Dennis L. Rasmussen

Dennis L. Rasmussen
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 41st district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 5, 1979
Preceded byRudolf Kokes
Succeeded byDonald Wagner
Personal details
Born(1929-05-13)May 13, 1929
Cotesfield, Nebraska
DiedNovember 17, 2018(2018-11-17) (aged 89)
Wahoo, Nebraska
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Maxine Yax
​
(m. 1950)​
Children4 (Cindy, Steven, Victoria, Mary Jo)
EducationGrand Island Business College
OccupationFarmer and rancher

Dennis L. Rasmussen (May 13, 1929 – November 17, 2018) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 41st district from 1973 to 1979, and was a member of the Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors from 1997 to 2015.

Early life

Rasmussen was born in Cotesfield, Nebraska, in 1929, and graduated from Scotia High School.[1] He attended Grand Island Business College, and received an advanced degree in business accounting.[2] He was a farmer in Ord.[1]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1972, State Senator Rudolf Kokes declined to seek re-election to a third term.[3] Rasmussen ran to succeed Kokes in the 41st district, which was based in central Nebraska.[4] He faced a crowded primary, and was opposed by farmers Frederick Frost and Arthur Shotkoski, contractor Mike Bernt, minister J. H. Schroeder, attorney John Sullivan, and insurance agent William Mayne.[5] Rasmussen placed first in the primary election, winning 28 percent of the vote to Schroeder's 27 percent.[6] They advanced to the general election,[7] which Rasmussen won by a wide margin, receiving 59 percent of the vote to Schroeder's 41 percent.[6][8]

Rasmussen ran for re-election in 1976,[9] and was elected unopposed.[10][11]

In 1978, Rasmussen "privately acknowledged" that he was considering resigning from the legislature, with the winner of the 1978 gubernatorial election potentially altering the partisan composition of the legislature through the ability to appoint Rasmussen's replacement.[12] Following the victory of Republican Charles Thone in the election, Rasmussen announced that he would resign from the legislature to become a lobbyist.[13] He left office on January 5, 1979, and was succeeded by fellow Republican Donald Wagner.[14][12]

Post-legislative career

Rasmussen ran for the Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors from subdivision 1, which was based in Lancaster County, in 1996.[15] Rasmussen challenged incumbent John Hamilton for re-election, and was joined by former State Senator Wally Barnett in the primary.[15] Barnett narrowly placed first in the primary, winning 40 percent of the vote and 92 more votes than Rasmussen, and they proceeded to the general election, which Rasmussen won with 55 percent of the vote.[16]

He was re-elected unopposed in 2002.[17] In 2008, he was challenged by Paul Liess, the retired general manager of the Twin Valleys Public Power District.[18] Rasmussen defeated Liess by a wide margin, winning 73 percent of the vote to Liess's 27 percent.[19] Rasmussen did not seek re-election to a fourth term in 2014, and was succeeded by Barry DeKay.[20]

Death

Rasmussen died on November 17, 2018.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Nebraska Blue Book 1974-1975 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1975. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Dennis Rasmussen". Nebraska Public Power District. 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Kokes Won't Seek 3rd Term". Lincoln Evening Journal. February 17, 1972. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Scotia Man Seeks Seat In Unicam". Grand Island Independent. February 29, 1972. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Supervisor, Legislative Districts Altered". Grand Island Independent. May 4, 1972. p. 14, 16. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1972). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 9, 1972, General Election, November 7, 1972 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Opponents Selected In 41st District". Grand Island Independent. May 11, 1972. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Rasmussen Is Victor For Unicam". Grand Island Independent. November 9, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Sen. Rasmussen Seeks 2nd Term". Lincoln Star. February 21, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Holmes, Michael (May 6, 1976). "Six Women Among the 77 After Seats in Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. p. 59. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Beermann, Allen J. (1976). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Howard, Ed (October 20, 1978). "Nebraska may truly become two-party state in '78". Lincoln Star. p. 10. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Sen. Rasmussen Planning to Quit". Omaha World-Herald. December 13, 1978. p. 7. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1979). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Sixth Legislature, First Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 109. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Heinzl, Toni (April 28, 1996). "NPPD Races Draw Crowd of Candidates". Omaha World-Herald. p. 4-B. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Moore, Scott (1996). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 14, 1996, General Election, November 5, 1996 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  17. ↑ Laukaitis, Algis J. (November 6, 2002). "Incumbent, newcomer set sights on NPPD issues". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 8A. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ Laukaitis, Algis J. (October 23, 2008). "NPPD candidates stump for renewable energy, low rates". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 6B. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ John A. Gale. Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, General Election, November 4, 2008 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Niobrara's Barry DeKay elected NPPD chair for 2020". Nebraska Public Power District. January 9, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Dennis L. Rasmussen". Lincoln Journal Star. November 21, 2018. p. B4. Retrieved April 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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