KJOE 106.1 FM has served southwest Minnesota as a key FM voice in the Pipestone, Worthington, and Marshall region since signing on in the early 1990s. Built as a strong regional FM signal, the station quickly established itself as a dependable source of music and local information for communities across the listening area.

From its early years, KJOE was designed to provide a high-quality FM listening experience with broad coverage and clear reception throughout southwest Minnesota and neighboring regions. The station developed a country music identity that connected strongly with rural audiences and small towns throughout its coverage area.

By the mid-1990s, KJOE had fully embraced its country format, becoming a recognizable brand in the region. Its mix of contemporary and classic country music, paired with local news, weather updates, and community information, made it a consistent part of daily listening habits for many area residents.

KJOE has remained locally owned and operated, continuing a tradition of community-focused radio. The station has maintained its country music format while strengthening its commitment to local service, including area news, weather coverage, and regional updates important to its listeners.

Over the years, KJOE has continued to evolve its programming presentation while maintaining its core identity as a reliable country music station for southwest Minnesota.

Today, KJOE 106.1 FM remains a cornerstone of Christensen Broadcasting’s network, delivering country music and local service to listeners across the region while carrying forward decades of consistent, community-focused broadcasting.

In January 1955, the Federal Communications Commission granted permission to Pipestone Radio Corporation, C.B. Thomas, President, to construct a radio station with a power of 1,000 watts on 1050 kilocycles with the call letters of KLOH (“Land of Hiawatha”) In June of 1955, Dalton Nelson, station manager, put KLOH on the air.

In the early years, KLOH broadcast during daylight hours only. The first studio location was downtown Pipestone in a basement of a building next to the old Eagle Cafe. In 1961 the studio was moved to its present location west of Pipestone on Highway 30 at the twin towers site. In 1962, KLOH was purchased by Ingstad Corporation of Valley City, ND, Bob Ingstad Sr. President.

In 1965 Wallace Christensen took a position as an announcer, became Sales Manager, and then by 1972 was General Manager. In August 1976 he purchased the station from the Ingstads and is the present owner. During these years, KLOH has had major upgrades. One of the twin towers was moved and power was increased from 1,000 watts to 9,000 watts. Coverage was increased and KLOH started broadcasting in Stereo and 24 hours a day.

In 1980 a major building project was completed more than doubling the studio and office space. In May of 1998 a complete upgrade was done with the front office traffic and billing system computers.

In 2008 a major remodeling project made the building handicap accessible.

Dalton E. “Rob” Nelson
General Manager
Rob started in radio some twenty years ago announcing. During the years he has written comedy for CBS shows, been an executive in advertising agencies and built a couple of radio stations. He attended the University of North Dakota and Northwestern University specializing in Merchandising.

Russ Odegaard
Production Manager
Russ began radio in the navy announcing for an Armed Forces Radio station in Cuba. After his discharge he studied radio further in Minneapolis and then to Pipestone. He fancies himself a comedian of sorts.

R. J. “Dick” Britsch
Office Manager
Dick came from Minot, North Dakota, land of oil wells. He studied office management there at the University of North Dakota. He used to edit a newspaper shortly after World War II.

Del Haugen
Studio Engineer
Del is another University of North Dakota man, plus DeVry Technical Institute, Cleveland Institute of Radio and American Institute of the Air. Also a ham operator.

Clarence Ausham
Chief Engineer
Clarence worked at KWOA and KELO and KELO-TV as a transmitter engineer, and served as a signal corps telephone lineman during World War II. He still ‘commutes’ between Pipestone and Worthington.

Henry “Hank” Alstrup
Program Director
Hank has spent most of his life as a photographer. He has the redeeming feature of having worked for the Pipestone Star. He graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and while there got his first taste of radio. He also happens to write occasionally and is a punster from way back. He’ll do most of his work outside the studio as a salesman.

James F. “Jim” Kauper
Commercial Manager
Jim began in the radio world by announcing. It wasn’t long after that when his talents showed up and took over as manager of his first station. Later, last year as a matter of fact, he joined the staff of WMFG Hibbing as their general manager. With a family of four children, he’s still looking for a house.