ROLETTE, N.D. – Former North Dakota House Minority Leader Merle Boucher has died.
The Rolette Democrat, who represented District 9 in the North Dakota House from 1991 until 2011 and was the House Minority Leader from 1996 until 2011, died Thursday at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck. He was 79.
“Merle and I were like brothers campaigning for the governor nomination. We packed District meetings with Merle always speaking with emotion and care for our people,” District 11 State Senator Tim Mathern said. “The 2008 Democratic -NPL convention erupted with unbridled shouts of joy when the rules were suspended and Merle was unanimously elected to be our lieutenant governor candidate!”
Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan called Boucher ‘a true servant leader.’
“During his time in the ND legislature, Merle always spoke for the care and protection of people, particularly the vulnerable and for the earth,” she said. “He was well respected by both Parties because he always listened and treated others respectfully. He nurtured new legislators and truly loved being a Democrat.”
