Mission & History
About MLTA
The Minnesota Land Title Association (MLTA) was formed in 1908 as a professional association interested in securing the integrity of land titles throughout the state of Minnesota. Over the years it’s members continue to provide Abstracts of Title, Title Insurance and related services to the real estate and lending industries, on behalf of the public. It continues today as a dynamic organization guided by an elected Board of Directors and a volunteer Committee structure, where members really can make a difference.
MLTA’s major benefits include: educational seminars offered throughout the year specifically for its members, coordinated real estate legislative efforts (proposing, lobbying and monitoring), liaison efforts with other real estate industry organizations and regulatory officials, and the continual updating of its members regarding technology.
Members
A Brief History
The history of the MLTA is best told by recounting the efforts and energy of its members who have associated with one another and volunteered their time in order to ensure the prosperity and integrity of their businesses, starting with abstracters in the early 1900s. Today, a century later, its members and associate members continue to affiliate with each other as well as with others in government and the private sector in order to ensure that the processes of real estate evidencing, insuring and conveying in Minnesota (and beyond) are maintained at the highest possible level.
The Association gratefully acknowledges the previous works of William H. Pryor of Duluth and Leon H. Schefers, then from Moorhead, whose article on the beginnings of the MLTA has long been published in the Association’s Directory and on its website. Mr. Pryor wrote an interesting letter in 1960 to Mr. A. L. Winczewski of Winona, describing his recollection of the MLTA’s early years, which was referred to by Mr. Schefers and re-printed in the Summer 2003 MLTA Newsletter. The following review of those early years is borrowed liberally from their accounts, as well as the Association’s records, which fortunately have been well maintained over the past several decades and provide a wealth of information. Unfortunately, not all of the records from earlier years have been located. To the extent possible, this article is based on contemporaneous writings such as meeting minutes and the Association’s newsletters, although personal recollections are also recounted. Omissions are unavoidable or unintentional and every effort was made not to express the views or policies of any other person or organization. Readers are invited to clarify statements, correct mistakes or to supply information for future inclusion. As will be seen by accounts from those resources, some things remain the same, some things change, and others come full circle.
Past Presidents
2022 – AnnMarie Arens – Maple Grove
2021 – Alex Grundhoffer – Mankato
2020 – Alex Grundhoffer – Mankato
2019 – Dan Pearson – Minneapolis
2018 – Karen Drill – Edina
2017 – Nancy Landmark – Minneapolis
2016 – Sue Basiago – Bloomington
2015 – Jim Milinkovich – Minneapolis
2014 – Edie Michalski – Duluth
2013 – Marty Henschel – Edina
2012 – Bob Ibler – Minneapolis
2011 – Ronnie Semlak – Edina
2010 – David Welshons – Hastings
2009 – Barbara Gilmore – Minneapolis
2008 – Dennis Unger – New Brighton
2007 – David Welshons – Hastings
2006 – Brandt Keefe – Bloomington
2005 – Kathy Austen – Eden Prairie
2004 – James P. Smyithe – Bemidji
2003 – Charles Hoyum – Minneapolis
2002 – Richard Welshons – Hastings
2001 – Tony Winczewski – Minneapolis
2000 – Arlana Langner – Alexandria
1999 – Jack Zachow – Minneapolis
1998 – Gregory A. Booth – New Brighton
1997 – Renee Haglund – Minneapolis
1996 – Jeff Danielson – Willmar
1995 – Greg Russell – Rochester
1994 – Greg Russell – Rochester
1993 – Jim Matsen – Little Falls
1992 – Mary Bakken – Coon Rapids
1991 – William F. Faust – Minneapolis
1990 – Scott S. Danielson – Duluth
1989 – Dale B. Kutter – Chaska
1988 – Rudy E. Wahlsten – Burnsville
1987 – Kenneth Danielson – Willmar
1986 – Charles W. Enger – Austin
1985 – Steven J. Tierney – Edina
1984 – Martin R. Sathre – Bemidji
1983 – Larke L. Huntley – Grand Rapids
1982 – Louise Larson – Little Falls
1981 – Donald Waddick – Minneapolis
1980 – Eugene Prestegaard – Thief River Falls
1979 – Paul W. Wermerskirchen – Shakopee
1978 – H. M. Whiteman – Fairmont
1977 – L. L. Thyen – Hastings
1976 – Beulah Hendricks – Walker
1975 – F. H. Folkens – Ortonville
1974 – J. F. Machacek – Minneapolis
1973 – F. R. Dahlman – Long Prairie
1972 – E. R. Dreas – Winona
1971 – Paul Welshons – Hastings
1970 – K. B. Skurdal – Anoka
1969 – Neal Morstad – Fergus Falls
1968 – L. L. Huntley – Grand Rapids
1967 – Jerald R. Johnson – Moorhead
1966 – Edward W. Simonet, Jr. – Stillwater
1965 – W. S. Engman – Duluth
1964 – J. P. Whitney – Crookston
1963 – J. P. Whitney – Crookston
1962 – C. J. McConville – Minneapolis
1961 – Vern Mostad – Madison
1960 – Leeds D. Cutter – Anoka
1959 – Leeds D. Cutter – Anoka
1958 – Harry Newby – Carlton
1957 – Harry Newby – Carlton
1956 – Harry Newby – Carlton
1955 – M. P. Soderberg – Detroit Lakes
1954 – M. P. Soderberg – Detroit Lakes
1953 – Leo Reuder – Minneapolis
1952 – Harry Newby – Carlton
1951 – Edward W. Simonet, Sr. – Stillwater
1950 – Donald Duerre – Wabasha
1949 – Donald Duerre – Wabasha
1948 – J. F. Horn – Minneapolis
1947 – J. F. Horn – Minneapolis
1946 – P. L. Hamlin – Duluth
1945 – J. F. Horn – Minneapolis
1944 – P. L. Hamlin – Pine City
1943 – W. H. Pryor – Duluth
1942 – E. M. Sathre – Bemidji
1941 – A. F. Soucheray, Jr. – St. Paul
1940 – A. F. Soucheray, Jr. – St. Paul
1939 – Edgar E. Waite – Breckenridge
1938 – Edgar E. Waite – Breckenridge
1937 – N. J. Whitney – Albert Lea
1936 – Albert F. Anderson – Detroit Lakes
1935 – H. A. Schmidt – Winona
1934 – No Record
1933 – Villa Collyer McDowell – Olivia
1932 – Blaine Barker – Cambridge
1931 – Fred Larson – Little Falls
1930 – A. F. Kimball – Duluth
1929 – A. F. Kimball – Duluth
1928 – C. E. Tuttle – Hastings
1927 – C. E. Tuttle – Hastings
1926 – V. E. Erickson – Aitkin
1925 – J. F. Mushel – Foley
1924 – J. F. Mushel – Foley
1923 – Henry C. Soucheray – St. Paul
1922 – Henry C. Soucheray – St. Paul
1921 – No Record
1920 – No Record
1919 – No Record
1918 – No Record
1917 – No Record
1916 – H. A. Schmidt – Winona
1915 – No Record
1914 – L. R. Moyer – Montevideo
1913 – C. C. Strander – Crookston
1912 – No Record
1911 – George C. Merrill – Minneapolis
1910 – George C. Merrill – Minneapolis
1909 – George C. Merrill – Minneapolis
1908 – George C. Merrill – Minneapolis