Ted Schwinden

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Ted Schwinden
19th
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 5, 1981
GovernorTom Judge
Preceded byBill Christiansen
Succeeded byGeorge Turman
Personal details
Born
Theodore Schwinden

(1925-08-31)August 31, 1925
Wolf Point, Montana, U.S.
DiedOctober 7, 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 98)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Jean Christianson
(m. 1946; died 2007)
Children3
Education
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1944–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Theodore Schwinden (August 31, 1925 – October 7, 2023) was an American politician. He was the 19th

lieutenant governor of Montana and as a member of the Montana House of Representatives.[1]

Biography

Theodore Schwinden was born near Wolf Point, Montana, on his family's farm on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation between Wolf Point and Poplar.[2] Schwinden was a valedictorian at his high school.[3] He enlisted in the United States Army and served in both the European and Pacific theaters in World War II. He left the army in 1946.[3] He earned a bachelor's and master's from the University of Montana.[4] He was studying toward a PhD in economics at the University of Minnesota before he had to return to his family farm due to his father's ill health.[5][6][7]

Career

A member of the

lieutenant governor of Montana, serving under Governor Thomas Lee Judge.[9] He served as lieutenant governor from 1977 to 1981.[10]

Schwinden defeated Judge in the Democratic primary in 1980. He then beat Republican Jack Ramirez in that year's gubernatorial election to become the 19th governor of Montana.[11][12][13] He was re-elected governor in 1984, getting the victory over State Senator Pat M. Goodover.[13] Hallmarks of Schwinden's governorship were his "Build Montana" economic plan and popular traveling "Capital for a Day" events, and was known for leading Montana through its economic difficulties.[2][13] He took pride in being what he felt was a governor who maintained an open and attentive approach to the needs and concerns of the public.[13] Despite favorable polling in 1988, he chose not to seek a third term as governor, staying true to his promise of serving only two terms in office.[3]

Personal life and death

Schwinden was married to Jean Christianson in 1946; she died from cancer on March 24, 2007, at age 81.[14][15] Schwinden and his wife had two sons, Mike Schwinden and Dore Schwinden, and one daughter, Chrys Anderson.[4][9]

On October 7, 2023, Schwinden died at the home of his daughter, Chrys Anderson in Phoenix, Arizona, aged 98. He was also survived his two sons Mike Schwinden and Dore Schwinden, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. [3][16]

References

  1. ^ "Former State Governors". www.netstate.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Governor Ted Schwinden". Montana Historical Society. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "'Tough old bird': Straight-talking former Montana governor Ted Schwinden dies at 98". Billings Gazette. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Ted Schwinden". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  5. ^ Schwinden, Ted; Barrett, Evan (January 2016). "Biography of Ted Schwinden". Biographies and Photos of Series Participants.
  6. ^ "Gov. Ted Schwinden cared for Montana". December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "A talk with Ted: Catching up with former Montana Governor Schwinden". November 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Demo Emphasis Appears Aimed at Greater Strength in Senate". The People's Voice. Vol. 19, no. 28. Helena, Montana. June 13, 1958. pp. 1–2. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Schwinden, Ted; Barrett, Evan (January 1, 2016). "Biography of Ted Schwinden". Biographies and Photos of Series Participants.
  10. ^ "Schwinden, Ted (b. 1925)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  11. ^ "Schwinden exults after beating Judge". The Spokesman Review. June 5, 1980. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  12. ^ Neuharth, Allen H.; Ken Paulson; Dan Greaney; Jo-Ann Swanson; Gaynelle Evans (June 8, 1987). "MONTANA;We want to grow, and protect a way of life". USA Today. Retrieved December 5, 2010. Ted Schwinden, 61, a Democrat, was elected governor of Montana in 1980 and was re-elected in 1984. He served as lieutenant governor from 1977 until 1981.
  13. ^ a b c d "Former Montana Gov. Schwinden dies at 98". KTVH. October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  14. – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "Former first lady dies of cancer". Helenair.com. March 25, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  16. ^ Ambarian, Jonathon (October 8, 2023). "Former Montana Gov. Schwinden dies at 98". KPAX-TV. Retrieved October 8, 2023.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Lieutenant Governor of Montana

1977–1981
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Montana
1981–1989
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Montana
1980, 1984
Succeeded by