Janet Wentz


Janet Wentz was the speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives from December 2002 to September 2003. She was the second woman to become speaker of the North Dakota legislature. Representative Matthew Klein succeeded her as speaker.

Early life

She was born Janet Marie Neff on July 21, 1937, to her parents, Charles and Martha Neff, in McCulsky, North Dakota. She attended McClusky High School and graduated in 1955. Wentz went on to study at Westmar College, in Le Mars, Iowa, the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, and Minot State University in North Dakota. She married Thomas Wentz in 1957.

Career

Wentz first won election to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1974. In her time at the legislature, she served as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
In December 2002, she became Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives. She remained speaker until she died in office, on September 15, 2003.