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South Dakota lawmaker dies of coronavirus

April 4, 2020 GMT

This April, 9, 2018 photo shows South Dakota State Rep. Bob Glanzer in Huron, S.D. After the South Dakota lawmaker became one of the first people in the state to be sickened by the coronavirus from an unknown source, his hometown of Huron acted quickly to blunt the infection rate, but they couldn't stop the disease from spreading among his extended family. Within days of the 74-year-old Glanzer testing positive for the coronavirus, his wife, brother, and sister-in-law all had confirmed infections. Several other relatives have symptoms, according to Tom Glanzer, the lawmaker's son. (The Daily Plainsman via AP)

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota state lawmaker who was among several family members to contract the coronavirus has died.

State Rep. Bob Glanzer died at about 8 p.m. Friday at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, his son Tom said in a Facebook post.

Tom Glanzer and Senate Majority Leader Lee Qualm both confirmed Bob Glanzer’s death to The Associated Press.

The 74-year-old lawmaker had fallen ill almost two weeks ago, part of a cluster of COVID-19 cases around Huron, South Dakota. Glanzer’s wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law all had the virus, and Glanzer’s 51-year-old niece, Mari Hofer, died of it, according to Hofer’s husband, Quint Hofer.

Glanzer was a retired agriculture loan officer and a past manager of the South Dakota State Fair.