Lars Herseth, former South Dakota governor nominee from prolific political family, dies at age 80

By: Seth Tupper

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: September 14, 2026

Words: 463

Last Updated: 3 days, 18 hours ago

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Lars Herseth, a Democratic former South Dakota legislator and 1986 nominee for governor, died Saturday of cancer at age 80.

Herseth grew up in a politically active Democratic family in rural Houghton, where he returned to be a farmer and rancher after graduating from the University of South Dakota. His father, Ralph Herseth, was the state’s 21st governor from 1959 to 1961, and his mother, Lorna Herseth, was South Dakota’s secretary of state from …

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