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North Dakota Senate holds memorial service, adopts resolution honoring nine former senators
Summary
During a floor session the Senate resolved into a memorial service, adopted Senate Memorial Resolution 8001 and presented enrolled copies to families of nine former senators. Former Senator Rich Wardner delivered the memorial address.
The North Dakota Senate resolved into a memorial service during a floor session and adopted Senate Memorial Resolution 8001 honoring nine former members of the Senate, Senate leaders said and the body voted by voice to approve the resolution.
The resolution — read in full on the Senate floor and placed on the calendar for immediate second reading and final passage after a rules suspension motion — directs that enrolled copies be presented to surviving family members. The ceremony included a prayer by Father John Paul Garner, musical performances, a memorial address by former Senator Rich Wardner and a benediction by former Senator Larry Robinson.
Senators moved several formal steps to create and process the resolution. Senator Klein moved that the Senate resolve itself into a memorial service, a motion the chamber approved by voice vote. Senator Hogue moved the first reading of Senate Memorial Resolution 8001. Senator Klein then asked that the rules be suspended so the resolution "not be printed, not be referred to committee, but be read in its entirety, be printed in the journal, and be placed on the calendar for immediate second reading and final passage;" that motion also prevailed by voice vote and the resolution was adopted.
The resolution names nine deceased legislators and recounts their service. The individuals honored were Dwight Cook, Judy Lee Demers, Richard Wayne Goldberg, Daniel Fred Jerome, Douglas Allen Larson, Donald B. Moore, David E. Netting, Randy A. Schoebinger and Herbert A. Urlacker. Enrolled copies of the resolution were presented on the chamber floor to family representatives by Secretary of State Michael Howe and legislative leaders including President Pro Tem Brad Bechkadahl, Majority Leader David Hogue and Minority Leader Kathy Hogan.
Former Senator Rich Wardner delivered the memorial address, reflecting on the public service of the nine legislators and using the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–19) to frame their contributions. Wardner quoted the parable’s closing words, saying of the deceased lawmakers, "Well done, good and faithful servant," and he closed his address, "God bless North Dakota and God bless the North Dakota Senate."
The program included an invocation by Father John Paul Garner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Bismarck, musical performances by the Senate men's chorus under the direction of Senator Robert Erberly with accompanist Levi Andrist, and a solo performance by Senator Kristin Rohrer. Former Senator Larry Robinson delivered the benediction. The roll call before the ceremony showed 46 senators present and 0 absent.
After the presentations and musical selections, the Senate voted to print the memorial address and the invocation and benediction in the journal, then dissolved the memorial service and recessed until 3 p.m. by voice votes.
