[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1410
                  HONORING THE LIFE OF CHESTER REITEN

  (Mr. CRAMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, a North Dakota legend died recently, and I 
was honored to be able to attend the celebration of his life, a sendoff 
worthy of a king.
  Chester Reiten was like royalty, especially to the people of his 
hometown of Minot, where he served as their mayor for 14 years. Public 
service came naturally to Chet. During World War II, he enlisted in the 
United States Navy, serving as an ensign and commanding officer of a 
landing craft infantry ship.
  In addition to military and local service, Chet served 16 years in 
the North Dakota Senate where he was also president pro tem.
  Chester really made a name for himself and Minot when he combined his 
loves of Norwegian culture and America by founding the annual Norsk 
Hostfest, the largest Scandinavian festival in North America. The 
Hostfest brings thousands of people to Minot every year to celebrate 
all things Scandinavian. Chester received the St. Olav Medal from the 
King of Norway as a result of his work with Norsk Hostfest and his 
promotion of Norwegian and Scandinavian heritage. He received the 
Theodore Roosevelt Roughrider Award in 2002 and was inducted into the 
Scandinavian American Hall of Fame in 2011.
  May God bless Chester's memory; his wife, Joy; and their beautiful 
family. He will be missed.

                          ____________________