Bruce Hagen

Bruce Hagen, Longtime North Dakota Public Service Commissioner, Dies at 94

Bismarck, ND — Bruce Hagen, a dedicated public servant and the longest-serving statewide elected official in North Dakota history, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Bismarck. He was 94 years old, just two days shy of his 95th birthday. His passing was confirmed by his daughters, Marin Hagen and Jennifer Robinson.

A memorial service will be held at Parkway Funeral Home in Bismarck on August 8, 2025 at 4pm, and another to follow at Norway Lutheran Church Cemetery west of Devils Lake, ND, on August 9, 2025 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, Bruce would have appreciated donations be made to the recipient of your choice. He felt strongly about giving back.

Appointed by Governor William Guy in 1961 as deputy motor vehicle registrar, Bruce Hagen soon after began what would become a nearly four-decade tenur with the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC), starting on September 19, 1961. He was re-elected six times, serving until his retirement on December 31, 2000. His time on the PSC spanned monumental changes in telecommunications, energy regulation, and infrastructure development. He played a critical role in shaping fair utility regulations and advancing public interests during a time of rapid change. He is believed to be the longest serving statewide elected official in North Dakota history and was the only Democrat ever elected to the PSC.

Sen. Kent Conrad commented, “Bruce deeply believed in democracy, and that making it work is everyone’s responsibility. And he understood to make it work the public had to see and feel that elected officials were working in the public interest. He will always be remembered as a good and thoughtful man who dedicated his life to making all of our lives better.”

Hagen also sought higher office, running twice for U.S. Congress in 1968 and 1978. His leadership extended nationally as chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), where he earned the National Leadership Award for Excellence and served on several high-profile committees. He was also a founding member of the federal/state Alaska joint board of the FCC and the first North Dakota commissioner to serve on such a board.

In state roles, he chaired the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission, the State Intermodal Transportation Team, and held positions on numerous advisory boards, including the Lignite Research Council and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. A passionate advocate for public policy, Hagen consistently brought vision, integrity, and fairness to every office he held. Ken Ziegler, a longtime friend, said, “When you think of the term public servant, Bruce Hagen comes to mind. While he held strong political beliefs, they were set aside when any company or cooperative appeared before the North Dakota Public Service Commission.” Rep. Earl Pomeroy added, “Bruce Hagen was the very personification of fairness.”

Born on June 21, 1930, on his grandparents’ farm in Grand Harbor Township near Devils Lake, Bruce was the son of Mildred and Ernest Hagen. He grew up across various North Dakota communities and graduated from Central High School in Devils Lake in 1948. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s in government and economics from the University of North Dakota, plus did an additional year of postgraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin.

Bruce served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War (1950–52), training troops in Alabama. He was active in student government at UND and remained a progressive voice throughout his life. His lifelong love of farming continued even after he entered public service, maintaining family farmland in Ramsey and Benson counties with the help of trusted farming partners.

In retirement, Bruce remained an active civic participant. Among other things, he served as president of the board of the Society for the Preservation of the Former Governor’s Mansion from 2000-2023. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp said, “Bruce never stopped serving his country even in retirement. He worked to educate and to build trust across the political aisle. He remains an example to all who aspired to serve the public.” He also volunteered with Ministry on the Margins and contributed to various social and service organizations including the Lions Club, Farmers Union, American Legion and Sons of Norway, the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, Inc. and Charles Hall, among many others.

Bruce was known for his intellect, warmth, humility and generosity. A 2000 resolution by NARUC stated, “He represented all the best in public service and set an ethical and intellectual standard to which we should all aspire.” Sen. Byron Dorgan added, “Bruce Hagen, for decades, relentlessly continued his dedicated public service to our state. If ever there was a real definition of “public service,” it would apply to Bruce. His life is the celebration of a man who made a difference.”

Bruce Hagen is survived by his daughters, Marin Hagen of Washington, DC, and Jennifer Robinson of Nashville, TN; grandsons Luke and Max Robinson; his brother, Dr. Boyd Hagen (Caroline) of Nelson County, ND; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Marilyn Pederson and Roger Hagen.

Bruce once said, “My roots are in the good soil of this place [the Devils Lake area].” He will be remembered for his deep love of North Dakota, his enduring commitment to public service, and the kindness and generosity he extended to all who knew him.