Minnesota State Sen. Bruce Anderson dies at age 75

Minnesota state Sen Bruce Anderson died at age on Monday the Senate Republican Caucus ratified Anderson a Republican from Buffalo representing District served four terms in the Senate and nine terms in the House a total of three decades and days in the state Legislature according to legislative records Undated courtesy photo from the - legislative session of Sen Bruce Anderson R-Buffalo Courtesy of the Minnesota Senate Senate Republicans validated his passing Monday afternoon and declared his family is asking for privacy at this time I m saddened to learn Senator Bruce Anderson passed unexpectedly in current times Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson R-East Grand Forks disclosed in a report Monday Bruce was a dedicated populace servant loving family man and dear friend to a great number of at the Capitol and in Buffalo We offer our condolences and prayers for comfort for the entire Anderson family Anderson chaired the veterans committees in the House from to and again in the Senate from to He focused on issues including agriculture resource rural economic enhancement broadband access and general safety Senate Republicans revealed in the release I served with Bruce in both the House and Senate and will fondly remember him for the way he approached this work and treated his colleagues Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy DFL-St Paul stated in a comment Monday He was a decent kind colleague and a dedicated family man and I feel fortunate to have known and worked with him Before entering politics Anderson served in the U S Navy during the Vietnam War and in the Minnesota Air National Guard and U S Air Force Reserves He was raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota and was the eldest of eight children according to the legislative reference library I m deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague Senator Bruce Anderson Sen Aric Putnam DFL-St Cloud announced in a report Monday As a U S Navy veteran and a longtime member of the Minnesota Legislature Bruce was a steady principled voice in our work as elected leaders I had the honor of working with him on agriculture and veterans issues where his dedication and humility stood out His kindness and deep commitment to facility will be missed by all of us in the Senate and by the people of Minnesota Anderson s death will prompt a special electoral process to fill his seat in the Minnesota Senate which will comprise Democrats and Republicans pending the official resignation of Sen Nicole Mitchell Related Articles State Sen Nicole Mitchell to resign after burglary conviction Through tears Sen Nicole Mitchell testifies in her burglary trial Sen Nicole Mitchell burglary trial Eyewitnesses detail fear paranoia Watch bodycam footage of MN Sen Nicole Mitchell s burglary arrest Opening arguments heard in Sen Nicole Mitchell s burglary trial