From collection Member List
Jocelyn Birch Burdick (Northwestern, 1942) was born on February 6, 1922, to Magdalena Towers and Albert Birch. She attended Principia College and Northwestern University, where she was initiated into Epsilon Chapter (Northwestern) in 1942.
After graduating, she began her career as a radio announcer in Fargo, North Dakota. She married Kenneth Peterson in 1948 and had two children with him. After his death in 1958, she married Quentin Burdick in 1960, and they had another child together.
Quentin Burdick was a United States Senator, serving from 1960 until his death in 1992. During her marriage to Quentin, Jocelyn was consistently involved in civics and public service. Among other accomplishments, Jocelyn was a charter member of the Fargo League of Women Voters, a charter member of the FM Junior League and the president of the PTA.
After the death of Senator Quentin Burdick, Governor George Sinner appointed Jocelyn to fill her husband’s seat on the Senate until a special election could be held. Senator Jocelyn Birch Burdick served for three months, becoming the first woman to represent North Dakota in either house of the U.S. Congress.
After leaving office, she returned to Fargo. She passed away on December 26, 2019, at the age of 97.
After graduating, she began her career as a radio announcer in Fargo, North Dakota. She married Kenneth Peterson in 1948 and had two children with him. After his death in 1958, she married Quentin Burdick in 1960, and they had another child together.
Quentin Burdick was a United States Senator, serving from 1960 until his death in 1992. During her marriage to Quentin, Jocelyn was consistently involved in civics and public service. Among other accomplishments, Jocelyn was a charter member of the Fargo League of Women Voters, a charter member of the FM Junior League and the president of the PTA.
After the death of Senator Quentin Burdick, Governor George Sinner appointed Jocelyn to fill her husband’s seat on the Senate until a special election could be held. Senator Jocelyn Birch Burdick served for three months, becoming the first woman to represent North Dakota in either house of the U.S. Congress.
After leaving office, she returned to Fargo. She passed away on December 26, 2019, at the age of 97.
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