Former Minn. lawmaker and ag commissioner dies

Former state Rep. Elton Redalen, a southeastern Minnesota dairy farmer who served as agriculture commissioner under Gov. Arne Carlson, has died. He was 83.

Redalen died on Friday at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.

The Republican from rural Fountain served in the Minnesota House from 1977 to 1990. He resigned his seat when Carlson named him to head the state Agriculture Department.

Redalen worked a dairy farm for 50 years, also raising hogs, beef cattle and crops. Redalen served in the U.S. Navy in the last year of World War II.

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Duane Benson, a former GOP Senate minority leader from Lanesboro, says Redalen was dedicated to his land, his family and his country.

The funeral will be held Wednesday at Root Prairie Lutheran Church in Fountain.

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Information from: Post-Bulletin, http://www.postbulletin.com