Robert Locken

1929 - 2016

Robert Locken

Robert Locken, retired employee of Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., died Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Southridge Health Care. A memorial service will be 2:00 pm Thursday, June 9, at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Ave., with burial at Hills of Rest Cemetery.

Robert A. Locken was born July 15, 1929 in Aberdeen, SD, to Carl I. and Johanna (Weber) Locken. Following graduation from Aberdeen Central High School in 1946, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany.

After his military duty he went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone in Aberdeen. Bob worked for the telephone company for 33 years and retired in Sioux Falls, SD in 1982.

He married Delores Smolnisky on September 7, 1952 in Aberdeen. Bob and Dee enjoyed travel and vacationing in the mountains of Colorado. They lived in Aberdeen, Omaha and Sioux Falls. After retirement they moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Dee passed away in January of 1995 and in January of 1996 Bob returned to Sioux Falls.

Bob was a past president and Life member of the Telephone Pioneers, was a member of the Sunrise Lodge 211 Masonic Order in Aberdeen, El Riad Shrine of Sioux Falls. He also had a close association with Sanford Medical Center, the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, MN, and Augustana College Foundation and scholarship program in Sioux Falls.

He leaves behind his sister in-law, Bonnie Locken of Aberdeen, SD, and 12 nieces and nephews.

His parents, brother, Carl and special friend, Vera Moreland also preceded him in death.

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