Longtime Watertown, South Dakota, radio station owner and former state legislator Bob Faehn has died of cancer at the age of 63.
“He wanted to make Watertown a better place, and I believe he has,” his wife Susie said in announcing Faehn’s death on their station, KXLG/99.1 (Milbank-Watertown).
Faehn began his media career as a salesperson and sports writer for the Watertown Public Opinion in 1978. He moved to KSDR/1480 (Watertown) in 1984, later buying the station and adding KSDR-FM/92.9 (Watertown) in 1990. He sold KSDR AM-FM in 2000.
After working in Sioux Falls radio for a few years, Faehn entered politics, serving as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010. According to his obituary, Faehn’s proudest accomplishments were sponsoring legislation to ban smoking in bars and restaurants and serving as House Majority Leader in his final term.
In 2009, Faehn’s company signed on KXLG after moving the license in from Huron. The station is locally-focused, with well-known personalities, community service involvement, and local news.
Faehn worked at KXLG until being forced to retire earlier this year due to health concerns. He passed away Monday, Sept. 13.
Days before Faehn’s death, KXLG filed an application with the FCC to adjust the ownership of KXLG licensee TMRG LLC, with Faehn Radio Enterprises’ share of the company changing from 40% to 25%. Station manager Melissa Herrboldt’s Boldt Media LLC will have 25% of the company, and other local investors will control the remaining 50%.
“Bob put a lot of things in place and he did a lot of things for a lot of people. I believe the world is a better place with him in it, and he left it better than he found it,” Herrboldt said during KXLG’s remembrance.
Services will be held Friday in Watertown. Business partners and employees will be among those to serve as honorary urn bearers.
Faehn is survived by his wife Susie, two children, and six grandchildren.