# Arlen Erdahl *American farmer and Republican politician from Minnesota (1931–2023)* Arlen Ingolf Erdahl (February 27, 1931 – September 21, 2023) was a [[Minnesota]] farmer and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician.[^1] He sat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] from 1963, was the state's 18th [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] from 1971 to 1975, and held Minnesota's 1st congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for two terms, from 1979 to 1983.[^1] After leaving Congress he received presidential appointments, first with the [[Peace Corps]] from 1983 to 1989 and then at the U.S. Department of Energy from 1989 to 1993.[^1] He died in [[Minneapolis]] in 2023 at the age of 92.[^10] ## Early life Erdahl was born in Blue Earth, Minnesota, with a twin brother, Lowell. His mother was born in Norway, and his father was of Norwegian ancestry.[^2] He went to public schools in Faribault County.[^2] St. Olaf College awarded him a bachelor's degree in 1953. He was in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, and in 1966 he completed an MPA at Harvard University.[^3] Before his political career he farmed grain and livestock in Blue Earth.[^2] ## Political career The source's political-career section dates Erdahl's time in the Minnesota House from 1963 to 1970, while its lead gives 1963 to 1971.[^4] The legislature was then officially nonpartisan, and he sat with its conservative caucus.[^4] When he gave up the seat in 1970 to become secretary of state, his cousin Dale Erdahl took it.[^4] He won the 1970 race for Minnesota Secretary of State by a margin the source describes as narrow, and he held the office from 1971 to 1975.[^5] In 1974 he sought a second term and was defeated by State Representative [[Joan Growe]], who went on to hold the office for 24 years.[^5] He was a member of the Minnesota Public Service Commission from 1975 to 1978.[^5] ### Congress The 1st district seat opened in 1978 when [[Al Quie]], who had held it for 20 years, retired and ran successfully for [[Governor of Minnesota|governor of Minnesota]].[^6] Erdahl beat the Democratic nominee, Gerry Sikorski, 56% to 43%, and he won reelection in 1980.[^6] Reapportionment before the 1982 election led him to run in Minnesota's 6th congressional district. Sikorski defeated him there in a rematch, 51% to 49%.[^7] ## Later career and legacy From 1983 to 1989 Erdahl held presidential appointments with the Peace Corps, first as Country Director and later as associate director. From 1989 to 1993 he was Principal Deputy/Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy.[^8] He also sat on the boards of five organizations: the United Nations Association of Minnesota, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the Minnesota chapter of People to People, the Minneapolis Lodge of the Sons of Norway, and Growth & Justice.[^8] In 1999 he was given the Twin Cities International Citizen Award. In April 2011 the [[Humphrey School of Public Affairs]] at the [[University of Minnesota]] gave him the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award for his public leadership and service.[^9] The Memorial Library at Minnesota State University, Mankato, houses the Southern Minnesota Historical Center, which keeps the Arlen Ingolf Erdahl collection. The collection documents his seven years as a state representative and his 1970 campaign for secretary of state.[^9] ### Death Erdahl had Alzheimer's disease in his later years. He died in Minneapolis on September 21, 2023, aged 92.[^10] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead section: birth and death dates, Republican affiliation, Minnesota House service, 18th secretary of state 1971–1975, U.S. House 1979–1983, Peace Corps and Department of Energy appointments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^2]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Early life" section: twin brother Lowell, birth in Blue Earth, parentage, Faribault County schools, farming. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^3]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Early life" section: St. Olaf College degree 1953, U.S. Army 1954–1956, Harvard MPA 1966. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^4]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Political career" section and lead: Minnesota House 1963–1970 (lead: 1963–1971), conservative caucus, succession by cousin Dale Erdahl in 1970. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^5]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Political career" section: 1970 election, 1974 defeat by Joan Growe, Public Service Commission 1975–1978. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^6]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Congress" subsection: Al Quie's retirement, 1978 result of 56%–43% over Gerry Sikorski, 1980 reelection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^7]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Congress" subsection: 1982 reapportionment, 6th district race, 51%–49% loss to Sikorski. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^8]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead section: Peace Corps 1983–1989, Department of Energy 1989–1993, board memberships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^9]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead and "Later career and legacy" sections: 1999 and April 2011 awards, Southern Minnesota Historical Center collection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl [^10]: Wikipedia, *Arlen Erdahl* (revision 1369617063, retrieved 2026-10-25) — "Death" subsection: death in Minneapolis on September 21, 2023, at 92, and Alzheimer's disease. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlen_Erdahl