Ragnhild Queseth Haarstad

Ragnhild Queseth Haarstad (4 April 1939 – 6 June 2017) was a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. She was a member of Parliament from 1981 to 1997 and Minister of Local Government from 1997 to 1999.

Early life She was born in Grue as a daughter of farmers. After basic education she took commerce school in 1957, and then attended the Conservatory of Music from 1957 to 1959. She also attended courses in stenography, housekeeping and agronomy. After that she was a housewife.

Political career Queseth Haarstad entered politics, first as board member of Hedmark Centre Party from 1968 to 1970. She subsequently chaired Hedmark Centre Party Women from 1970 to 1974. She was elected as a politician as well, first as a member of the municipal council of Grue Municipality from 1971 to 1975, and then as a member of Hedmark county council from 1975 to 1982. She also chaired the county agricultural board from 1975 to 1977 and the county school board from 1977 to 1979 (sitting as a member until 1982). She was a central board member of the Centre Party from 1973 to 1977 and 1988 to 1994, the latter term while chairing the Centre Women nationwide.