Water Conservation
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs
Education

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OTHER INFORMATION

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.

District News Files

2000 (23B)

2001 (23B)

2002 (23B)

2003 (23A)

2004 (23A)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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