Terry Branstad

Branstad in 2011, photo by Gage Skidmore

Birth Name: Terry Edward Branstad

Place of Birth: Leland, Iowa, U.S.

Date of Birth: November 17, 1946

Ethnicity:
*Norwegian (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)

Terry Branstad is an American politician. A Republican, he has served as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, from January 12, 1979 to January 14, 1983, Governor of Iowa, from January 14, 1983 to January 15, 1999, and again, from January 14, 2011 to May 24, 2017, Chair of the National Governors Association, from August 1, 1989 to July 31, 1990, President of Des Moines University, from August 9, 2003 to October 16, 2009, and U.S. Ambassador to China, from July 12, 2017 to October 4, 2020. He is the longest-serving Governor in American history.

Terry is the son of Rita Lorraine (Garland) and Edward Arnold Branstad. His father was from a Norwegian-American Lutheran family. Terry’s mother was the daughter of Jewish emigrants from Lithuania and Russia.

Terry is married to health activist and medical assistant Christine Branstad. The couple has three children, including political consultant, lobbyist, and public relations professional Eric Branstad. Terry was raised Lutheran, and later converted to Catholicism, his wife’s religion.

Terry is a second cousin of U.S. Attorney General, and Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. Terry’s maternal grandfather, Louis Edward Garland, was the brother of Merrick’s paternal grandfather, Max Hyman/Harry Garland. They had moved from Lithuania to Iowa.

Terry’s paternal grandfather was Helmer David Branstad (the son of Andrew Endre/Endresen Branstad and Ingeborg Gundersdatter Nerlie). Andrew and Ingeborg were Norwegian. Andrew was the son of Endre Endresen Brandstad, who was bron in Brandstad, Øksendal, Møre og Romsdal, and of Dordi Pedersdatter Grytnes. Ingeborg was the daughter of Gunder Larsen Nerlid and Bridt Iversdatter Nerlid.

Terry’s paternal grandmother was Hazel Rosella Peterson (the daughter of Edward Michael Peterson and Helena M. “Lena” Halverson). Edward was born in Iowa, to Norwegian parents, Mikkel Peterson and Anna Nikoline Theadora Dorthea Olson Faa. Helena was also born in Iowa, also of Norwegian descent.

Terry’s maternal grandfather was Louis Edward Garland (the son of Nachman Garland and Rose Friedman). Louis was a Jewish emigrant, from a family from Vaiguva, Lithuania.

Terry’s maternal grandmother was Gertrude K. “Trudy” Goldstein (the daughter of Harry Goldstein and Jennie Horowitz). Gertrude was born in Missouri, to Russian Jewish parents.

Sources: Genealogy of Terry Branstad – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Terry’s parents – http://www.findagrave.com

Terry’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org