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MPR News Staff

Former Minnesota First Lady Jane Freeman dies at 96

Former Minnesota First Lady Jane Freeman poses with her husband Orville.
Former Minnesota First Lady Jane Freeman poses for a photo with her husband Orville.
Courtesy of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's Office

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Former Minnesota First Lady Jane Freeman, who helped establish the Democratic Farmer Labor party along with her husband, former Gov. Orville Freeman, has died. She was 96.

Freeman was instrumental in establishing the Freedom from Hunger Foundation, worked with World Without Hunger and served as the National President of the Girl Scouts of America from 1978 to 1984, according to a statement released by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's office. Freeman is her son.

"Mom was an extraordinary woman," Freeman said in the statement. "She graduated high school at age 15 and college before she was 20. She was devoted to my father and a wonderful mother to me and my sister Connie. She proved that you didn't have to be loud to be passionate, but employed her gentle manner to fight for labor, ending hunger, lifting up girls and women and making Minnesota, the nation and the world a better place."

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, April 7 at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Memorials should be sent to the University of Minnesota Foundation, benefiting the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the statement said.