Donald M. Fraser - Early Life

Early Life

Donald Fraser was born on February 20, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Everett and Lois Fraser. His parents were immigrants from Canada. His father studied law at Harvard, began teaching at George Washington University and became dean of the University of Minnesota Law School in 1920. Donald Fraser graduated from University High School in 1941 and that year entered the University of Minnesota. During college, he was a member of the varsity swimming team.

Having joined the Navy ROTC, he was placed on active duty in July 1942 and continued his naval studies on campus until February 1944, when he was commissioned an officer and sent to the Pacific Theater during World War II. Fraser worked as a radar officer into the peacetime that followed, ending in 1946. Following his service, in June 1946 Fraser returned to Minneapolis to study law at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Fraser served as a member of the Minnesota Law Review and wrote a law review article on the illegality of racial covenants to land, a position supported by the US Supreme Court in 1948. Fraser earned his law degree in 1948 and was admitted to the bar the same year. He joined the politically active firm of Larson, Loevinger, Lindquist, Freeman, and Fraser. Fraser engaged in general law practice and served as municipal attorney for the suburban community of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. He married Arvonne Skelton in 1950 and the following year they welcomed the first of their six children: Thomas, Mary, John, Lois, Anne, and Jean (oldest to youngest).