Jørgen Sønstebø (13 February 1922 – 29 June 2013) was a Norwegian bailiff and politician for the

Christian Democratic Party __NOTOC__ Christian democratic parties are political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social tea ...

. He was born in Bø as a son of farmers. He took lower education, then officer's training from 1939 to the German invasion of Norway in 1940. During the war he took middle school as a private candidate in 1941, while working as a farm and forest labourer, later police training. He was decorated with the

Defence Medal 1940–1945 The Defence Medal 1940–1945 () is the award rewarded to those military and civilian personnel who participated in the fight against the German invasion and occupation of Norway between 1940 and 1945. The Defence Medal 1940–1945 can be award ...

. He was a police officer in

Hjartdal Hjartdal is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Upper Telemark and Aust-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sauland. Other villages in the municipality ...

1945 to 1952,

Kviteseid Kviteseid is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Vest-Telemark and Upper Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kviteseidbyen. Other villages in Kviteseid ...

1952 to 1958, and

Gjerpen Gjerpen is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Skien Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Gjerpen, which is now part o ...

/ Siljan from 1958 to 1964. After a period as acting bailiff in

Gransherad Gransherad is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1860 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Notodden Municipality (in Telemark) and Kongsberg ...

1964 to 1965 he returned to Kviteseid. He served as bailiff here from 1971 to 1989. He settled in Bø where he took over the family farm Nyhus in 1973. From 1989 to 2005 he was a self-made auctioneer. On the local level he was a member of the municipal councils of

from 1959 to 1963,

Skien Skien () is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Grenland, although historically it belonged to Grenmar/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the Norsjø area and Bø. The administrative ...

from 1963 to 1965 and

from 1967 to 1979 and 1987 to 1995. From 1963 to 1965 he was a member of

Telemark Telemark () is a Counties of Norway, county and a current electoral district in Norway. Telemark borders the counties of Vestfold, Buskerud, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder. In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of Vestfold to form the county o ...

county council A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries. Australia In the Australian state of New South Wales, county councils are special purpose ...

. He chaired the county party chapter from 1966 to 1970, and the local party chapter on multiple occasions. He was elected to the

Parliament of Norway The Storting ( ; ) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by the Constitution of Norway. It is located in Oslo. The unicameral parliament has 169 members and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional represe ...

from

1973 Events January * January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...

, and was re-elected on two occasions in

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

and

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

. He served as the party whip during his first term. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Justice for all his three terms, advancing to deputy chair during his last term. He was also a member of the Preparatory Credentials Committee for his two last terms and the Standing Committee on Scrutiny during his last term. He was decorated with the King's Medal of Merit in silver in 1989. Sønstebø also held various other posts. He was a board member of Telemark Hospital from 1970 to 1983 and member of the corporate council of

Norsk Hydro Norsk Hydro ASA (often referred to as just ''Hydro'') is a Norway, Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. It is one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide. It has operations in some 50 countries around th ...

from 1986 to 1992. He also volunteered for his local Pentecostal congregation.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonstebo, Jorgen 1922 births 2013 deaths People from Bø, Telemark People from Skien People from Kviteseid Politicians from Telemark Christian Democratic Party (Norway) politicians Norwegian Pentecostals Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit in silver Norwegian Army personnel of World War II Members of the Storting 1981–1985 Members of the Storting 1977–1981 Members of the Storting 1973–1977