A Montana Constitution Presentation
Featuring:
Mae Nan Ellingson and Jerry Loendorf,
Delegates to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention
With the Powell County Commission
Celebrating 125 Years: 1901-1926
Deer Lodge, Montana
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
RSVP to Erin Fouche, 406-846-9788 x242
Join this free presentation hosted by the Powell County Commissioners Office on Montana’s 1972 Constitution. Hear from two Constitutional Convention Delegates, Mae Nan Ellingson and Jerry Loendorf, on the factors that led to a calling a convention, why they chose to run as delegates, what it was like to craft a new constitution, and how it continues to serve the People of Montana.
Mae Nan [Robinson] Ellingson was the youngest delegate to the 1972 Constitutional Constitutional Convention. She was elected as a 24-year-old graduate student at the University of Montana. After the Convention, she became a lawyer, first working for the City of Missoula and then for 33 years specializing in the finance of public infrastructure throughout the state at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. She retired in 2013, but continued to do pro bono work for non-profit organizations. She is active in many community organizations including the Friends of the Montana Constitution and, as one of seven delegates remaining, she gladly talks about the Constitution and the 1972 ConCon. She has two sons and four grandchildren.
Jerome T. Loendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Carroll College, Helena, Montana, in 1961, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1964. Jerry served as a law clerk for the Montana Supreme Court in 1965; Lewis and Clark County Public Defender in 1968; Lewis and Clark Deputy County Attorney in 1970; and was elected a Delegate to Montana’s Constitutional Convention in 1971. Following the Convention he publicly advocated ratification of the Constitution by the voters of Montana by speaking to many organizations on that subject. He participated in the litigation challenging the ratification of the Constitution including serving as a Montana Special Assistant Attorney General for purposes of representing the State of Montana in the Federal court case challenging the results of the election ratifying Montana’s Constitution. He was a member of the law firm, Harrison, Loendorf, Poston and Duncan, P.C. from 1966 through 2003.
The Friends of the Montana Constitution is a nonpartisan statewide nonprofit organization working to inspire appreciation of Montana’s Constitution, support civic education at all levels, and celebrate the legacy of the 1972 Constitutional Convention.