Profile Text
official photo of Jon Tester
Place of Birth: Havre, Montana, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 21, 1956
Ethnicity: * father – English, possibly other * mother – Swedish
Jon Tester is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was President of the Montana Senate, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2007, a U.S. Senator from Montana, from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2025, Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, from February 12, 2014 to January 3, 2015, Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, from January 3, 2015 to January 3, 2017, and Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, from February 3, 2021 to January 3, 2025.
Jon is the son of Helen Marie (Pearson) and David Orson Tester. He is married to Sharla Bitz, with whom he has three children.
He was raised in Chouteau County, near Big Sandy, Montana, on land homesteaded by his grandfather in 1912.
Jon’s paternal grandfather was Vernon Raymond Tester. Vernon was born in Utah, and was adopted by English parents, Charles Cyrus Tester and Mary Ann Rawlings, who were immigrants to the U.S. He was found on their doorstep as a newborn. Charles was born in Nutley, East Sussex, the son of George Tester and Emma Feldwick. Mary Ann was born in Upton Noble, Somerset, the daughter of James Rawlings and Margaret Elizabeth Sharpe.
Jon’s paternal grandmother was Caroline Hannah Worthington (the daughter of Orson Henry Worthington and Sarah Selina Holmes). Caroline was born in Utah, to English parents. Orson was born in Corley, Warwick, the son of Henry Worthington and Mary J. Ison. Sarah was born in Bitchfield, Lincolnshire, the daughter of John Holmes, Sr. and Mary Rayson.
Jon’s maternal grandfather was Fred Arnfred Pearson (the son of Jens Pearson and Betsy Anderson). Fred was born in North Dakota, to Swedish parents.
Jon’s maternal grandmother was Christine Persson/Pearson (the daughter of Anders Persson/Pearson and Kerstin Hansson). Christine was born in Sweden.
Sources: Genealogies of Jon Tester – http://freepages.rootsweb.com https://www.geni.com