# Roger L. Dell *Minnesota lawyer and chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1953–1962)* Roger L. Dell (July 19, 1897 – March 8, 1966) was a Minnesota lawyer, jurist and businessman.[^1] He sat on the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]], first as associate justice in 1953 and then as chief justice from 1953 to 1962.[^2] Governor [[C. Elmer Anderson]] named Dell to the court in January 1953. Before that appointment he practiced law in Fergus Falls.[^1] After he retired from the bench in 1962 he ran Fergus Properties as its president. He died in [[Minneapolis]] in 1966.[^1] ## Early life and education Dell was a native of Bird Island, [[Minnesota]]. He finished at Shakopee High School in [[Shakopee]] in 1916.[^1] Four years later, in 1920, he earned a law degree at the Saint Paul College of Law, the school later known as William Mitchell College of Law.[^1] The Mitchell Hamline History Center maintains a biography of him.[^3] ## Legal career After his admission to the Minnesota Bar, Dell settled in Fergus Falls. He practiced law there with a succession of partners until his appointment to the bench.[^1] ## Judicial service In January 1953 Governor C. Elmer Anderson placed Dell on the Minnesota Supreme Court.[^1] The Minnesota State Law Library's biography of Dell lists him as associate justice in 1953 and as chief justice from 1953 to 1962.[^2] ## Later life and death Once he had retired from the court in 1962, Dell oversaw the management of Fergus Properties and served as its president.[^1] On March 8, 1966, he suffered a fatal heart attack in a Minneapolis hospital, where he had been due to undergo heart surgery.[^1] The Minnesota State Law Library keeps an obituary of Dell under his title as chief justice.[^4] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Roger L. Dell was associate justice (1953) and chief justice (1953–1962) of the Minnesota Supreme Court.[^2] ### What - He served as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1953 to 1962.[^2] ### When - He was born July 19, 1897, and died March 8, 1966.[^1] - He was appointed to the court in January 1953 and retired from it in 1962.[^1] ### Where - He was born in Bird Island, Minnesota, and practiced law in Fergus Falls.[^1] - He died in a hospital in Minneapolis.[^1] ### How - He was appointed to the court by Governor C. Elmer Anderson.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Roger L. Dell* (revision 1291415043, retrieved 2026-10-26) — dates of birth and death; birthplace; schooling and 1920 law degree; practice in Fergus Falls; January 1953 appointment by Governor C. Elmer Anderson; service as chief justice 1953–1962; retirement in 1962; Fergus Properties; death in Minneapolis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_L._Dell [^2]: Minnesota State Law Library, *Biography – Roger L. Dell, Associate Justice 1953; Chief Justice 1953–1962* (undated) — gives the dates of Dell's service as associate justice and chief justice. https://mncourts.libguides.com/Dell [^3]: Mitchell Hamline School of Law, History Center, *Roger L. Dell Biography* (undated) — confirms that the school's History Center holds a biography of Dell. https://mitchellhamline.edu/history/biography/roger-l-dell-ll-b-1920/ [^4]: Minnesota State Law Library, *Obituary – Roger L. Dell, Chief Justice* (undated) — confirms that the Law Library holds an obituary of Dell as chief justice. https://mncourts.libguides.com/Dell/obit