After 43 years and thousands of columns and editorials, Star Tribune columnist and editorial writer Lori Sturdevant is retiring.

Sturdevant, a South Dakota native, started writing about Minnesota politics and government first in the Star Tribune newsroom but for most of her tenure as an opinion writer and member of the Editorial Board.

She's an award-winning writer, speaker and author who has devoted her career to public service journalism. And she's not completely done with that work. Never one to turn down a request from editors, Sturdevant has agreed to write occasional columns for us while also spending more time with her book projects, gardening, family and friends.

Scott Gillespie, editorial page editor