USAF VETERAN- - 2ND LT
WW2
Lester C. "Les" Froke died on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 after a short stay at Sanford Hospital.
Les was born on December 15, 1912 in Vienna, SD, the son of Mary and Melvin Froke. Les was Valedictorian of his high school class and a graduate of Augustana College with majors in Mathematics and Physics. While at Augustana, he taught several classes in mathematics and graduated second in his class while financing his education working full time as a barber.
After college he worked at KSOO radio and built their broadcast transmitter. He received his radio operator's license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1935. When KSOO and KELO were separated by federal law in 1937, he joined KELO radio.
Les was drafted into military service in June, 1941 and was assigned radio operator/gunner on B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers. He was later assigned to train B-17 radio operators in Spokane, WA. He was discharged on December 4, 1941 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, he was called back into service and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the "top secret" RADAR school and was sent to England to assist them in building, installing and operating numerous RADAR units on the channel coast across from Nazi occupied France. Les received numerous commendations from his British superiors and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was then called back to the U.S. to assist in the development of another top secret project, long range RADAR where they eventually bounced a signal off of the moon. His unit also participated in the breaking of the Nazi code which was critical to the allies success in defeating the Nazi army. Les was promoted to Captain and re-assigned to install and operate all long range RADAR units in Hawaii and later in Guam. He also taught the long range RADAR technology at Hickam Field in Hawaii.
Upon his discharge he returned to Sioux Falls and became Chief Engineer at KELO radio at the time and later supervised the installation and operation of South Dakota's first television station. He retired from KELO in 1978 after 40 years of service. In 1981, Les was inducted into the South Dakota State University Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He married his beloved wife, Helen in 1954 and they lived in their beautiful home in Sioux Falls.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Nina; and his wife, Helen.
Survivors are sisters Margaret Hallberg of Clark, SD; Arlene Stevens of Grand Meadow, MN; son, Craig (Carol) of River Falls, WI; and grandson, Charles of Miami, FL.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Miller Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Children's Home Society of Sioux Falls.
A true pioneer in radio, RADAR, and television; he will be missed by all of those who were touched by Les!
WW2
Lester C. "Les" Froke died on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 after a short stay at Sanford Hospital.
Les was born on December 15, 1912 in Vienna, SD, the son of Mary and Melvin Froke. Les was Valedictorian of his high school class and a graduate of Augustana College with majors in Mathematics and Physics. While at Augustana, he taught several classes in mathematics and graduated second in his class while financing his education working full time as a barber.
After college he worked at KSOO radio and built their broadcast transmitter. He received his radio operator's license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1935. When KSOO and KELO were separated by federal law in 1937, he joined KELO radio.
Les was drafted into military service in June, 1941 and was assigned radio operator/gunner on B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers. He was later assigned to train B-17 radio operators in Spokane, WA. He was discharged on December 4, 1941 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, he was called back into service and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the "top secret" RADAR school and was sent to England to assist them in building, installing and operating numerous RADAR units on the channel coast across from Nazi occupied France. Les received numerous commendations from his British superiors and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was then called back to the U.S. to assist in the development of another top secret project, long range RADAR where they eventually bounced a signal off of the moon. His unit also participated in the breaking of the Nazi code which was critical to the allies success in defeating the Nazi army. Les was promoted to Captain and re-assigned to install and operate all long range RADAR units in Hawaii and later in Guam. He also taught the long range RADAR technology at Hickam Field in Hawaii.
Upon his discharge he returned to Sioux Falls and became Chief Engineer at KELO radio at the time and later supervised the installation and operation of South Dakota's first television station. He retired from KELO in 1978 after 40 years of service. In 1981, Les was inducted into the South Dakota State University Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He married his beloved wife, Helen in 1954 and they lived in their beautiful home in Sioux Falls.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Nina; and his wife, Helen.
Survivors are sisters Margaret Hallberg of Clark, SD; Arlene Stevens of Grand Meadow, MN; son, Craig (Carol) of River Falls, WI; and grandson, Charles of Miami, FL.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Miller Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Children's Home Society of Sioux Falls.
A true pioneer in radio, RADAR, and television; he will be missed by all of those who were touched by Les!
USAF VETERAN- - 2ND LT
WW2
Lester C. "Les" Froke died on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 after a short stay at Sanford Hospital.
