League Member Awards

The Platinum Member Award

Recognizes individual contribution to a Local League

(formerly the Peggy Thompson Award)

The Platinum Member Award, as originally inspired by and awarded to Peggy Thompson in 1989, recognizes members who are exemplars of Peggy Thompson’s values and actions. This award focuses special recognition on League members who, by their sustained efforts, have been instrumental in strengthening and/or stabilizing their Local League and affecting their communities through their enthusiasm, motivation of others and innovative ideas.

Criteria for the Award:

Outstanding service to a Local League
Instrumental in strengthening or stabilizing a Local League
Initiate creative new approaches/ideas/activities
Use of LWV principles and/or positions as motivation to serve/enhance the local community

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View Past Winners

1989 – Peggy Thompson (Mahtomedi)

1990 – Dorothy Callahan (Rochester)

1991 – Marylyn Deneen (St. Paul)

1992 – Margit Johnson (Northfield)

1993 – Betty Carr (Richfield)

1994 – Mary Lou Hill (Minneapolis)

1995 – Diane O’Connor (Eastern Carver County)

1996 – Phyllis Letendre (Woodbury/Cottage Grove)

1997 – Gertrude Ulrich (Richfield)

1998 – Marcia Brown (Rochester)

2001 – Gail Schoenfelder (Duluth)

2003 – Carol Bergeson (White Bear/North Oaks/Mahtomedi)

2005 – Ann Berry (Roseville/Maplewood/Falcon Heights)

2007 – Rosemary Guttormsson (Duluth) and Florence Sprague (Roseville/Maplewood/Falcon Heights)

2009 – Florence Pendergrast (Willmar)

2011 – Rosie Loeffler-Kemp (Duluth)

2013 – Bonnie Jean Flom (Northfield/Cannon Falls)

2015 – Sue Hnastchenko (South Tonka)

2017 – Mary Santi (White Bear Lake)

2019 – Paula Stein Clark (Dakota County)

2021 – Rita Mills (Roseville Area)

2023 – Sally Munger (Duluth)

2025 – Jackie Wells (Golden Valley)

The 21st Century Award

Recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in serving all LWV Minnesota leagues

(formerly the Hope Washburn Award)

The 21st Century Award, as originally inspired by and awarded to Hope Washburn in 1956, honors the service given not only to a Local League chapter, but also to LWV Minnesota, (LWVMN). The award is presented to a member whose outstanding league work serves to strengthen and sustain LWVMN in the 21st Century. Hope wrote the congratulation letter to subsequent winners until her death.

Criteria for the Award:

Outstanding service to LWVMN
Innovative approaches/ideas/activities
Commitment to LWV principles and positions
Use of LWV principles and/or positions as motivation to serve/enhance LWV as a statewide organization

Nominate someone today!

View Past Winners

1956 – Hope Washburn (St. Paul)

1957 – Mildred Hargraves (Rochester)

1958 – Lillian Jensen (Minneapolis)

1959 – Betty Kane (Golden Valley)

1960 – Barbara Stuhler (St. Paul)

1961 – Janet Sigford (Roseville)

1962 – Elizabeth Winston (Minneapolis)

1963 – Irene Janski (Richfield)

1964 – Dorothy Anderson (Mahtomedi)

1965 – Constance Buffington (Duluth)

1966 – Hazel Shimmin (Bemidji)

1967 – Mary McGee (Minneapolis)

1968 – Annette Whiting (Owatonna)

1969 – Marion Watson (St. Paul)

1970 – Edith Thompson (Fridley)

1971 – Ann Duff (South Tonka)

1972 – Elizabeth Ebbott (Mahtomedi)

1973 – Geraldine Jenkins (Falcon Heights)

1974 – Mary Ann McCoy (Minneapolis)

1975 – Ann Thomas (Westonka)

1976 – Helene Borg (Westonka)

1977 – Mary Davies (Moorhead)

1978 – Henrietta Britton (Bemidji)

1979 – Karen Anderson (Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins)

1980 – Rosemary Booth (Minneapolis)

1981 – Harriet Herb (Edina)

1982 – Mertyce Mayne (St. Paul)

1983 – Jeanne Crampton (St. Louis Park)

1984 – Judy Rosenblatt (Roseville)

1985 – Harriette Burkhalter (Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins)

1986 – Mary Van Evera (Duluth)

1987 – Joann Buie (Edina)

1988 – Marjorie Thompson (Freeborn County)

1989 – Polly Keppel (Minneapolis)

1990 – Jean Tews (Mahtomedi)

1991 – Jane McWilliams (Northfield)

1992 – Sally Sawyer (Minneapolis)

1993 – Joan Higinbotham (Minneapolis)

1994 – Beverly McKinnell (St. Paul)

1995 – Susan Simmonds (Minneapolis)

1996 – Diane Gibson (Arden Hills/Shoreview)

1997 – Mary Santi (White Bear/North Oaks)

1998 – Kay Erickson (Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins)

2001 – Ady Wickstrom (Arden Hills/Shoreview)

2003 – Judy Stuthman (Roseville/Maplewood/Falcon Heights)

2005 – Judy Duffy (White Bear/North Oaks/Mahtomedi Area)

2007 – Carol Frisch (Edina)

2009 – Mary Steen (Northfield)

2011 – Connie Hondl (Edina)

2013 – Glenda Larson (Minneapolis)
Bonnie Jean Flom (Northfield/Cannon Falls)

2015 – Alice Moormann (Minneapolis)

2019 – Geri Nelson (Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids)

2021 – Laura Helmer (Eastern Carver County)

2023 – Martha (“Marti”) Micks (Golden Valley)

2025 – Susan Clark (Edina)

How to Nominate Someone

These awards were established to recognize outstanding service to LWV Minnesota and its local Leagues. Any League or League member may nominate another member or leader (except those serving on the current state nominating committee) who has been active at any level of the League. Awards are typically presented at Convention, which is held every two years.

Lifetime Members

This list includes all the currently known LWV Lifetime Members, as recorded in our LWVMN database. If you spot any errors or omissions, please let us know by emailing info@lwvmn.org.

*in memoriam