Frolkey, Reginald Joseph "Rex" 1889-1929

FROLKEY, ERICKSON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/9/2011 at 12:44:30

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
October 4, 1929

LAST RITES FOR FALLEN CITIZEN
FINAL OBSEQUIES ARE HELD FOR SELF REVEALED DOUBLE DEALER

A brief service was held Wednesday afternoon at the Beely undertaking rooms
for Rex. J. Frolkey, whose tragic death Monday evening caused a sensation in
the town, where he was regarded for the past fifteen years as a good citizen
and good fellow. The service was conducted by Rev. J. J. DePree of the
First Presbyterian Church. The remains were shipped to Kearney, Neb., where
funeral services were held Thursday, under the auspices of the American
Legion.

Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Frolkey, of Eddyville, Neb., father and stepmother of the
dead man, and a brother, Earl Frolkey, came to LeMars immediately after
receiving news of the tragedy, and accompanied the remains back to their
Nebraska home. Mrs. Rex Frolkey, wife of the deceased man, went with them
to attend the final rites.

Reginald Joseph Frolkey was born at Garfield, Neb., April 21, 1889, where he
spent his early youth. He came to LeMars about fifteen years ago. He
attended Western Union college and his young wife taught school and helped
her husband in his effort to obtain a higher education. During the World
War, Rex Frolkey entered the service. His first wife died nine years ago,
and six years ago Frolkey was married to Mrs. Clara Erickson, a member of a
pioneer and wealthy family of Grant township, this county. They adopted a
boy and a girl since their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Frolkey during their
brief married life became estranged chiefly through Frolkey’s waywardness
and divorce proceedings were started by Mrs. Frolkey. Later a
reconciliation had partly effected, although Mr. Frolkey maintained a home
in Sioux City in addition to the residence maintained in LeMars with Mrs.
Frolkey.

While at college, Frolkey was popular and active in school and in athletics
and attained some fame as a football star. After his graduation, he was
ordained an Evangelical minister and for some time conducted services at the
Plymouth church at Crathorne.

Frolkey later took charge of radio station KWUC about four years ago. The
power plant and tower were located at LeMars. Two studios, one at LeMars
and the other at Sioux City, were operated from the LeMars tower. The
station was supervised by the faculty of Western Union college.

A year ago this month faculty members asked the Federal Radio Commission to
close the studio and revoke Frolkey’s license as operator.

Frolkey recently had been engaged in the business of selling monuments.
Friends blame his mania for gambling for his tragic death. He said to have
lost large sums of money recently gambling and others advance the theory
that he was addicted to dope. The dead man was known to hundreds of people
in this vicinity.

Friends and associates at LeMars and in Sioux City are shocked by the sudden
revelation of his hectic existence during the last few months.

Associates here said that Frolkey had attempted to end his own life on other
occasions. Once he was thwarted by an associate in one of the local studios
after he had drawn a gun and stated that he realized his moral weakness and
was going to “end it all.” On another occasion he threatened to end his
life after domestic difficulties.