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    Anderson, Donald Arthur "Don"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1983-1990 (District 12)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 5/1/1934
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 8/12/2022
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Don
    City of Residence (when first elected): Wadena
    Occupation (when first elected): Businessman, Grocer

    EDUCATION

    Edison High School, Minneapolis; Secondary;
    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; A.A.;
    Augsburg College; B.A.; Business, history

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Agency: Assistant to the Commissioner of Transportation; [Dates Unknown]
    State Governor Staff: Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson (Deputy Chief of Staff); [Dates Unknown]
    Military: United States Army (2 years); 19?? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Violet Nehrman (married on June 4, 1955)
    Children: Three children: Greg, Mark, and Blaine (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Mark Anderson  - Son

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, natural resources, employment, energy, local government, transportation.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1987-88.

    His funeral was at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN. He was buried at Hillside Cemetery in NE Minneapolis.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2926

    SESSIONS SERVED

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: Senate
    District: 12
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Wadena
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Agriculture Resources
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Regulated Industries
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
    • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: Senate
    District: 12
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Wadena
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Businessman, Red Owl Grocery
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Products/Processing
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Resources
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Regulated Industries
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
    • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 12
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Wadena
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Commerce
    • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
    • Education
    • Education: Education Operation and Governance
    • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
    • Energy and Housing
    • Energy and Housing: Energy
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 12
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Wadena
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Commerce
    • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
    • Education
    • Education: Educational Operation and Governance
    • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
    • Energy and Housing
    • Energy and Housing: Energy
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy

    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.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Photographs

    Senator James Vickerman, Senator Don Anderson, and Senator Robert Decker confer during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
    Senator Don Anderson listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1985. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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