Ole N. Thundale
Ole N. Thundale | |
|---|---|
Thundale in the Minnesota House of Representatives, c.1905–1908 | |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1905–1908 | |
| Constituency | District 5 (Fillmore County) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 30, 1864 Voss, Norway |
| Died | November 22, 1913 (aged 48) Harmony, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Betsie Benson |
| Children | Emma Glendora, Ruth Ester |
| Profession | merchant, banker, mayor, state representative |
Ole N. Thundale (November 30, 1864 – November 22, 1913) was a Norwegian-American merchant, banker, and politician. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1905 to 1908, representing Fillmore County’s 5th District.[1]
Background
Thundale was born on November 30, 1864, in Voss, Norway, and immigrated to the United States in 1885. He settled in Harmony, Minnesota.[1]
Career
Thundale was elected to the Harmony village board as trustee in 1901 and served as village president (mayor) in 1902.[2]
He was noted in the Mabel Sentinel as serving Harmony as both mayor and councilman at different points in his life.[3]
He later served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1905 to 1908.[1]
Thundale and fellow Norwegian-American Anton J. Rockne had ties prior to Rockne’s political career, and Thundale was the first to lobby for Rockne to become Speaker of the Minnesota House.[4]
Outside politics, Thundale was active in business and community affairs, serving as vice president of the Harmony bank[4] and as president of local civic organizations.[5]
Death
Thundale died on November 22, 1913, after a long illness from tuberculosis. His obituary was published on the front page of the Harmony News.[6]
References
- ^ a b c "Ole N. Thundale". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Local snippet referring to Mayor Thundale". Harmony News. July 3, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Vote for O.N. Thundale". Mabel Sentinel. August 18, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Community and political notes". Northfield News. December 5, 1908. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Meeting report". Harmony News. December 14, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Obituary: Ole N. Thundale, Harmony's Most Prominent Citizen Dead…". Harmony News. November 27, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved August 26, 2025.