U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's dad wrote up my uncle in 1953

Front page news that day in the Bismarck Tribune was the inauguration of Dwight David Eisenhower, as 34th president of the United States of America. On the backside of that yellowed clipping is a story about Halvor Rolfsrud, who that day was reluctant to be named speaker of the North Dakota state legislature.

The story was written by Jim Klobuchar, Tribune staff writer at the time, and the father of now U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

The story was about a power grab by young upstarts who find a leader in the older 45-year-old Rolfsrud, my amazing uncle.

“The 45-year-old farmer-lawmaker is something of a rarity by present day standards,“ Klobuchar wrote in 1953. “Virtually penniless when he took over his his father’s farm near Keene, Rolfsrud has since burgeoned his farm holdings to 5,000 acres, invested successfully in a coal mine and dabbled in a variety of other interests to a point where his assets are now reported near $400,000.

“But outwardly he remains cautious and reserved. His friends credit him with a flinty determination in rough going, and his rise from comparative indigence offers nothing in rebutal. He retains a humility, however, which is both impressive and genuine.

“‘ It was an honor to be named for the speakership,” he said, “but at the same time it would have been embarrassing to assume its responsibilities. There were others who had more seniority than I, and who were more familiar with parlimentary procedure.”’

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The article continues for about 20 more inches, (see photos) extolling the virtues of my father’s big brother, called to be his father’s right hand when he was crushed in a terrible accident and eventually died in 1920. As a result, Halvor only reached eighth grade.

My cousin Harold wanted to tell his father’s story, and I told him I had seen Klobuchar’s write-up, where it was, I didn’t know. I found it today, here’s a picture of it. I hope you can read it, about a son of immigrant grandparents I never knew, who had an American dream for themselves and their progeny, living lives of hardship, but leaving a legacy of honor and virtue.