North Dakota’s Longest-Serving Attorney General Dies “Unexpectedly” at 68

 

Longtime North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem died suddenly on Friday at the age of 68.

According to close family members, Wayne Stenehjem was in great health and had no medical problems before he passed away.

Mr. Stenehjem’s spokeswoman released a statement on Friday announcing the Attorney General’s ‘unexpected’ passing.

It is with the utmost sadness that the Office of Attorney General announces that Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem passed away unexpectedly on Friday January 28, 2022. He was 68.

We know Wayne was a widely respected and well-known public figure, but we ask that his family be allowed time to grieve in private.

Funeral arrangements are pending with Bismarck Funeral Home, for both public and private services.

It is unclear what caused Stenehjem’s sudden death.

According to the Bismarck Tribune, Stenehjem was rushed to the hospital after he was found unresponsive in his home Friday morning.

Brother Allan Stenehjem told the Bismarck Tribune that his brother had no health problems and that his death was not due to Covid.

The Bismarck Tribune reported:

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who spent more than 40 years in elected office, died unexpectedly Friday, just a month after announcing plans to retire at the end of the year.

His spokeswoman, Liz Brocker, confirmed his death Friday night. Stenehjem had been taken to the hospital Friday morning after being found unresponsive in his home.

Police responded to a medical call at Stenehjem’s home at 8:27 a.m. Friday, Lt. Luke Gardiner said. It wasn’t immediately clear at what time Stenehjem died.

Brother Allan Stenehjem told the Tribune his brother had no known health issues that might have caused his hospitalization, and that his brother’s condition was not related to COVID-19.

Stenehjem announced last month that he would not seek reelection this year, intending to retire and spend time with his wife, traveling, bicycling and being involved with charitable organizations. He was first elected in 2000.

He said last month he was in good health and was “not in any way hampered.”

Wayne Stenehjem spent more than 40 years in elected office and served as North Dakota’s Attorney General for more than 20 years.