Olger B. Burtness
Encyclopedia
Olger Burton Burtness was a U.S. Representative
from North Dakota
and a North Dakota District Court Judge.
. He was the son of Ole O. and Mary (Anderson) Burtness, both immigrants from Norway
. Burtness was graduated from the academic department of the University of North Dakota
at Grand Forks in 1906 and from its law department in 1907. He represented the University in several intercollegiate debates and was also active in The Mimer Society, a Scandinavian literary society. He was also a member of the University football team and was Editor in Chief of the Dacotah annual. Burtness was one of the founders of the UND Alumni Association, and helped organize the UND Development Fund.
the same year and commenced practice in Grand Forks. He served as prosecuting attorney of Grand Forks County 1911-1916. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1916, 1936, and 1948. He served as member of the North Dakota State House of Representatives in 1919 and 1920. Burtness was elected as a Republican
to the Sixty-seventh
United States Congress
and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921-March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932.
In 1930 he was honored by the King of Denmark with an Order of the Falcon
with a star. He also represented the President of the United States
at the 100th anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament.
in 1950 and served from November 1950 until his death. He died in Grand Forks, N.Dak. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.
. Following his death, Zoe Burtness donated funds to the University of North Dakota to construct an assembly hall for plays, lectures, and concerts, in honor of her husband. The Burtness Theater was dedicated on April 28, 1963.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
and a North Dakota District Court Judge.
Background
Olger Burton Burtness was born on a farm near Mekinock, Grand Forks County, North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. He was the son of Ole O. and Mary (Anderson) Burtness, both immigrants from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Burtness was graduated from the academic department of the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
at Grand Forks in 1906 and from its law department in 1907. He represented the University in several intercollegiate debates and was also active in The Mimer Society, a Scandinavian literary society. He was also a member of the University football team and was Editor in Chief of the Dacotah annual. Burtness was one of the founders of the UND Alumni Association, and helped organize the UND Development Fund.
Career
He was admitted to the barAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and commenced practice in Grand Forks. He served as prosecuting attorney of Grand Forks County 1911-1916. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1916, 1936, and 1948. He served as member of the North Dakota State House of Representatives in 1919 and 1920. Burtness was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Sixty-seventh
67th United States Congress
The Sixty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1921 to March 4, 1923, during the first two years...
United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921-March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932.
In 1930 he was honored by the King of Denmark with an Order of the Falcon
Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
with a star. He also represented the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
at the 100th anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament.
Later years
He resumed the practice of law and served as City attorney of Grand Forks, N.Dak., in 1936 and 1937. He was appointed judge of the First Judicial District, North Dakota District Court , by Governor Fred G. AandahlFred G. Aandahl
Fred George Aandahl was an Republican politician from North Dakota. He served as the 23rd Governor of North Dakota from 1945 to 1951 and as a U.S. Representative from 1951 to 1953.-Biography:...
in 1950 and served from November 1950 until his death. He died in Grand Forks, N.Dak. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Personal life
He married Zoe Ensign on September 8, 1909, in Detroit Lakes, MinnesotaDetroit Lakes, Minnesota
-Demographics:As of the official census of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families permanently residing in the city. The population density was 980.4 people per square mile . There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 504.6 per square mile...
. Following his death, Zoe Burtness donated funds to the University of North Dakota to construct an assembly hall for plays, lectures, and concerts, in honor of her husband. The Burtness Theater was dedicated on April 28, 1963.