Bischoff, Bernard J. "Barney"
House 1969-70 (District 63)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/27/1931
Birth Place:
Hibbing, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
7/5/1980
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Barney
City of Residence (when first elected):
Hibbing
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney; Firm of Nickoloff, Bischoff and Matonich
EDUCATION
Hibbing High School; Secondary; Graduate
Hibbing Junior College; Junior College/Community College; Graduate
Iowa State University; B.S.; Chemical Engineering
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Municipal Attorney:
Stuntz, Minnesota (Town Attorney);
19?? to 19??
Military:
United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division (Paratrooper);
1954 to 1956
Judge:
Hibbing, Minnesota (Municipal Court Judge);
1972 to 1976
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Grace
Children:
Ten children: Bernard, Jerome "Jerry", and Joel (sons); Gail, Anita, Nancy, Marie, LeAnn, Tara, and Maila (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
His obituary identified him as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 1970 election.
He was involved in a contested election with Jack Fena after the 1968 election. He was charged with campaign violations related to false claims in his ads. He was seated and took the oath of office on the first day of session. On February 7, 1969 the Minnesota House of Representatives determined that he was not legally elected. He was unseated by a 85-49 vote. Some members, at the time, objected that it should have been under Art. IV Sec. 4 (now Sec. 7), requiring a 2/3rds vote. The seat was declared vacant and a special election was held. He won the special election.
He was a member of the Hibbing Moose and Elks Lodges and Rotary Club. He was president of the Hibbing Jaycees. He was a 3rd and 4th degree Knights of Columbus.
He died at Hibbing General Hospital after a swimming accident in Sand Lake. His funeral was held at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Hibbing, Minnesota. He was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1969-70.
Elected: 3/11/1969
Residence: Hibbing
Term of Office: 3/20/1969 to 1/4/1971
(Special Election)
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Attorney; Firm of Nickoloff, Bischoff and Matonich
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: His obituary identified him as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.
Committees:
-
Claims
-
Financial Institutions and Securities
-
Higher Education
-
Highways
-
Judiciary
Session Notes:
He was involved in a contested election with Jack Fena after the 1968 election. He was charged with campaign violations related to false claims in his ads. He was seated and took the oath of office on the first day of session. On February 7, 1969 the Minnesota House of Representatives determined that he was not legally elected. He was unseated by a 85-49 vote. The seat was declared vacant and a special election was held. He won the special election.
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Hibbing
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 2/7/1969
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation: Attorney; Firm of Nickoloff, Bischoff and Matonich
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Party Notes: His obituary identified him as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.
Committees:
Reason for unfinished term:
Other - See Notes
Session Notes:
He was involved in a contested election with Jack Fena after the 1968 election. He was charged with campaign violations related to false claims in his ads. He was seated and took the oath of office on the first day of session. On February 7, 1969 the Minnesota House of Representatives determined that he was not legally elected. He was unseated by a 85-49 vote. The seat was declared vacant and a special election was held. He won the special election.
Articles & Books About
"Ex-Legislator Bischoff Dies After Lake Accident (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 7, 1980.
"Former Legislator B. Bischoff Dead (Obituary)." Hibbing Daily Tribune, July 7, 1980.
"Former Legislator Bischoff Dies (Obituary)." Minneapolis Tribune, July 7, 1980.
"Rites Are Set for Bischoff, Ex-Legislator (Obituary). St. Paul Dispatch, July 7, 1980.
Fena v. Bischoff (1968), Minnesota Journal of the House, 1969.
- Cover sheet and various pages from the Minnesota Journal of the House, 1969 related to the contested 1968 election.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.