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    Swenson, Howard

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1995-2002 (District 23B); House 2003-2004 (District 23A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 12/20/1930
    Birth Place: New Ulm, Minnesota
    Birth County: Brown
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 3/24/2024
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Nicollet
    Occupation (when first elected): Dairy Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Bethany Lutheran High School; Secondary; 1948

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Rural Finance Authority Board (8 years); [Dates Unknown]
    School Board/Administration: Nicollet, Minnesota (Board of Education, 12 years); 19?? to 19??

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Jane (married on September 13, 1952)
    Children: Five children: Julianne (Julie), Janet, Nancy, and Ruth (daughters); Paul (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Douglas G. Swenson  - Brother
    Oscar A. Swenson  - Grandfather
    Swen Swenson  - Great Grandfather
    Carl L. Swenson  - Great Uncle
    Lars Swenson  - Great Great Uncle

    GENERAL NOTES

    He had Norwegian ancestry.

    He grew up on a farm.

    His visitation will be on April 2, 2024 from 4-8 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Norseland Lutheran Church. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Norseland Lutheran Church.

    He was a lifelong member of Norseland Lutheran Church.

    Religion reported in his Obituary in the St. Peter Herald.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3654

    SESSIONS SERVED

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Nicollet
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
    Counties Represented: Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
    • Agriculture Policy (Chair) Minutes
    • Civil Law Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Nicollet
    Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Nicollet
    Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
    • Agriculture Policy Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Transportation Policy Minutes

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Nicollet
    Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
    • Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
    • Judiciary
    • Transportation and Transit Minutes
    • Transportation and Transit: Policy, Safety and Administration Minutes

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23B
    Elected: 11/8/1994
    Residence: Nicollet
    Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Dairy Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Dairy Policy and Soil and Water Conservation
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Business Regulation Division
    • Commerce, Tourism and Consumer Affairs: Consumer Affairs
    • Education
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    District Files

    2000 (23B)
    2001 (23B)
    2002 (23B)
    2003 (23B)
    2003 (23A)
    2004 (23A)
    2005 (23A)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    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.

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