Orvin Benonie Fjare (April 16, 1918 – June 27, 2011) was a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from
Montana
Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbi ...
.
Born on a ranch near
Big Timber, Montana
Big Timber is a city in, and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census.
Big Timber takes its name from Big Timber Creek, which was named by William Clark because of the large cot ...
to Abigael (née Hetland) and Olaf J. B. Fjare, both
Norwegian
Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to:
*Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe
*Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway
*Demographics of Norway
*The Norwegian language, including the ...
immigrants.
[
] Fjare attended public schools. He was employed as a clerk in a clothing store at
Big Timber, Montana
Big Timber is a city in, and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census.
Big Timber takes its name from Big Timber Creek, which was named by William Clark because of the large cot ...
, and later became part owner. Fjare enlisted as a private in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
in 1940 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Artillery in 1942. He served as a pilot in the South Pacific and was discharged as a captain in 1946. He served as member of the Montana Public Welfare Commission 1952–1954. He served as member of board of trustees of Big Timber Public Schools 1951–1954.
Fjare was elected as a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
to the
Eighty-fourth Congress (January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1956 to the
Eighty-fifth Congress. He served as a member of the
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.
Composition of the House
:''67th Legislature – 2021†...
in 1959. He engaged in the life insurance business. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
in 1960. Fjare was the advertising director of the Montana State Highway Department from 1962 to 1969. He served as director of Montana
Federal Housing Administration
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), also known as the Office of Housing within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is a United States government agency founded by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, created in part ...
1970–1979 until he retired in 1979. Up until his death Fjare was a resident of
Big Timber, Montana
Big Timber is a city in, and the county seat of Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,650 at the 2020 census.
Big Timber takes its name from Big Timber Creek, which was named by William Clark because of the large cot ...
.
References
Further reading
* Orvin B. Fjare Papers (1955-1957), Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections Library,
Montana State University
Montana State University (MSU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's largest university. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 6 ...
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Collection website
1918 births
2011 deaths
American people of Norwegian descent
Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives
School board members in Montana
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army officers
People from Sweet Grass County, Montana
Military personnel from Montana
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Montana
20th-century American politicians
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
United States Army Air Forces officers
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