Friends and colleagues recall influence and impact of former North Dakota Lt. Gov. Lloyd Omdahl

Apr. 15—GRAND FORKS — Lloyd Omdahl had many outstanding and endearing qualities, his friends and colleagues said, but chief among them were a strong advocacy and knowledge of state and local government, dedication to his family, a deep Christian faith, his kindness and delightful sense of humor.

Omdahl, 93, died peacefully Sunday, April 14, while in comfort care at Valley Senior Living on Columbia. His son and daughter were at his bedside. His wife, Ruth, died last November.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Hope Covenant Church, Grand Forks, with a reception to follow. Visitation is planned for 2 p.m., also on May 18 at Hope Church.

Omdahl served as North Dakota's lieutenant governor from 1987 to 1992 with Gov. George Sinner, and as state tax commissioner from 1963 to 1966. He was a longtime professor in UND's political science department and served as director of the school's Bureau of Governmental Affairs.

Former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., of Mandan, first met Omdahl when, as an 18-year-old UND student, she enrolled in his state and local government class.

"I thought he was one of the most dynamic, interesting professors ... " she recalled. "It really was Lloyd Omdahl and his influence that led me to think that state and local government mattered. There were a lot of us who ran for statewide office who were inspired by Lloyd Omdahl, and I think that was true (for) both Democrats and Republicans."

When Omdahl ran for Congress, she and other UND students campaigned for him, she recalled. "Campaigning for Lloyd Omdahl was my first direct political activism."

Omdahl was "committed to educating and growing a group of North Dakotans to assume leadership in our state," Heitkamp said. "And I like to think I'm part of the Lloyd Omdahl legacy."

He was "incredibly funny, he was very, very funny — but always pointed and never mean-spirited," she said.

Omdahl wrote "the most significant book on the Nonpartisan League ... (which) will be a very, very important book for anyone to understand the political history of North Dakota. ... He was very much a scholar and student of state and local government."

She lauded Omdahl for his interest in "not just partisan politics for the sake of winning, but how do you bring people together to get things done."

"Lloyd Omdahl was my mentor and my friend," Heitkamp said, "but, mainly, he was my teacher. And North Dakota lost a great North Dakotan."

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum issued the following statement Monday, April 15: "From his dedicated service as North Dakota's lieutenant governor and tax commissioner to his decades as a UND educator and newspaper columnist, Lloyd Omdahl was a constant presence and passionate voice in North Dakota government and politics for over 60 years.

"We are deeply grateful for his service and commitment to the citizens of North Dakota, as well as his many contributions to our state's Scandinavian heritage, in which he took great pride. Kathryn and I extend our condolences and prayers to his family, friends and former colleagues."

Retired District Judge Joel Medd, of Grand Forks, said Omdahl was "instrumental" in his career.

"I was a student of his" at UND, Medd recalled.

Omdahl also provided a recommendation when Medd applied to the UND Law School; at the time, Medd was serving in the military in the Vietnam War.

Omdahl was also responsible for his appointment, filling a vacancy as district judge for Grand Forks in October 1979, he said. "He recommended me to Gov. Art Link."

Medd ran for the judgeship in 1980 and credits Omdahl with helping him to win the race over his opposition, he said.

"He was a wonderful guy, a great friend to me and a great friend to so many," Medd said. "He was a fantastic professor," who followed his students' lives long after they graduated.

Omdahl frequently invited Medd to speak about the judiciary to his political science classes at UND.

Espousing his viewpoints in his newspaper columns, Omdahl "was not afraid to take on controversial issues — guns, abortion, religion," Medd said. "(He held) well-researched opinions."

Omdahl was very active in humanitarian efforts, including the Feed My Starving Children project.

"Some of my favorite pictures are those of us, in our hairnets, packing food" for the program, Medd said.

Omdahl has written a book that is in the publication process, but not yet released, Medd said. The book includes general observations on topics such as guns, culture, religion and the treatment of women throughout U.S. history.

"He was very much for equal treatment of women," said Medd, noting that Omdahl's daughter will likely follow through with finalizing the book's publication.

His friend "always wanted to get things done," Medd said. "He was interested in helping people. ... He was somebody who wanted to do things. When he moved into assisted living, I called him the 'Energizer bunny.' "

In a recent talk for Franklin Club members, Omdahl spoke about a "civilized society," Medd said. "He got to be philosophical in his later life."

Omdahl was lieutenant governor "at a very very difficult time in state history — a deep recession, almost an agricultural depression at that time," said former U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., of Washington, D.C., who has known Omdahl for at least 60 years. "He and (Gov.) Bud Sinner navigated us through that very very difficult time in a very professional way."

Omdahl also made dramatic changes in the state, including the introduction of kindergarten and public television, Conrad said. "Lloyd was a leader and he was a visionary. He saw what could be in North Dakota. He was somebody that believed North Dakota, with its agriculture and energy resources, could be a shining light for the rest of the country. And, subsequently, there have been times when we led the nation in economic growth. Lloyd Omdahl played a very fundamental role in building that foundation."

Omdahl was also "a lot of fun to be with, because he had such an engaging personality," Conrad said.

Omdahl was devoted to his wife, Ruth, who suffered from dementia in her final years, Conrad said. Residing in a memory care facility, "she probably wasn't sure who Lloyd was. But he would go visit her three times a week, and he would take her chocolates, because he knew she loved chocolate.

"You know, you think about the loyalty, the love that that exemplified for him, even after she wasn't sure who he was, that he would go see her faithfully and take her a treat."

Former U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, of McLean, Virginia, said Omdahl had "a major impact on North Dakota government in a very positive way. Even more than that, (his teaching at UND) was so powerful.

"The fact is that so many people wanted to get into his courses, they had to restrict them. I think he was one of the most popular professors that I've ever known at the University of North Dakota. Quite remarkable.

"In addition he began to write opinion columns, and send them throughout the state. He was really smart, really capable and had a really interesting wit about him as well. ... He was just an extraordinary man."

Dorgan presumed that "there are probably thousands of students, who would have come away from (his classes) having a much greater understanding about what government is. We are all government, the government is ours. And Lloyd taught that with fervor. ...

"Time never got past him," Dorgan said. "Although he was well up in age, he continued to think and work and express opinions on a wide range of very important issues."

State Sen. Tim Mathern, of Fargo, said, "Omdahl was a master at running the North Dakota Senate" for the years he served as lieutenant governor.

"He had a way with the rules to assure that a tie between Republicans and Democrats did not let us stalemate like today's Congress."

Omdahl's greatest achievement for the state was "his melding of political science and journalism," said Mathern.

Omdahl also "possessed a deep religious faith," he added. "He never carried it on his sleeve, but it guided his ethics in all of his profession."

Retired UND professor Ken Dawes, of Grand Forks, who worked in the state's Department of Human Services while Omdahl was lieutenant governor in the 1960s, was a fellow UND faculty member. He taught in UND's Department of Social Work.

Dawes especially admired Omdahl's "objectivity," he said. "Even though he was identified as a Democrat, he could be objective about issues."

An active community member, "he was always organizing people, but doing it in a nice way," he said.

Omdahl was "just delightful to visit with because of his sense of humor," he said. "He truly loved what he was doing.

"All I know is, we're going to miss him. I just wish there were more people like him."