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    Otremba, Mary Ellen

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1997-2010 (District 11B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/26/1950
    Birth Place: Bertha, Minnesota
    Birth County: Todd
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 7/16/2014
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    Former Name: Mary Ellen Dinkel
    City of Residence (when first elected): Long Prairie
    Occupation (when first elected): Teacher, Family and Consumer Science, Swanville High School

    EDUCATION

    Long Prairie High School; Secondary;
    College of St. Benedict; B.A.; Home and Community Service
    St. Cloud State University; M.A.; Child and Family Studies

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Ken (before she served); Widow (while in office)
    Children: Four children: Andrew, Timothy, Kateri, and Elizabeth
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Ken Otremba  - Husband
    Steve Dehler  - Cousin-in-Law

    GENERAL NOTES

    She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

    Her funeral was held at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4800

    SESSIONS SERVED

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
    Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs (Chair) Minutes
    • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
    • Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
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    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
    Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs (Chair) Minutes
    • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes - Ex Officio Member
    • Finance Minutes
    • Finance: Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Health Care and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Minutes
    • Health and Human Services: Mental Health Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
    Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Minutes
    • Health Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Health Policy and Finance: Health Care Cost Containment Division Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Todd
    Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture Policy Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Policy Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
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    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Policy Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Teacher/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 11B
    Elected: 11/4/1997
    Residence: Long Prairie
    Term of Office: 11/13/1997 to 1/4/1999 (Special Election)
    Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
    Occupation: Teacher, Family and Consumer Science, Swanville High School
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture Minutes
    • Education Minutes
    • Health and Human Services Minutes
    • Health and Human Services: Health and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    Session Notes: She won the seat held by her husband, Ken Otremba, before his death in September 1997.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Brown, Jason C. "Todd County Loses True Advocate." Long Prairie Leader, July 18, 2014.

    Kimball, Joe. "Mary Ellen Otremba, Who Served 13 Years in the Minnesota House, Died Thursday at 63." MinnPost, July 18, 2014.

    Edenloff, Al. "Mary Ellen Otremba, Long-Time Legislator, Passes Away." Alexandria Echo Press, July 17, 2014

    Sommerhauser, Mark. "Former Lawmaker Mary Ellen Otremba Remembered for Common Touch." St. Cloud Times, July 17, 2014.

    Radomski, Lauren. "Agriculture Advocate Bids Adieu." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, June 1, 2010, p. 43.

    Donovan, Sandra. "Otremba Wins House Seat in November Special Election." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 23, 1998, p. 16.

    Edenloff, Al. "Ex-Lawmaker Remembered for Her Dedication to Public Service." Pioneer Press, July 20, 2014.



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

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