Swenson, Howard
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
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.
Body: House
District: 23A
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Nicollet
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Republican
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: House
District: 23B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Nicollet
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Republican
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
Body: House
District: 23B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Nicollet
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Republican
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
Body: House
District: 23B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Nicollet
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Republican
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
Body: House
District: 23B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Nicollet
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
Party:
Independent Republican
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
Articles & Books About
Lonergan, Tom. "In Their Blood: 16 Legislators Have a Family Connection to Previous Members of the House and Senate." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003, p. 16-17.
Thilmany, Jean. "Swenson Pledges 'Honesty, Integrity and Common Sense'." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 17, 1995, p. 13.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 23B
District File - 2002 District 23B
District File - 2003 District 23A
District File - 2004 District 23A
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.