Lyle Koenen

Background

Koenen, Lyle was born on June 16, 1956.

Education

Koenen attended Maynard High School in Maynard, then went on to Willmar Technical College in Willmar, earning his Associate of Arts in agriculture.

Career

He has worked as a dairy farmer and was also a milk truck and school bus driver. He has been co-chair of the Chippewa County National Farmers Union since 1996. Koenen was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected four times.

He served as chair of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division.

On May 21, 2011, he joined the Republicans in voting for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman. Koenen was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2012 to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Gary Kubly.

He was sworn in on April 18, 2012. Koenen ran for re-election to the newly drawn District 17 in 2012, defeating incumbent Willmar Republican Joseph Gimse.

Achievements

• Lyle Koenen has been listed as a noteworthy state legislator by Marquis Who's Who.

Politics

Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Democratic Party.

Membership

A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 17, which includes portions of Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in the southwestern part of the state.

Connections

Married Sandy Koenen. 4 children.

Spouse:

Sandy Koenen