speaker, Eliason finished up his legislative career by serving as Senate president prior to retiring. This marked the only time in the state's history that the legislature's two respective presiding officers hailed from the same community. Personal and later life Grussendorf was married to Karen (née Solem) and they had two children, son Tim and daughter Karla. Tim Grussendorf was a longtime Senate aide, mostly during his father's tenure in office (the legislature's nepotism policy allow family members of legislators to work or seek employment in the opposite chamber). He has been a candidate for office himself, but without the success of his father. Grussendorf was a Presbyterian. He died on June 17, 2011 after a lengthy illness. References External links Ben Grussendorf at 100 Years of Alaska's Legislature 1942 births 2011 deaths Alaska city council members American Presbyterians Educators from Minnesota Mayors of Sitka, Alaska People from Grand Rapids, Minnesota Schoolteachers from Alaska Speakers of the Alaska House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Alaska House of Representatives University of Minnesota alumni 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American politicians