Becklin, Robert C.
House 1963-66 (District 21); House 1967-72 (District 21B)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Chisago, Isanti
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
5/17/1926
Birth Place:
Braham, Minnesota
Birth County:
Isanti
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
8/10/2012
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Cambridge
Occupation (when first elected):
General Manager, Rum River Charcoal Co.
EDUCATION
Cambridge High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1944
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Governor's Small Business Advisory Council Task Force (Chair);
19?? to 19??
Military:
United States Army (World War II, Pacific Theatre);
1945 to 1947
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Joyce Hiljus (married on September 18, 1948)
Children:
Three children: Bob, Barry (sons); Jani (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He lived in Cambridge, Minnesota his entire life.
"Upon returning home [from the service], Becklin went to work as a railway mail clerk on the trains between Minneapolis and Chicago, a position he held until 1955 when he transferred to Cambridge to be a rural mail carrier. In 1955, Becklin joined three others in founding the former charcoal plant, Rum River Charcoal, located south of Isanti. Upon leaving the Postal Service he managed the plant and served as president until it was sold to Husky Industries (now Royal Oak Charcoal) in 1966. He continued to work with Husky as division manager until 1971, when he was elected president of the Peoples State Bank (now Peoples Bank of Commerce), a position he held for 23 years." (Obituary, Isanti County News, August 13, 2011)
"In 1962, upon leaving the US Postal Service, Becklin was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives from Isanti and Chisago Counties and was reelected to five successive terms. He served as chairman of the Conservation Committee for three years and the National Wildlife Society honored Becklin as the Conservation Legislator of the Year in 1969. During his time in the Legislature, he authored and passed the act creating the Cambridge Community College and a bill to manage Minnesota's shorelands, just two of his numerous legislative accomplishments." (Obituary, Isanti County News, August 13, 2012)
"Becklin was elected to the Board of Trustees of Memorial Hospital in Cambridge in 1966 and served for 29 years. He also served on the Minnesota Hospital Association Board of Trustees for 10 years. The Association selected Becklin as Minnesota Hospital Trustee of the Year in 1990." (Obituary, Isanti County News, August 13, 2012)
His funeral was held at Cambridge Lutheran Church on August 18, 2012. He was buried at Cambridge Lutheran Cemetery.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1969-70
Body: House
District: 21B
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Cambridge
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Chisago, Isanti
Occupation: Division Supervisor, Charcoal Production Firm
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Environmental Preservation
-
Natural Resources (Chair)
-
Reapportionment and Elections
-
Regulated Industries
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Taxes
Body: House
District: 21B
Elected: 11/5/1968
Residence: Cambridge
Term of Office: 1/7/1969 to 1/4/1971
Counties Represented:
Chisago, Isanti
Occupation: Division Supervisor, Charcoal Production Firm
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Conservation (Chair)
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Employee Compensation and Retirements
-
Land and Water Resources
-
Legislative Administration and Rules
-
Public Institutions
-
Taxes
Body: House
District: 21B
Elected: 11/8/1966
Residence: Cambridge
Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/6/1969
Counties Represented:
Chisago, Isanti
Occupation: President, Rum River Charcoal Co.
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce and Business Development
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Municipal Affairs
-
Recreation and Water Resources
-
Rules
-
Taxes
Elected: 11/3/1964
Residence: Cambridge
Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
Counties Represented:
Chisago, Isanti
Occupation: President, Rum River Charcoal Co.
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Cooperatives
-
Commerce
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Health and Welfare
-
Recreation and Water Resources
Elected: 11/6/1962
Residence: Cambridge
Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
Counties Represented:
Chisago, Isanti
Occupation: General Manager, Rum River Charcoal Co.
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Commerce, Manufacturing and Retail Trade
-
General Legislation
-
Recreation and Water Resources
-
Towns and Counties
Articles & Books About
Becklin, Robert C. (Obituary), Isanti County News, August 13, 2011.
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.