[1] From the town of Edgerton, Menning, a local businessman, made energy, agriculture, education and transportation his special concerns during his time in the legislature.
In the Senate, he served on the Energy & Housing, Finance, Local Government, and Transportation committees, and on various sub-committees relevant to each area.
Menning subsequently threw his support to Ludeman,[5] who lost the November general election to popular incumbent governor Rudy Perpich.
In 1985, Menning co-authored the book "Us Four: A Senator, His Family, Their Brain Injured Child" along with Ruth Peterman of Minneapolis.
[7] Putting politics aside, Menning eventually left Minnesota, moving to Salt Lake City, Utah with his family, where he served as pastor of the Mountain Springs Community Church for five years,[8][9] also continuing his work with Friendship Ministries.