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    Olson, Catherina "Katy"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1987-92 (District 28B); House 1993-94 (District 22B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Redwood, Watonwan

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/24/1928
    Birth Place: Rock Valley, Iowa
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 8/14/2011
    Gender: Female
    Religion: United Methodist, Evangelical
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Katy
    Former Name: Gaalswyk
    City of Residence (when first elected): Sherburn
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Trimont High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1946
    Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; Attended College;
    Mankato State University; Attended College;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Region 9 Development Commission; 19?? to 19??
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Board of Teaching; 19?? to 19??
    School Board/Administration: Trimont, Minnesota (School Board, 10 years); 19?? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Robert "Bob" R. Olson (married on November 13, 1948)
    Children: Five children: Cindy, Shirley, Robin, and Amy (daughters); Kent (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    She died at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Her funeral was held at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Trimont, Minnesota. She was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Trimont, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by her obituary.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2919

    SESSIONS SERVED

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 22B
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Sherburn
    Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Redwood, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer/Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
    • Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
    • Education
    • Education: Education Standards
    • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division
    • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Education Reform
    • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division: Secondary Vocational
    • Housing
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Personnel
    • Transportation and Transit
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Sherburn
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
    • Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: Small Business
    • Education
    • Education: Education Finance Division
    • Energy
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Sherburn
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
    • Economic Development
    • Economic Development: Rural Resource Development Division
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Division
    • Transportation

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Sherburn
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Watonwan
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Finance Division
    • Agriculture: International Trade, Farm Commodities, Agri-Business and Marketing
    • Economic Development and Housing
    • Economic Development and Housing: Rural Development
    • Education
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety
    • Transportation: Transportation Carriers

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Catherina 'Katy' Olson (Obituary)." Fairmont Sentinel, August 18, 2011.

    "Three More House Members Step Down." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 13, 1994, p. 47.


    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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