Former Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson Dies

St. Paul, MN – Wendell Anderson, who represented Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party as governor, United States Senator, and state legislator, died Sunday at the age of 83.

Anderson was surrounded by his family and friends when he passed at Our Lady of Peace hospice care in St. Paul, according to a news release.

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Memorial service arrangements for Anderson will be announced in the coming days.

Anderson's family released the following statement:

Anderson is survived by his three children, Amy Anderson, Elizabeth Crow, and Brett Anderson; and five grandchildren.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Anderson.

"Governor Anderson was one of Minnesota's greatest governors," Dayton said in a statement.

"His transformational ‘Minnesota miracle’ – which he achieved through one of the most momentous bipartisan agreements in our state’s history – has dramatically improved the quality of our state's public education."

The Life and Service of Governor Wendell Anderson
Anderson was born on February 1, 1933, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Johnson High School, and went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where he played collegiate hockey from 1951 to 1954.

Anderson later earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, winning a silver medal in the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

After serving in ROTC at the University of Minnesota, Anderson enlisted in the United States Army. He served through 1957.

In 1958, while attending law school at the University of Minnesota, Anderson ran for and was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 26, and was re-elected in 1960.

Anderson was elected to serve in the Minnesota Senate in 1962 and 1966. He also served as chairman of Hubert H. Humphrey’s 1968 presidential campaign in Minnesota.

In 1970, then-Senator Anderson ran for governor. At the age of 37, Anderson became one of the youngest governors in Minnesota’s history, serving from January 1971 through December 1976.

One of his signature accomplishments in office was securing the what became known as the "Minnesota miracle," a bipartisan agreement that reformed the financing of Minnesota’s public schools and local governments.

In 1976, Anderson succeeded Vice President Walter Mondale in the United States Senate. Anderson served as a member of the Senate from 1976 through 1978, concluding his 20-year career in elected office.

Following his service in public office, Anderson practiced law, worked on various business ventures, and served as a political commentator and mentor.

Anderson was also an honorary consul general for Sweden, and served on the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents from 1985 until 1997.

He married Mary Christine McKee of Bemidji, Minnesota in 1963.

Photo via Minnesota Legislative Reference Library