Walter Wellbrock

Walter Wellbrock
Black-and-white portrait of Wellbrock
Wellbrock in 1943
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 50th district
In office
January 4, 1943 – November 24, 1944
Succeeded byRoy B. Aune
Personal details
Born(1893-12-02)December 2, 1893
Otter Tail County, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedNovember 24, 1944(1944-11-24) (aged 50)
Fergus Falls, Minnesota, U.S.
PartyNonpartisan
Occupation
  • Farmer
  • businessman

Walter Wellbrock (December 2, 1893 – November 24, 1944) was an American farmer and politician. From 1943 until his death in 1944, Wellbrock served in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a representative of the state's 50th house district, which covered Otter Tail County.

Early life

Walter Wellbrock was born on December 2, 1893, on the family farm in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Prior to his election to office, he operated his own farm and resided in either Fergus Falls or Friberg Township. Wellbrock was the director of a cooperative oil company and the Otter Tail Fair Association.

Political career

Wellbrock was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives as a representative of the state's 50th house district on November 3, 1942. With four seats available, Wellbrock finished third out of eight candidates with 5,187 votes, or 13% of the total share. While at the time state legislators were nonpartisan, Wellbrock was a member of the conservative caucus.

During his first term in office, Wellbrock was a member of the house committees on commercial transportation, cooperatives, dairy products and livestock, markets and marketing, and public domain. With representative Charles Swindells, Wellbrock authored a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for hunters to wound anyone while hunting.

On November 7, 1944, Wellbrock again finished third in a field of eight to win re-election to his seat. He had 8,290 votes, or 12.98% of the total.

Death

After being in ill health for "some time," per the Associated Press, Wellbrock died on November 24, 1944, less than three weeks after his win for re-election, in Fergus Falls.

Following his death, a special election was held to fill Wellbrock's seat. On December 27, 1944, former Otter Tail County School Superintendent Roy B. Aune was elected over Nora Rosholt by a margin of 2,921 votes to 2,067 votes to take over the seat.

Personal life

Wellbrock was married and had five children. He survived his wife, who died on January 12, 1944.

References

  1. ↑ Legislative manual of the State of Minnesota 1943, p. 74
  2. ↑ "Walter Wellbrock". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. University of Minnesota. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  3. ↑ "State House, District 50, 1942". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. University of Minnesota. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ "House, Senate for 1943 Here's Lineup of State". St. Cloud Times. November 10, 1942. p. 7. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "State Representative Walter Wellbrock, Dies". The Globe. Associated Press. November 24, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Legislative manual of the State of Minnesota 1943, pp. 108–109
  7. ↑ "Sharp Increases in Iron Taxes Asked in Two Bills". The Minneapolis Star. February 26, 1943. p. 14. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "State House, District 50, 1944". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. University of Minnesota. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  9. ↑ "State Legislature To Seat Discharged Recruiting Officer". St. Cloud Times. Associated Press. December 29, 1944. p. 9. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "State House, District 50, 1944". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. University of Minnesota. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Mrs. Wellbrock Dies". The Globe. Associated Press. January 14, 1944. p. 8. Retrieved May 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography