Rogosheske, Walter F.
House 1943-48 (District 45)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Benton, Sherburne
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
7/12/1914
Birth Place:
Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
5/15/1998
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Sauk Rapids
Occupation (when first elected):
Lawyer
EDUCATION
Trinity Lutheran School, Sauk Rapids; Elementary School;
Sauk Rapids High School; Secondary; Graduate
St. Cloud State Teachers College; Attended College; 1932-33
Valparaiso University, Indiana; Attended College; 1933-34
University of Minnesota; B.S.L.; 1937
University of Minnesota, Law School; LL.B.; 1939; Admitted to the Bar, January 1940
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Armed Forces (World War II);
1943 to 1945
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Minneapolis-St. Paul Airports Commission (Chair);
06/13/1949 to 03/1950
[Appointed]
Judge:
Minnesota's Judicial District Court (District Court Judge; First Appointed by Governor Luther Youngdahl, Then Elected);
03/01/1950 to 1962
[Appointed]
Judge:
Minnesota Supreme Court (Associate Justice; First Appointed by Governor Elmer L. Andersen, Then Elected);
02/01/1962 to 09/07/1980
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Dorothy Heywood (married in 1940)
Children:
Five children (Two children, while in office): James "Jim" (while in office), Tom (while in office), Mark (he worked for the Minnesota House of Representatives), and Paul (sons); Mary Alice (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was born and grew up in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. He moved to Little Falls, Minnesota in 1950 when he was appointed to the District Court. He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in June 1962.
"...six years as a Republican legislator..." (Obituary, Star Tribune, May 16, 1998)
He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1948 election. He lost to John T. Kosloske by 61 votes. He didn't contest the election.
He was the House chief author of the 1945 Area Vocational School bill.
He became a Lecturer at the University of Minnesota Law School in 1950.
He died from a heart attack after battling pneumonia in a hospital. His funeral was held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church when he lived in Little Falls, Minnesota. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church when he lived in Sauk Rapids. He was a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church when he lived in St. Paul.
Religion provided by newspaper articles.
Elected: 11/5/1946
Residence: Sauk Rapids
Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
Counties Represented:
Benton, Sherburne
Occupation: Lawyer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "...six years as a Republican legislator..." (Obituary, Star Tribune, May 16, 1998)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
General Legislation (Chair)
-
Judiciary
-
Taxes
Elected: 11/7/1944
Residence: Sauk Rapids
Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
Counties Represented:
Benton, Sherburne
Occupation: Lawyer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "...six years as a Republican legislator..." (Obituary, Star Tribune, May 16, 1998)
Committees:
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
General Legislation
-
Judiciary
-
Taxes
Session Notes:
He was released from the United States Army in order to serve in the 1945 session.
Elected: 11/3/1942
Residence: Sauk Rapids
Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 7/12/1943
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Benton, Sherburne
Occupation: Lawyer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Party Notes: "...six years as a Republican legislator..." (Obituary, Star Tribune, May 16, 1998)
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Civil Administration
-
Education
-
Judiciary
Reason for unfinished term:
Resigned
Session Notes:
He resigned after the regular session in order to serve in the United States Army. His official term end date is uncertain. The date listed is his birthday since his Star Tribune obituary says he was 29 when he resigned to join the Army.
Articles & Books By
Rogosheske, W.F. Campaign Letter, 1948.
- Salutation was printed as Dead Friend rather than Dear Friend.
Rogosheske, Mark. "Memoirs: Legislative Career, Area Vocational School Beginnings, Metropolitan Airports Commission, District Court Appointment, and Supreme Court Appointment."
Articles & Books About
"Longtime Judge Walter Rogosheske Dies (Obituary)." Star Tribune, May 16, 1998.
- This article indicates that he lost his reelection bid in 1948 by 12 votes. The election results show it was by 61 votes.
Walter Rogosheske, Former Minnesota Justice, Dies at 83 (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 16, 1998.
Minnesota Supreme Court. "Walter F. Rogosheske." Biographical Sketches of Justices of the Minnesota Supreme Court and Judges of the Minnesota Court of Appeals from Territorial Days to 1990, St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Company, 1990, p. 30.
"Rogosheske is First Little Falls Resident to Become Supreme Court Justice." Little Falls Daily Transcript, January 23, 1962.
"Rogosheske Named to Supreme Court Bench." St. Cloud Daily Times, January 23, 1962.
G.W.J. "Rogosheske to High Court." Little Falls Daily Transcript, January 23, 1962, p. 2.
"New District Judge May Be Named Soon." St. Cloud Daily Times?, January, 1962.
Clark, Kathy. "Old Friends Happy at 'Right Choice.'" St. Cloud Daily Times?, January, 1962.
United Veterans' Committee. Gestapo Campaign Brochure, 1948.
"Reporters Pick Top 20. 'Most Valuable' Legislators Named." Minneapolis Star, April 28, 1947, p. 14.
"Rogosheski [sic] and Bensen Merge. Benton County Attorney Announces His Partnership with New Graduate." St. Cloud Sentinel, February 8, 1940.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.