1922-2006; North Dakota House of Representatives, 1956-1960 and 1962-1974; North Dakota State Senate, 1980-1996

Streibel, Sidney Bryce (1922-2006)

Sidney Bryce Streibel was born on the Streibel family farm in Fessenden, Wells County, North Dakota, on November 19, 1922. His parents were Reinhold Michael Streibel (1892-1956) and Frieda Ida Streibel (nee Broschat) (1901-1966) of Fessenden. Reinhold Streibel served in the North Dakota Senate from 1936 to 1956, serving nine out of ten sessions as the Floor Leader for the Nonpartisan League. Reinhold and Frieda had two children: Bryce and Shirley.

Bryce Streibel attended a rural school in Germantown Township and graduated from Fessenden High School in 1940. He attended the University of North Dakota from 1940 to 1942. He then moved to Napa, California, where he worked as a design engineer for the United States government from 1943 to 1946. In 1946 and 1947 Bryce served as an apprentice with the Martin Funeral Home in Stockton, California. He married June Patricia Buckley (1923- ) of Mandan, North Dakota, in Napa in March 1947. One week later, Bryce enrolled as a student at the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. He graduated as valedictorian of his class with a bachelor of science degree, passed the California State Board Examination, and received a funeral director and embalmers license in 1947. He practiced his profession at the Martin Funeral Home in Stockton, California.

While living in Stockton, Bryce was active in community service. He was active in 20-30 International, a young mens' service club. He served as Deputy Governor of this organization in 1949-1950, Lieutenant Governor in 1950-1951, District Governor (1951-1952), International Director from 1952 to 1954, and International President in 1954-1955. He also served as President of the University of Pacific Quarterback Club in 1954-1955, and served a four-year term as a member of the World Council of Young Mens Service clubs from 1950 to 1954. While living in California, June and Bryce became the parents of Kent Bradley Streibel in 1954.

The Bryce Streibel family returned to North Dakota to live on and operate the family farm in Fessenden in 1955. In 1956, Bryce Streibel was elected as the Republican Party nominee for the 33rd Legislative District to the North Dakota House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1958 and served as Assistant Majority Leader from 1959 to 1961. He served as the District Chairman of the Republican Party from 1958 to 1960. In 1960, the Republican Party endorsed Streibel as the nominee for the office of Lieutenant Governor, but he was defeated in the primary election. He was then elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1962 and served in the legislature until his retirement in 1974. As such, Streibel served as the Minority Leader in the House from 1964 to 1966 as well as the Majority Leader in the House from 1966 to 1974. He also served as a member of the Vocational Education Planning Council (1967-1969), Chairman of the Legislative Council (1969-1975), and on the Board of Governors for the Council of State Governments (1969-1975).

Upon his retirement from the House of Representatives, Bryce Streibel became involved in local government. He was elected to and served on the Fessenden City Council from 1976 to 1984. He served as president of the council in 1982 to 1984. Streibel served on the Wells County Planning Commission (1976-1984) and as the chairman of the Fessenden Airport Authority (1980- ). He was appointed to the National Weather Modification Advisory Board by the United States Secretary of Commerce from 1977 to 1979. Governor Arthur A. Link appointed Streibel to the North Dakota Board of Higher Education (1977-1981). He served as a member of the North Dakota Educational Broadcasting Council (1977-1981) and North Dakota Postsecondary Education Commission (1977-1981).

In 1980, Bryce Streibel came out of retirement from legislative service. He was elected as the Republican candidate for the North Dakota Senate. As a State Senator, Streibel served as a member on the North Dakota Higher Education Study Commission (1981-1983), the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee (1983-1985), Chairman of the Budget "A" Committee in the Legislative Council (1983-1985), Chairman of the Budget Committee on Higher Education in the Legislative Council (1985-1987), Chairman of the North Dakota Advisory Committee for the United States Commission on Civil Rights (1988-1994), Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (1993-1995), and President Pro Tempore in the North Dakota Senate (1995).

Bryce and June Streibel developed close relations with the University of North Dakota. Bryce Streibel was a key supporter for the establishment of the Center of Aviation and Atmospheric Studies (later, Center for Aerospace Studies) at the University of North Dakota. He established an annual aviation scholarship award at the University of North Dakota in 1976. The University of North Dakota Alumni Association awarded him the "Sioux Award" in 1976. He was a Trustee of the Fellows of the University of North Dakota (1977-1982). He served as a member of the University of North Dakota Medical Center Advisory Council in 1978-1979. Bryce and June Streibel were charter members of the University of North Dakota's Benefactor Club. They received the University of North Dakota Benefactor Award in 1981. Streibel served on the University of North Dakota Centennial Commission in 1981 to 1983. Bryce and June Streibel established the Streibel Family Scholarship Trust Fund at the University of North Dakota in 1982. They received the University of North Dakota William Budge Society Award in 1982. In 1983, the University of North Dakota published Bryce Streibel's autobiography Pathways Through Life. Bryce Streibel donated his stamp collection to the University of North Dakota in the early 1990s. In 1996, Bryce and June Streibel were charter members of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux Club. In 1998, the University of North Dakota renamed the Center for Aerospace Studies II as Streibel Hall.

Bryce Streibel died on August 13, 2006, in New Rockford, North Dakota.

Politics and Government - Republican Party
University of North Dakota - Alumni
University of North Dakota - Benefactors