Lonnie Laffen

Laffen was founder of JLG, an architecture firm with locations throughout the region, and also was a former member of the state Senate. He died Wednesday, Dec. 23 2020, of a heart attack. Laffen, 62, served in the state Senate from 2010 to 2018 and for years held the roles of president and CEO of JLG Architects, a firm that has offices in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Massachusetts and has won numerous design awards. In 2018, Laffen recommended splitting the roles of CEO and president and took on the latter role, focusing on JLG’s strategic initiatives, according to the firm’s website. Laffen, a native of Wimbledon, N.D., represents the “L” in the firm’s name. JLG originally was founded in 1989 by Laffen and Gary Johnson. Another partner, Jim Galloway, joined later. JLG in 2014 transitioned to an employee-owned company. JLG is in the midst of constructing a landmark building in downtown Grand Forks, named the Argyle, and plans to move its offices into the new building in 2021. Laffen won several prestigious awards in recent years, including the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce’s Henry Havig Award for Community Service. Earlier this month, JLG was selected as the project architect for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, in western North Dakota. Laffen at the time of his death was chairman of the Altru Health System board of directors. The hospital is in the midst of a major construction project, which has been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic. He served on the board since 2008. Laffen also was a former president of the Grand Forks/East Grand Chamber of Commerce. Laffen is survived by his wife, Pam, and three children.