Klaus, Walter K.
House 1957-62 (District 20); House 1963-66 (District 13); House 1967-70 (District 6A); House 1973-74 (District 25A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Dakota, Goodhue
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
4/19/1912
Birth Place:
Empire Township, Minnesota
Birth County:
Dakota
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
11/16/2012
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Farmington
Occupation (when first elected):
Farmer
EDUCATION
Farmington High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1928
Hamline University; B.A.; English
University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Virginia (married in 1968)
Children:
One child (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was a member of the Republican Party.
"He lost his first statewide political race, finishing third out of four candidates in a Senate contest." (Farmington Independent, November 20, 2012)
He "was a Minnesota Representative for 14 years and an active participant in redistricting discussions for much longer than that. Both in the House chamber and behind the scenes he helped shape Minnesota politics for decades." (Farmington Independent, November 20, 2012)
His funeral services were held November 24, 2012 at Faith United Methodist Church in Farmington.
Body: House
District: 25A
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Judiciary
-
Labor-Management Relations
Body: House
District: 06A
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Claims (Chair)
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Governmental Operations
-
Legislative Administration and Rules
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Body: House
District: 06A
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
Counties Represented:
Dakota, Goodhue
Occupation: Farmer/Teacher
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Civil Administration
-
Claims (Chair)
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
-
Rules
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Dakota
Occupation: Public Service
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Claims (Chair)
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Law Enforcement and Juvenile Delinquency
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
-
Reapportionment
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
Counties Represented:
Dakota
Occupation: Public Service
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Claims (Chair)
-
Cooperatives and Marketing
-
General Legislation
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
Elected: 11/8/1960
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/3/1961 to 1/7/1963
Counties Represented:
Dakota
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Appropriations
-
Elections
-
General Legislation
-
University
Elected: 11/4/1958
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/6/1959 to 1/2/1961
Counties Represented:
Dakota
Occupation: Farmer/Teacher
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Elections
-
Engrossment and Enrollment
-
General Legislation
-
University
Elected: 11/6/1956
Residence: Farmington
Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
Counties Represented:
Dakota
Occupation: Farmer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Elections
-
General Legislation
-
Public Institutions
-
Reapportionment
Session Notes:
His margin of victory over incumbent Frank Gallagher was only 40 votes; it is unclear whether a recount occurred.