Ragnvald Nestos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th Governor of North Dakota | |
| In office November 23, 1921 – January 7, 1925 | |
| Lieutenant | Howard R. Wood Frank H. Hyland |
| Preceded by | Lynn Frazier |
| Succeeded by | Arthur G. Sorlie |
| Member of theNorth Dakota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1911–1912 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ragnvald Anderson Nestos (1877-04-12)April 12, 1877 Voss,Sweden–Norway |
| Died | July 15, 1942(1942-07-15) (aged 65) Minot,North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (IVA) |
Ragnvald Anderson Nestos (April 12, 1877 – July 15, 1942) was aNorwegian-American politician who served as the 13thgovernor of North Dakota from 1921 to 1925.
Ragnvold Anderson Nestos was a native ofVoss,Norway. He was the son of Andres R. Nestos and Herborg Saue. One of ten children, he was sixteen and spoke no English when he came to the United States[1] to live with his aunt and uncle atBuxton, North Dakota. He entered the first grade at Buxton and attended school in between working odd jobs and working atlumber camps out of state. Four years later, in 1897, he passed theteachers'examinations and taught in a country school. He completed his studies atMayville State University, a teachers' college, whilehomesteading in Pierce County. In 1904, he graduated from theUniversity of North Dakota and moved toMinot, where he began practicinglaw with a partner, attorney C. A. Johnson.[2]
Nestos was a member of theIndependent Voters Association, running on theRepublican ticket. He was a member ofNorth Dakota State House of Representatives, 1911–12;Ward County State's Attorney, 1913–16; and a primary candidate forU.S. Senator from North Dakota, 1916. He gained office when GovernorLynn Frazier wasdefeated in the first successful attempt to recall a state governor in U.S. history.
Frazier's term was plagued with controversy and a grassroots movement was started to press for his recall. Therecall election that removed Governor Frazier had also removed two other members of the state'sIndustrial Commission from office. It was a time of bitter political discontent between theNPL (Nonpartisan League, which supported state-owned industry) and theIVA (Independent Voters Association, which opposed state ownership of industries). Nestos worked hard to make the new state-owned businesses (State Mill and Elevator and theBank of North Dakota) a success. He also campaigned against illiteracy. During his administration, North Dakota came into national compliance for registering births and deaths, and the state had a full-time health officer for the first time. He ran for, and completed, a second term of office.[3]
Nestos never married.
He received national recognition for his work on behalf of theBoy Scouts of America. He was a "Silver Buffalo Award" winner (1942).[4] He was active within theNorwegian Lutheran Church of America.
Nestos died of a stroke on July 15, 1942.[5] He is buried in Rosehill Cemetery inMinot, North Dakota.
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of North Dakota 1921,1922 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of North Dakota 1921–1925 | Succeeded by |
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| International | |
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| National | |
