Minnesota news

Aug. 19, 2024

Oklee Post Office Holds Dedication Ceremony in Honor of late Representative Coya Knutson

What:

Coya Knutson Post Office Renaming Event.

Who:

Speakers:
Michelle Fischbach, U.S. Representative MN District 7th District
Ben Lien, Staff Member, US Senator Amy Klobuchar
Gretchen Beito, Author of Coya Come Home
Kathryn Leigh Scott, Publisher of Coya Come Home, Actress
Barb Knutson,  Daughter-in-Law
Wayne Rolph, Manager, Post Office Operations, MN-ND District, USPS

When:

Thursday, August  22nd at 1:00pm.

Where:

Oklee Post Office
202 2nd Avenue
Oklee, MN, 56742

Background:

H.R.5951 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 2nd Avenue, in Oklee, Minnesota, as the "Coya Knutson Post Office."

Coya Knutson, born Cornelia Gjesdahl in 1912 on a farm in Edmore, North Dakota, made history as the first woman from Minnesota to serve in the United States House of Representatives.

After earning a degree in education from Concordia College in 1934 and briefly studying opera at Juilliard, Knutson returned to the Midwest, where she settled in Oklee, Minnesota. There, she married Andy Knutson, taught school, and ran a small hotel. Her involvement in local politics in the 1940s led to her election to the Minnesota state legislature, where she served from 1950 to 1953.

In 1954, Knutson ran a successful grassroots campaign for Congress, becoming a representative for Minnesota's Ninth District. Known for her independent spirit and dedication to agricultural issues, she quickly gained a reputation in Washington for her strong advocacy.

Coya Knutson passed away in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of breaking barriers for women in politics and championing causes such as student loans, cystic fibrosis research, and support for Minnesota's farmers.

# # #

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

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