 in business administration from Winona State College (now Winona State University) in 1965, and J.D.from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1968.He joined the law firm of Grose, Von Holtum and Sieben (now SiebenCarey) until he was elected to the Minnesota House in 1970 as a member of the Liberal caucus in the officially non-partisan legislature, and later as a Democrat when political parties were recognized in the legislature.