Burdick, Jocelyn, 1922-2019

Jocelyn Louise Burdick (née Birch; February 6, 1922 – December 26, 2019) was an American politician from North Dakota who briefly served as a Democratic United States Senator during 1992. She was the first woman from the state to hold this office. At the age of 97, she was the oldest living former U.S. Senator for the last eight months of her life.

Born in Fargo, North Dakota, she was educated at Principia College and at Northwestern University before returning to Fargo, working as a radio announcer at KVOX radio in Moorhead, Minnesota. In 1960, two years after her first husband's death, she married Quentin Northrup Burdick. During their marriage, Jocelyn Burdick was engaged in civics, part of the official U.S. delegation to Russia in 1978 and a trustee to the Lake Agassiz Arts Council. Burdick helped to found the Democratic Women Plus in the early 1980s. She also recorded public service announcements against drunk driving and drug use in 1989.

Upon the death of her husband Senator Quentin N. Burdick in September 1992, Jocelyn Burdick was appointed by Governor George Sinner to fill the vacancy in his position until a special election was held. She did not run as a candidate for election to the rest of the term. During her brief tenure in office, Burdick supported legislation on pay equity and women's rights. After Kent Conrad took office in December 1992, Burdick retired to Fargo where she would pass away.