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Wefald, Knut Magnus "Magnus"

Senate 1947-58 (District 49)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served:  Clay, Wilkin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 4/21/1900
Birth Place: Hawley, Minnesota
Birth County: Clay
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 2/9/1991
Gender: Male
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Magnus
City of Residence (when first elected): Hawley
Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer/Owner and Operator of Sheep Ranch and Stock Farm

EDUCATION

Hawley High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1918
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; 1923
George Washington University Law School, Washington D.C.; LL.B.; 1929; Admitted to the Minnesota Bar, 1929

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Army (World War I); 191? to 19??
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Secretary to His Father, United States Representative Knud Wefald); 1923 to 1927
Municipal Attorney: Hawley, Minnesota (Village Attorney); 1931 to 1974
Municipal Mayor: Hawley, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1934 to 193? [Elected]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners; 1936 to 1944 [Appointed]
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Historical Society, Honorary Executive Council (Named a Life Member in 1988); 1988 to 1991

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Verna M. Ellingson (married on November 22, 1924)
Children: Four children: Knut Magnus Jr., Harold Ellingson, and Martin Skree (sons); Verna Marguerite (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Knud Magnus Wefald  - Father

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Norwegian ancestry.

He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.

He died at St. John's Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. His funeral was held at the Hawley Lutheran Church in Minnesota. He was buried in the Hawley Cemetery.

Religion provided by Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958 and his obituary.

Total Days Served: 4382

SESSIONS SERVED

60th Legislative Session (1957-1958) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Finance
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Public Institutions and Buildings (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Workmens Compensation and Unemployment Insurance
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/2/1954
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/5/1959
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Finance
  • Game and Fish
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Public Institutions and Buildings (Chair)
  • Rules and Legislative Expense
  • Workmens Compensation and Unemployment Insurance

58th Legislative Session (1953-1954) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Game and Fish
  • Insurance
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Public Institutions and Buildings (Chair)
  • Railroads
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/7/1950
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/3/1955
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Livestock
  • Game and Fish
  • Insurance
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Railroads
  • Reapportionment (Chair)
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

56th Legislative Session (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/5/1946
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer/Owner and Operator of Sheep Ranch and Stock Farm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Live Stock
  • Insurance
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties

55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 49
Elected: 11/5/1946
Residence: Hawley
Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
Counties Represented: Clay, Wilkin
Occupation: Lawyer/Owner and Operator of Sheep Ranch and Stock Farm
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958.
Committees:
  • Civil Administration
  • Dairy Products and Live Stock
  • Insurance
  • Judiciary
  • Labor
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties
Articles & Books About
"Knut Wefald, Attorney for 50 Years and State Senator (Obituary)." Star Tribune, February 13, 1991. - This article states that he was a "former DFL state senator." This seems unlikely since he is listed as a Republican in Who's Who in Minnesota, 1958, and he chaired a Senate committee at a time when the Conservatives were in power.

"Knut Magnus Wefald, Former State Senator (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 12, 1991.

"Wefald, Knut Magnus." Who's Who in Minnesota. Waseca, Minnesota: Brown Printing Co., 1958.


Archive Collections
Magnus Wefald Papers, 1852-1991 (bulk 1929-1991) - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.