Lars Herseth, former South Dakota governor nominee from prolific political family, dies at age 80

Lars Herseth, a Democratic former South Dakota legislator and 1986 nominee for governor, died Saturday of cancer at age 80. 

Herseth grew up in a politically active Democratic family in rural Houghton, where he returned to be a farmer and rancher after graduating from the University of South Dakota. His father, Ralph Herseth, was the state’s 21st governor from 1959 to 1961, and his mother, Lorna Herseth, was South Dakota’s secretary of state from 1973 to 1979. 

Lars Herseth’s daughter, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, served in the U.S. House from 2004 to 2011 and is now the president of Augustana University in Sioux Falls.

Republican Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen paid tribute to Lars Herseth and the Herseth family Monday in a post on Venhuizen’s personal website.

“Few South Dakota families can match that record of public service across three generations,” Venhuizen wrote.

Lars Herseth served in the state House of Representatives from 1975 until 1986, when he won the Democratic nomination for governor but lost in the general election to Republican George Mickelson, who was also the son of a former governor. Herseth then served in the state Senate from 1989 until 1996. His legislative leadership positions included House minority leader, Senate president pro tempore and Senate minority leader.

During his time in the state Senate, Herseth served with Mike Rounds, a Republican who would go on to become governor and is now a U.S. senator. Rounds wrote about Herseth in a post Monday on the social media platform X.

“Lars was a statesman and a problem solver who was willing to work with anyone if it meant bettering the lives of South Dakotans,” Rounds wrote. 

Herseth’s obituary said he focused his political career on issues including agriculture, transportation, economic development and healthcare. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he worked with Republican Gov. Bill Janklow to preserve abandoned rail lines that were critical for transporting agricultural products.

“Lars was known for his legislative acumen, command of the issues, collegiality that knew no partisan bounds, and being true to his word,” his obituary said. “He was exceptionally fair-minded and a steadfast advocate for women’s rights and Native American issues. During his final legislative term, he spoke passionately in opposition to a bill that sought to prevent recognition of same-sex marriage.”

In his later years, Herseth was president of the American Coalition for Ethanol.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Central time on Oct. 4 at the Johnson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen. South Dakota Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden has ordered flags at the state Capitol in Pierre to be flown at half-staff in honor of Herseth that day.