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By Dana Kazel
St. Louis County leaders are saddened to learn of the death of Don Dicklich, who served as St. Louis County Auditor/Treasurer for 14 years. Dicklich passed away earlier this week in Arizona, where he had moved following his retirement in 2018.
Dicklich was first appointed by the County Board to fill the role in 2004 following the retirement of the previous auditor. He then won re-election by voters three times - in 2006, 2010 and 2014. He is credited for his strong leadership in strengthening the county's financial standing and developing staff who continue that legacy today.
"Don ran the Office of County Auditor with dignity and respect," said Commissioner Keith Nelson, who was part of the original Board that hired Dicklich. "He embraced change and got a lot done, including earning the County a AA+ bond rating"
"Don was very knowledgeable and he really cared about the people of St. Louis County," said current Auditor/Treasurer Nancy Nilsen. She worked with Dicklich for many years, serving as Chief Deputy Auditor. "He was such a model of public service. He used to say, 'This isn't my office, it's the people's office.' I thought very highly of him."
Dicklich, originally from Hibbing, brought a wealth of private sector experience with him when he was appointed Auditor/Treasurer. He was honored by the Minnesota Association of County Officers as Auditor of the Year in 2016. Even after his retirement, Dicklich remained actively involved in public service, including serving on the Camp Esquagama Advisory Committee.
