| Biography/History | Frank A. Wenstrom was born July 27, 1903, to James A. and Annie (Kringstad) Wenstrom at Dover in Wells County, ND. He attended grade school in the Bilodeau School District, Wells County, and graduated from Carrington High School. Wenstrom then began his career in the oil business. He married Mary Esther Pickett on June 10, 1938, in Carrington. They moved to Williston, and Wenstrom continued in the oil business until 1943. Wenstrom managed the Williston Chamber of Commerce, 1945-1951, and worked at the First National Bank in Williston from 1951-1960. He served as executive officer of Northwestern Federal Savings and Loan Association of Williston from 1964-1968. From 1957-1960 and from 1967-1986, Wenstrom served in the ND Senate from District 1. From 1963 to 1964, Wenstrom served as 28th Lieutenant Governor of ND under William L. Guy. In 1970, Wenstrom was elected delegate to the 1971-1972 ND Constitutional Convention, and was elected President (or Chairman) of the Convention in 1971. Wenstrom was a member of the University of North Dakota (UND) Foundation board of directors from 1965 to 1997 and received the Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from UND in 1990. He was the first non-lawyer to receive the Upper Missouri Bar Association Distinguished Service Award in May 1991. Wenstrom was a member of the Salvation Army Board of Advisers, Rotary Club, First Union Church, Masonic Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, Red Cross of Constantine, KEM Temple and Elks Lodge. Frank A. Wenstrom died in Williston May 12, 1997.
Allen Olson received his law degree from the University of North Dakota, and served in the United States Army as a judge advocate general's corps lawyer. He started his political career in North Dakota as attorney general of the state. He defeated Arthur Link in the governor's race of 1980. Olson ran for reelection in 1984, but was defeated by George Sinner. He returned to private practice of law after leaving the governor's office.
|
