C Kenneth Kjeldseth

C. Kenneth "Ken" Kjeldseth, 84, of Sioux City died Saturday, April 21, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital, with his family by his side, after a sudden illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Ken was born in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 14, 1922, to Carl Gustaf and Julia (Knutson) Kjeldseth Gronlund. As a small child, the family moved to Yankton, S.D. Upon graduation from Yankton High School, Ken joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After his tour of duty, Ken returned home and graduated from Yankton College. Having developed a desire for a career in the broadcasting industry, he attended a summer session in radio at UCLA in conjunction with NBC Broadcasting Company.

He married Arlene Chapman on Jan. 17, 1948, in Yankton. After accepting a position as an announcer and sales representative at KSCJ Radio, the couple moved to Sioux City, where Ken later became the station's sales manager.

In 1972, Ken moved his family to Mason City, Iowa, with the purchase of KRIB Radio. They returned to Sioux City in 1974, where he owned and operated KTRI Radio, eventually changing the call letters to KWSL. In addition to owning KWSL, they also owned radio property in Jameston, N.D. From 1972 until recently, Ken was in the radio business with the Chesterman family of Sioux City.

During his long tenure in the radio business, Ken always believed in giving back to the community. He served in various capacities with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and YMCA. He served as the president of the Better Business Bureau and was on the boards of the Kiwanis Club, Junor-Senior Chamber of Commerce and Sioux City Country Club.

He attended First United Methodist Church, where he was in charge of the adult Sunday school classes for more than five years. Ken also served on the administrative board as finance chairman as well as on the board of trustees.

Other than spending time with his family and his love of radio, his other true pleasures were a "grand slam" in a game of bridge and shooting for "birdies" in a round of golf.

Extremely proud of his family, Ken is survived by his wife, Arlene; two sons and one daughter, Craig Kjeldseth of Los Angeles, Calif., Jan and Kyle Thomas of Malvern, Ark. and Kevin and Terri Kjeldseth of Sioux City; two granddaughters, Jodie Clower and Kayla Kjeldseth; and two great-granddaughters, Kelsie and Kathryn.

Pallbearers will be Byron Foreman, Jim Engel, Gary McFarland, Ted Mann, Cy Chesterman and Dennis Bullock. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Kelsey, Bill Jansen, Charlie Zook, Dick Jensen, Jim Duffy, Jack Berg, Keith Warner, Don Stone, Bert Tagg, Chleo Weins and David Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church.