Dakota County History 101: Harold LeVander (1910-1992) Governor of Minnesota

Harold LeVander was born Oct. 10, 1910, in Swede Home, Neb., to Swedish immigrants. LeVander’s father, Peter, was a clergyman for the Lutheran church assigned to a parish in St. Paul in 1912. 

As a young child, Harold and his family moved frequently before settling in Watertown, Minn., in 1926. After graduating from Watertown High School in 1928, LeVander attended Gustavus Adolphus and excelled on the college’s track team. 

 LeVander then earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1935, and was admitted to the bar in the same year. 

Harold Stassen recruited LeVander to practice law at his South St. Paul law firm. LeVander practiced law in South St. Paul for nearly 50 years. 

 The only time LeVander ventured from his law practice was from 1967-1971 when he served as the 32nd governor of the state of Minnesota.

LeVander’s four years as governor were quite eventful as he signed into law the creation of the Metropolitan Council, the Department of Human Rights, and the Pollution Control Agency. 

The Republican also oversaw a reorganization of the executive branch of the state’s government, the state’s first $1 billion budget and its first sales tax. 

After his stay in the governor’s mansion, LeVander returned to practice law in South St. Paul. LeVander also stayed active in the Lutheran church until his death on March 30, 1992, at age 81.