Senate 1971-72 (District 7); Senate 1973-82 (District 24); Senate 1983-90 (District 25)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served: Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Scott, Waseca
Faribault High School; Secondary; Graduate
Spouse: Rosie (Rosemond) Children: Six children: Judy, Jane, Jim, Joe, Mary, and Amy Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Special Legislative Concerns: transportation, agriculture, finance, natural resources.He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.According to a Pioneer Press article at the time of his retirement, he was known for his malapropisms. Two examples were given-- "correct me if I'm right" and "being in the Legislature is no bed of gravy." ("Retiring Purfeest gave Senate colleagues load of malapropisms." St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 22, 1990)His malapropisms came to be known as "Purfer-isms." (Star Tribune obituary, October 21, 2017).
The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.