Funeral services were held Saturday in Sturgis, S.D. for Marguerite Kleven, who passed away in late April at age 91 while under hospice care at her home of 54 years in Sturgis.
Marguerite was a pioneer in the broadcast business, but you certainly couldn’t limit her legacy to that.
She wore a number of hats in her 91 years. Businesswoman, community advocate, educator, public servant, wife, mother and grandmother.
Marguerite worked hand-in-hand with her husband Les in starting radio stations that were a part of and served their communities with pride. Among those stations was KKOJ-AM and later KRAQ-FM in Jackson.
Dave Maschoff is City Clerk among a few hats that he wears for the City of Jackson.
He worked with the Klevens for more than three decades, first at KKOJ Radio in Jackson, then at KBHB in Sturgis and then at KKOJ and also sister station KRAQ.
“She was a very kind and caring person,” Maschoff said. “Marguerite was the person behind the scenes for Kleven Broadcasting helping to take care of the details. She set a good example as a hands-on team player.
“Besides being involved in helping Les develop radio stations in Sturgis, Milbank, Jackson, and St. Cloud, Marguerite also set the example about the importance in being involved in the community.”
Marguerite didn’t just talk the talk. She very much walked the walk.
“She served in the South Dakota Senate, served many years on the Meade School Board and many years as its President,” Maschoff said. “She also served on the High Plains Heritage Board, many Sturgis community groups and had always been involved with her church, Grace Lutheran in Sturgis. The number of organizations she was a member of is remarkable. Besides serving the community with a local, community radio station, she was also involved IN the community. That mission of serving the community held true for the radio station they started in Jackson in July of 1980 with KKOJ and later with KRAQ.”
My interactions with Marguerite were limited to phone conversations, emails and Facebook messages.
I always felt it said a lot about Marguerite that a person with her schedule would take the time to reach out to me regarding personal matters such as when my dad passed away or my wife Maren had back surgery.
And it was especially remarkable that she sent a note after my heart attack in 2019, three years after Kleven Broadcasting had sold the station.
Dave and his wife Jan had an opportunity to spend some time with Marguerite last fall. She was in the hospital in Rapid City.
“I stopped in to see her and she was in good spirits and looked good,” he said. “She had developed problems with her kidneys and doctors were trying a few things, but it ended up there wasn’t anything that could be done, so she chose to go to hospice, which she was able to do at her home in Sturgis.
“Back in October, she was doing great, driving, attending events, still serving on community organizations. Jan and I spent a day with her having breakfast, driving through Spearfish Canyon and stopping in Deadwood at the candy shop. I sure cherish that we spent that day with her. I would have never guessed a few months later she would pass away.”
During the 20 or so years I worked with Dave there were many discussions about his ability to accept advancements in technology. He used cart machines and reel-to-reel tapes as long as he could.
These days, he’s thankful for at least one advancement.
“Sturgis is about the only radio station I listen do anymore. Thank goodness for Alexa.” he commented. “I left KBHB to move back to Jackson 27 years ago and still pretty much know everyone that’s working there.
“I’ve been away from KKOJ for about seven years and don’t know anyone working there anymore. I guess that, in itself, says a lot.”