▁Nor qu ist ▁( 1 8 9 3 - 1 9 7 2 ) ▁on ▁June ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 1 9 1 6 . ▁They ▁were ▁the ▁parents ▁of ▁two ▁children . ▁ ▁Career ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁Ram sey ▁County ▁Att orney ▁to ▁serve ▁ 1 9 2 3 – 1 9 2 4 ▁and ▁subsequently ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Att orney ▁General ▁during ▁the ▁Far mer - L abor ▁administration ▁of ▁F loyd ▁B . ▁Ol son , ▁ 1 9 3 3 – 1 9 3 6 . ▁During ▁the ▁Great ▁De pression , ▁Pet erson ▁draft ed ▁and ▁subsequently ▁def ended ▁the ▁constitution ality ▁of ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Mort g age ▁Mor ator ium ▁Act , ▁a ▁signature ▁De pression - era ▁reform ▁which ▁sust ained ▁the ▁principle ▁that ▁States ▁could ▁adopt ▁mor ator ia ▁on ▁bank ▁forec los ures . ▁ ▁Pet erson ▁went ▁from ▁the ▁Att orney ▁General ' s ▁office ▁to ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Supreme ▁Court ▁serving ▁there ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 8 – 1 9 5 0 , ▁res ign ing ▁to ▁run ▁for ▁Minnesota ▁Governor . ▁De fe ating ▁Or ville ▁Fre eman ▁in ▁the ▁Democratic - F ar mer - L abor ▁Party ▁primary ▁election , ▁he ▁lost ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁general ▁election ▁to ▁the ▁Republican ▁candidate , ▁Luther ▁W . ▁Young d ahl . ▁ ▁Upon ▁ret irement , ▁Pet erson ▁was ▁active ▁in ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁Mid western ▁School ▁of ▁Law ▁where ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁Dean ▁prior