Deceased SD Lawmakers Remembered In Ceremony

The South Dakota Legislature has honored eight former state lawmakers who died in the past year.

Members of the House and Senate met in a joint session Thursday to hold a special memorial service for their deceased colleagues. The Legislature holds the service each year.

Those honored Thursday included former U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor of Kennebec, who was in the state Senate in 1957-1968, and former state Supreme Court Justice Frank Henderson of Hill City, who was in the state Senate in 1965-1966 and 1969-1970.

Also honored were Leonard Andera of Chamberlain, Senate 1985-1990; Charles "Eddie" Clay of Hot Springs, House, 1967-1974; Bert Ellingson of Sisseton, House, 1969-1980; Maurice LaRue of Sturgis, House 2003-2004; George Shanard of Mitchell, Senate 1975-1992; and Burdette Solum of Watertown, House 1991-1992 and 1998-2004.