South Dakota Governor Orders Flags Half-Staff in Honor of Former Gubernatorial Nominee Lars Herseth
South Dakota Republican Governor Larry Rhoden has ordered flags at the state Capitol in Pierre to be flown at half-staff on October 4, in honor of Lars Herseth, a former Democratic state legislator and 1986 nominee for governor, who passed away at age 80. Herseth died on Saturday of cancer. He was a prominent figure in South Dakota politics, serving in the state House of Representatives from 1975 to 1986 and in the state Senate from 1989 to 1996. During his legislative career, he held leadership positions including House minority leader, Senate president pro tempore, and Senate minority leader. Herseth came from a politically active family; his father, Ralph Herseth, was South Dakota's 21st governor, and his mother, Lorna Herseth, served as Secretary of State. His daughter, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, was a U.S. House Representative and is currently the president of Augustana University. A memorial service for Lars Herseth is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central time on October 4 at the Johnson Fine Arts Center on ...