* Karl Rolvaag; Former Minnesota Governor, U.S. Ambassador

Karl Rolvaag, 78, former Minnesota governor and U.S. ambassador who was elected 28 years ago by the narrowest margin in Minnesota’s history. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he was governor from 1963 to 1967 after getting elected by 91 votes in 1962. He also became the first incumbent governor in state history to be denied his party’s endorsement for reelection. The DFL Party had endorsed A.M. (Sandy) Keith, Rolvaag’s lieutenant governor. But with the rallying cry, “Let the people decide,” Rolvaag easily defeated Keith in a primary. Rolvaag went on to lose the 1966 general election to Harold LeVander. Rolvaag did not take office until late March, 1963, because of a five-month recount. He was the first governor to serve a four-year term as the state switched from two-year terms to four-year terms in 1962 for its constitutional officers. Rolvaag had served as lieutenant governor for eight years before running for governor in 1962. In 1967 Rolvaag was appointed ambassador to Iceland by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In Northfield, Minn., on Thursday of a heart condition.