Rhonda Knudsen
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Rhonda Knudsen
|office = Speaker pro tempore of the Montana House of Representatives
|term_start = January 2, 2023
|term_end = January 6, 2025
|predecessor = Casey Knudsen
|successor = Katie Zolnikov
|state_house1 = Montana
|district1 = 34th
|term_start1 = January 7, 2019
|term_end1 =
|predecessor1 = Austin Knudsen
|successor1 =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1960}}
|birth_place = Culbertson, Montana, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse =
|children = 2, including Austin
|education = Montana State University
Helena College University of Montana (AS)
}}
Rhonda Knudsen (born 1960)https://leg.mt.gov/content/sessions/68th/2023-Copper-Book.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}} is an American politician and retired civil engineer serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 34th district. Elected in 2019, Knudsen succeeded her son, House Speaker Austin Knudsen.{{Cite web|title=HOUSE DISTRICT 34 {{!}} {{!}} billingsgazette.com|url=https://billingsgazette.com/house-district-34/article_c9edb151-ba27-5deb-a42f-32d0a8e67816.amp.html|access-date=2020-07-24|website=billingsgazette.com|date=13 April 2020 }}{{Cite web|title=Rhonda Knudsen|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rhonda_Knudsen|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}
Early life and education
Knudsen was born and raised in Culbertson, Montana. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Montana State University.
Career
Prior to entering politics, Knudsen worked as a civil engineer for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Knudsen was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 2018 took office in 2019, succeeding her son, House Speaker Austin Knudsen, who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits and later announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Montana in the 2020 election.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-03|title=MT-AtyGen-nominated|url=https://apnews.com/5207d79245454e4a8aa414241590a812|access-date=2020-07-24|website=AP NEWS}}{{Cite web|last=Courier|first=The Glasgow|title=Rhonda Knudsen Seeks Son's House Seat|url=https://www.glasgowcourier.com/story/2018/02/14/news/rhonda-knudsen-seeks-sons-house-seat/5889.html|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The Glasgow Courier}}{{Cite web|last=holly.michels@lee.net|first=HOLLY K. MICHELS|title=Dozens of candidates enter races on last day of election filing in Montana|url=https://helenair.com/news/government-and-politics/dozens-of-candidates-enter-races-on-last-day-of-election-filing-in-montana/article_b7d3da35-4525-5cab-a97e-72ebe9a13ae5.html|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Helena Independent Record|date=12 March 2018 |language=en}}
Personal life
Knudsen and her husband have two children, including Austin.
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-mt-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Casey Knudsen}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker pro tempore of the Montana House of Representatives|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Katie Zolnikov}}
{{s-end}}
{{Montana House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knudsen, Rhonda}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature
Category:American civil engineers
Category:American Ojibwe people
Category:Montana State University alumni
Category:People from Roosevelt County, Montana
Category:Republican Party members of the Montana House of Representatives