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Anderson, Donald Arthur "Don"

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.

Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

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

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
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
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
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
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
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

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
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

Articles & Books About

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. 1/1/1987. Senator James Vickerman, Senator Don Anderson, and Senator Robert Decker confer during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:
Senator Don Anderson listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/1/1985. Senator Don Anderson listens in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit:


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.