So Long, Senator Stenehjem

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Written By:
Rob Port

Jul 25, 2011
12:46pm

Today state Senator Bob Stenehjem, who tied tragically last week in a car accident in Alaska, lays in state in the state capitol.

While professionally I wrote often about Senator Stenehjem, I never got much of a chance to know Bob Stenehjem personally. But those I know who knew him best all held him among the finest people they knew.

So I’ll let these words, read by US Senator John Hoeven into the congressional record in Washington DC, speak for me:

Mr. President, today I honor the life and exemplary service of North Dakota’s late Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem. Bob died last week in a car accident in Alaska on his way back from doing one of the things he loved best when not working: fishing in the great outdoors.

During the 10 years he served as Majority Leader of the North Dakota Senate, and the nearly 20 years he served as a state senator, I counted Bob as a friend, a colleague and a partner in the important work we were doing to build a stronger, more dynamic North Dakota.

It has been said many times by many people that Bob had the ability to see all sides of an issue and appreciate everyone’s interest. That is an invaluable quality for a leader and essential to a good legislator. He worked well with others and considered among his dearest friends many on the opposite side of the aisle who held a different philosophical viewpoint. Bob could disagree without being disagreeable and always respected the opinions of others. It was that ability that helped him to forge good legislation for the people of North Dakota.

As a public servant, as a citizen, Bob’s deep love of North Dakota informed every decision he made in the Legislature, and his legacy today is a more vibrant and secure state than it was when he was first elected to represent District 30 in 1993. His remarkable service and devotion to North Dakota benefited our state and our people in countless ways over the years, helping to bridge differences and improve the quality of life for all North Dakotans.

So long, Senator.