Debra Rae Anderson (June 13, 1949 – November 10, 2022) was an American politician. Anderson was born in Bryant,

Hamlin County, South Dakota Hamlin County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 6,164. Its county seat is Hayti, South Dakota, Hayti. The county was created in 1873 and o ...

, and graduated from Bryant High School in 1967. She then graduated from

Augustana University Augustana University is a private Lutheran university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The university identifies 1860 as the year of its founding, the same as its Rock Island, Illinois, Swedish-heritage sister school, Augustana College. It deri ...

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...

, in 1971. Anderson served in the

South Dakota House of Representatives The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 70 members, two from each legislative district. Two of the state's 35 legislative districts, Districts 26 and 28, are each subdivided ...

from 1977 until her resignation in 1989; served as speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1987 until 1988. She was a Republican, Anderson then served during the administration of President

George H.W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushBefore the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election, he was usually referred to simply as "George Bush" but became more commonly known as "George H. W. Bush", "Bush Senior," "Bush 41," and even "Bush th ...

. She died at her home in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, on November 10, 2022, at the age of 73.South Dakota Legislature-Debra R. Anderson
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References

, - , - 1949 births 2022 deaths Augustana University alumni George H. W. Bush administration personnel People from Hamlin County, South Dakota Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives Speakers of the South Dakota House of Representatives Women state legislators in South Dakota 20th-century members of the South Dakota Legislature 20th-century American women politicians {{SouthDakota-politician-stub