Lorna Herseth

Lorna Buntrock Herseth (April 5, 1909 – September 8, 1994) was the Secretary of State of South Dakota from 1973 to 1979.

Herseth was born in Columbia, South Dakota on April 5, 1909.

Her parents, Albert and Ida Yeske Buntrock, were German immigrants.

She was the youngest of 11 children.

Herseth attended Northern State Teacher's College and earned a teaching credential after two years of study.

In 1936, Herseth was elected as Brown County Superintendent of Schools.

For seven years, she served on Brown County's Reorganization School Board.

She later served on the Selby School Board.

Four years after Ralph's death, activists approached Herseth about running for state office herself.

She married Ralph Herseth, who served as Governor of South Dakota from 1959 to 1961, on December 23, 1937.

They had dated for nine years prior to getting married.

Together they had three children, Karen, Connie, and Ralph Lars.

Their son, Ralph Lars Herseth, served in the South Dakota State Legislature.

Their granddaughter, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, served in the United States House of Representatives.

Herseth served as mentor to Sandlin.

During her life, Herseth lived in Houghton, South Dakota and in Pierre, South Dakota.

She was a Lutheran.

She twice was elected Secretary of State of South Dakota, and served from 1973 to 1979.

Herseth served on the board of directors for the Brown County Red Cross and as the state director of the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults.

She died on September 8, 1994, and was buried in Houghton Cemetery.

After college, Herseth taught in the Brown County public schools as well as in urban schools.