Relph, Jerry
Senate 2017-2020 (District 14)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
9/4/1944
Birth Place:
Boston, Massachusetts
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
12/18/2020
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Cloud
Occupation (when first elected):
Retired
EDUCATION
Carleton College; B.A.; Philosophy, 1966
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1974
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
Marine Corps (Vietnam);
? to 1970
Municipal Attorney:
St. Charles, Minnesota (City Attorney);
[Dates Unknown]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Colette (married in 1972; she died in 1999); Remarried Pegi Broker-Relph in 2002
Children:
Two children (Kerry and Dana) and four stepchildren (Laura, Carl, Steven, and Eric)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He died of COVID-19 while in office.
Body: Senate
District: 14
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 12/18/2020
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Retired
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Family Care and Aging
-
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
-
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
-
Local Government
Reason for unfinished term:
Death
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Body: Senate
District: 14
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 12/18/2020
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Retired
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
-
Capital Investment
-
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
-
Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
-
Local Government
Reason for unfinished term:
Death
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over Dan Wolgamott was only 148 votes so an automatic recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 141 votes.
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
Articles & Books About
Orenstein, Walker. "GOP Sen. Relph Remembered for Work on Mental Health Issues." MinnPost, December 21, 2020.
Bierschbach, Briana. "Sen. Relph Dies from COVID-19: St. Cloud Republican is First Fatality Among State Legislators." Star Tribune, December 19, 2020, p. B1.
Hertel, Nora G. "St. Cloud Sen. Jerry Relph, who tested positive for COVID-19, has died." St. Cloud Times, December 18, 2020.
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.