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Klaus, Walter K.

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of Farmington
Farmington, MN

House 1957-62 (District 20); House 1963-66 (District 13); House 1967-70 (District 6A); House 1973-74 (District 25A)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served:  Dakota, Goodhue

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 04/19/1912 Date of Death: 11/16/2012
Birth Place: Empire Township, Minnesota Birth County: Dakota Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Not Reported
City of Residence (when first elected):  Farmington

Occupation (when first elected):  Farmer

EDUCATION

Farmington High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1928
Hamline University; B.A.; English
University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Virginia (married in 1968)
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was a member of the Republican Party.

"He lost his first statewide political race, finishing third out of four candidates in a Senate contest." (Farmington Independent, November 20, 2012)

He "was a Minnesota Representative for 14 years and an active participant in redistricting discussions for much longer than that. Both in the House chamber and behind the scenes he helped shape Minnesota politics for decades." (Farmington Independent, November 20, 2012)

His funeral services were held November 24, 2012 at Faith United Methodist Church in Farmington.

Legislative Session: 68th (1973-1974)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/7/1972 Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
District: 25A Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Appropriations Subcommittee: State Departments Division
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Judiciary
Labor-Management Relations
Legislative Session: 66th (1969-1970)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/5/1968 Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
District: 06A Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Claims (Chair)
Elections and Reapportionment
Governmental Operations
Legislative Administration and Rules
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Legislative Session: 65th (1967-1968)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/8/1966 Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
District: 06A Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer/Teacher
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Civil Administration
Claims (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Rules
Legislative Session: 64th (1965-1966)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/3/1964 Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
District: 13 Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Public Service
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Claims (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Law Enforcement and Juvenile Delinquency
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Reapportionment
Legislative Session: 63rd (1963-1964)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/6/1962 Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
District: 13 Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Public Service
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Claims (Chair)
Cooperatives and Marketing
General Legislation
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Legislative Session: 62nd (1961-1962)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/8/1960 Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
District: 20 Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Appropriations
Elections
General Legislation
University
Legislative Session: 61st (1959-1960)   Session Details
Body: House Elected: 11/4/1958 Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
District: 20 Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Farmer/Teacher
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Elections
Engrossment and Enrollment
General Legislation
University
Legislative Session: 60th (1957-1958)   Session Details term photo
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Body: House Elected: 11/6/1956 Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
District: 20 Residence: Farmington
Counties Represented: Dakota
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Appropriations
Elections
General Legislation
Public Institutions
Reapportionment
Session Notes: His margin of victory over incumbent Frank Gallagher was only 40 votes; it is unclear whether a recount occurred.

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
"Longtime local legislator Walter Klaus has died." Farmington Independent, November 20, 2012.

Report of the Committee on Ethics - Walter Klaus. Minnesota Journal of the House, March 11, 1974, p. 5866-5873.




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

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