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Anderson, Donald Arthur "Don"

Senate 1983-1990 (District 12)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/1/1934
Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 8/12/2022
Gender: Male
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Don
City of Residence (when first elected): Wadena
Occupation (when first elected): Businessman, Grocer

EDUCATION

Edison High School, Minneapolis; Secondary;
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; A.A.;
Augsburg College; B.A.; Business, history

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Agency: Assistant to the Commissioner of Transportation; [Dates Unknown]
State Governor Staff: Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson (Deputy Chief of Staff); [Dates Unknown]
Military: United States Army (2 years); 19?? to 19??

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Violet Nehrman (married on June 4, 1955)
Children: Three children: Greg, Mark, and Blaine (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Mark Anderson  - Son

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, natural resources, employment, energy, local government, transportation.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1987-88.

His funeral was at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN. He was buried at Hillside Cemetery in NE Minneapolis.

Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Agriculture Resources
  • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Commerce: Regulated Industries
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Businessman, Red Owl Grocery
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Agriculture
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Products/Processing
  • Agriculture: Agriculture Resources
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Commerce: Regulated Industries
  • Health and Human Services
  • Health and Human Services: Health and Health Financing
  • Health and Human Services: Social Services and Government Administration
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Commerce
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
  • Education
  • Education: Education Operation and Governance
  • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Energy
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 12
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Wadena
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Douglas, Otter Tail, Todd, Wadena
Occupation: Businessman, Grocer
Party: Independent Republican
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Commerce
  • Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
  • Education
  • Education: Educational Operation and Governance
  • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Energy
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: General Policy

Senate Photos

The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

Articles & Books About
Anderson, Senator Donald Arthur 'Don' (obituary). Star Tribune, August 21, 2022, p. B6.


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.