The state lawmaker who championed the bill to eliminate smoking in bars and restaurants in South Dakota has died.
Bob Faehn of Watertown died from cancer on Monday. He was first elected to the state Legislature in 2004.
State Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, of Watertown, said Feign was a dedicated lawmaker.
“He ran, principally, because he wanted to get smoking out of restaurants,” Schoenbeck said. “That was a big deal to him. He pushed that issue successfully."
Faehn served in the House for three terms as a Republican from 2005 until 2010. He was elected majority leader during his last two years in the Legislature.
"Bob was such a good guy that it's no surprise when he got elected majority leader," Schoenbeck said. "People around Bob liked him."
Faehn was also a fixture of the local media market. He started working at the Watertown Public Opinion in 1978. According to his obituary, he "sold ads by day and wrote sports by night."
Faehn was able to get a radio station license and was instrumental in founding KXLG Radio for the Watertown and Milbank area.
Faehn's funeral is set for Friday at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown. Governor Kristi Noem was assistant majority leader when Faehn led the House Republicans. Noem calls Faehn a "dear friend."
"Bryon and I are praying for his family,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “He was a tremendous statesman and a gentleman besides. He advocated tirelessly on behalf of South Dakota’s technical colleges, helping to make them among the very best in America.”