Les was born on December 15, 1912 in Vienna, SD, the son of Mary and Melvin Froke. Les was Valedictorian of his high school class and a graduate of Augustana College with majors in Mathematics and Physics. While at Augustana, he taught several classes in mathematics and graduated second in his class while financing his education working full time as a barber.
After college he worked at KSOO radio and built their broadcast transmitter. He received his radio operator's license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1935. When KSOO and KELO were separated by federal law in 1937, he joined KELO radio.
Les was drafted into military service in June, 1941 and was assigned radio operator/gunner on B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers. He was later assigned to train B-17 radio operators in Spokane, WA. He was discharged on December 4, 1941 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, he was called back into service and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the "top secret" RADAR school and was sent to England to assist them in building, installing and operating numerous RADAR units on the channel coast across from Nazi occupied France. Les received numerous commendations from his British superiors and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was then called back to the U.S. to assist in the development of another top secret project, long range RADAR where they eventually bounced a signal off of the moon. His unit also participated in the breaking of the Nazi code which was critical to the allies success in defeating the Nazi army. Les was promoted to Captain and re-assigned to install and operate all long range RADAR units in Hawaii and later in Guam. He also taught the long range RADAR technology at Hickam Field in Hawaii.
Upon his discharge he returned to Sioux Falls and became Chief Engineer at KELO radio at the time and later supervised the installation and operation of South Dakota's first television station. He retired from KELO in 1978 after 40 years of service. In 1981, Les was inducted into the South Dakota State University Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He married his beloved wife, Helen in 1954 and they lived in their beautiful home in Sioux Falls.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Nina; and his wife, Helen.
Survivors are sisters Margaret Hallberg of Clark, SD; Arlene Stevens of Grand Meadow, MN; son, Craig (Carol) of River Falls, WI; and grandson, Charles of Miami, FL.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Miller Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Children's Home Society of Sioux Falls.
A true pioneer in radio, RADAR, and television; he will be missed by all of those who were touched by Les!
WW2
Lester C. "Les" Froke died on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 after a short stay at Sanford Hospital.
Les was born on December 15, 1912 in Vienna, SD, the son of Mary and Melvin Froke. Les was Valedictorian of his high school class and a graduate of Augustana College with majors in Mathematics and Physics. While at Augustana, he taught several classes in mathematics and graduated second in his class while financing his education working full time as a barber.
After college he worked at KSOO radio and built their broadcast transmitter. He received his radio operator's license from the Federal Communications Commission in 1935. When KSOO and KELO were separated by federal law in 1937, he joined KELO radio.
Les was drafted into military service in June, 1941 and was assigned radio operator/gunner on B-17 "Flying Fortress" bombers. He was later assigned to train B-17 radio operators in Spokane, WA. He was discharged on December 4, 1941 but after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, he was called back into service and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to the "top secret" RADAR school and was sent to England to assist them in building, installing and operating numerous RADAR units on the channel coast across from Nazi occupied France. Les received numerous commendations from his British superiors and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He was then called back to the U.S. to assist in the development of another top secret project, long range RADAR where they eventually bounced a signal off of the moon. His unit also participated in the breaking of the Nazi code which was critical to the allies success in defeating the Nazi army. Les was promoted to Captain and re-assigned to install and operate all long range RADAR units in Hawaii and later in Guam. He also taught the long range RADAR technology at Hickam Field in Hawaii.
Upon his discharge he returned to Sioux Falls and became Chief Engineer at KELO radio at the time and later supervised the installation and operation of South Dakota's first television station. He retired from KELO in 1978 after 40 years of service. In 1981, Les was inducted into the South Dakota State University Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He married his beloved wife, Helen in 1954 and they lived in their beautiful home in Sioux Falls.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Nina; and his wife, Helen.
Survivors are sisters Margaret Hallberg of Clark, SD; Arlene Stevens of Grand Meadow, MN; son, Craig (Carol) of River Falls, WI; and grandson, Charles of Miami, FL.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 9, 2008 at Miller Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Children's Home Society of Sioux Falls.
A true pioneer in radio, RADAR, and television; he will be missed by all of those who were touched by Les!
Bio by: In memory of Scott
Gravesite Details
Funeral Service Wood Lawn record: 02-09-2008
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