maintain and grow an excellent education system with affordable universities and students who consistently achieve some of the top test scores in the United States. He was nominated to run for a third term but narrowly lost re-election in 1980. Later life After his defeat for re-election, Link remained active in public life, leading a successful fight against a state lottery in 1984. He also remained a strong force for historical preservation and writing of local histories. He and his wife Grace lived in Bismarck, North Dakota. He is fondly remembered by North Dakotans and former North Dakotans, Dem-NPLers and Republicans alike as one of the best governors the state ever enjoyed. Though the Democratic-NPL has been able to elect only one governor since Link vacated the office in 1981, they managed to occupy all the seats in the state's federal congressional delegation from 1987 until January 2011, with every member therein having served during the Link Administration. A movie was made of the Links' lives in 2008, entitled: "When the Landscape is Quiet Again". Link died at St. Alexius Hospital on June 1, 2010, in Bismarck, just eight days after his 96th birthday. He was survived by his wife of 71 years, former First Lady of North Dakota Grace Link, with whom he had six children. References External links North Dakota Historical Society: Arthur Link 1914 births 2010 deaths Democratic Party governors of North Dakota American Lutherans People from McKenzie County, North Dakota North Dakota State University alumni School board members in North Dakota Speakers of the North Dakota House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota 20th-century American politicians 20th-century Lutherans Democratic Party members of the North Dakota House of Representatives