Dudley Fraki was born at home in New York Mills to Finnish speaking parents in 1931. It is said that he didn't speak English until he went to kindergarten and he learned to read and write Finnish from his mother, who was a former schoolteacher. Dudley graduated from New York Mills High School in 1949 where a couple years later he joined the United States Army that lead him across the seas to Europe, to be stationed in Germany. After 3 years of service, he returned to New York Mills where he married Marjorie Trossen in 1955. Dudley started working for the New York Mills Herald when he was 15 years old until he retired in 1992. Over his 40 years at Parta Printers he was a typesetter, printer and responsible for the weekly layout of the newspaper. Additionally, his Finnish language skills were used to help assemble the bi-weekly Finnish newspaper. From 1959-1961, he moved his family to Thief River Falls to continue in the newspaper business, but decided to return to Mills to care for his parents. In 1970, he bought a newspaper in Halstad, Minnesota where he owned and operated the local newspaper there for a year and a half. His family will always remember Dudley as a quiet man who did not waste words. He enjoyed getting together with family, discussing current politics, bowling on Monday nights, golfing with Wayne Matson and dancing. Dudley's humor and intelligence will be missed by those who knew him best. Dudley passed away on July 23, 2016 at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota
Dudley Fraki was born at home in New York Mills to Finnish speaking parents in 1931. It is said that he didn't speak English until he went to kindergarten and he learned to read and write Finnish from his mother, who was a former schoolteacher. Dudley graduated from New York Mills High School in 1949 where a couple years later he joined the United States Army that lead him across the seas to Europe, to be stationed in Germany. After 3 years of service, he returned to New York Mills where he married Marjorie Trossen in 1955. Dudley started working for the New York Mills Herald when he was 15 years old until he retired in 1992. Over his 40 years at Parta Printers he was a typesetter, printer and responsible for the weekly layout of the newspaper. Additionally, his Finnish language skills were used to help assemble the bi-weekly Finnish newspaper. From 1959-1961, he moved his family to Thief River Falls to continue in the newspaper business, but decided to return to Mills to care for his parents. In 1970, he bought a newspaper in Halstad, Minnesota where he owned and operated the local newspaper there for a year and a half. His family will always remember Dudley as a quiet man who did not waste words. He enjoyed getting together with family, discussing current politics, bowling on Monday nights, golfing with Wayne Matson and dancing. Dudley's humor and intelligence will be missed by those who knew him best. Dudley passed away on July 23, 2016 at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota
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