LeVander, Harold, 1910-1992

Harold LeVander served as the 32nd governor of Minnesota from 1967to 1971. Before that, he practiced law in South St.Paul and was active in community affairs. He received a BBL from the University of Minnesota in 1935.

From the description of Papers, ⁺ca. 1932⁽-1935. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122427053

Harold LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska, October, 1910, the son of Lutheran minister Peter Magni and Laura (Lovene) LeVander. The family, consisting of three sons, Harold, Bernhard, and Theodor, came to Atwater, Minnesota in 1916, later moving to Watertown. Harold graduated from Watertown High School (1928), Gustavus Adolphus College (1932), and the University of Minnesota Law School (1935). While in high school and college he excelled in sports and debate, participating in many debate contests and winning a national debate in 1931. From 1935 through 1940 he was a part-time debate coach at Macalester College.

In 1935 LeVander joined the South St. Paul law firm of Stassen, Ryan, Olson, Olson, Kelly, and Hall. A number of the firm's members became active in Republican politics: Harold Stassen, governor of Minnesota (1938-1943), Elmer Ryan, member of congress (1940-1946), Arthur Gillen, state legislator (1942-1950), David Durenberger, United States senator (1978-1994), and LeVander himself, who served as governor of Minnesota in 1967-1971 and then returned to the law firm.

A prominent Lutheran layman (Augustana Synod) LeVander was active in a number of religious groups including the Lutheran Brotherhood, Christian Higher Education Commission, the National Lutheran Council, various Lutheran men's clubs, and the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of St. Paul. He also participated in ecumenical groups: the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America and the World Council of Churches.

LeVander was involved in many civic and service organizations in South St. Paul and was legal counsel for a number of banks, the St. Paul Livestock Exchange, and the Rural Electrification Administration in Minnesota.

He married Iantha Powrie in 1938 and had three children: Harold Jr., Jean, and Diane. LeVander died in St. Paul in April, 1992.

From the guide to the Harold LeVander papers., 1910-2001 (bulk 1966)., (Minnesota Historical Society)