Kristjan Valdimar "Val" Bjornson (August 29, 1906 – March 10, 1987) was an American writer, newspaper editor, and politician who served as the State Treasurer of Minnesota for more than two decades.[1]

K. Valdimar Bjornson, known in politics as Val Bjornson, in his 20s.

Bjornson was born in Minneota, Minnesota of Icelandic descent.[2] In World War II, he served in Navy intelligence, stationed in Iceland.[3] Besides English, he was fluent in Icelandic, Finnish, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian.[4]

He was part owner of the Minneota Mascot newspaper and an associate editor at the St. Paul Pioneer Press.[5]

Running as the Republican candidate in the 1954 United States Senate elections, Bjornson lost to Hubert Humphrey, with whom he sometimes shared a car to travel around the state.[6]

Bjornson died in Minneapolis on March 10, 1987.[7] The University of Minnesota, his alma mater, and the University of Iceland have a student exchange scholarship named in his honor.[8]

Bibliography

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Bjornson, Val (1969). The History of Minnesota. West Palm Beach, Florida: Lewis Historical Publishing.

References

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  1. ^ "Val Bjornson". The New York Times. March 12, 1987. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  2. ^ CQ Weekly Report, Volume 12, page 1040. Congressional Quarterly, 1954
  3. ^ "Iceland Minnesota". Archived from the original on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  4. ^ "National Affairs: Who Won". Time. September 27, 1954. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "Craving some quiet".
  6. ^ "Column: Thoughts of Val Bjornson, and a Worthington visit | Worthington Daily Globe | Worthington, Minnesota". www.dglobe.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Bishoprick to Blacey".
  8. ^ "News & Events".
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Minnesota State Treasurer
1950, 1952
Succeeded by
Duane R. Lund
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Minnesota
(Class 2)

1954
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Duane R. Lund
Republican nominee for Minnesota State Treasurer
1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1970
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Minnesota
1951–1955
Succeeded by
Preceded by Treasurer of Minnesota
1957–1975
Succeeded by