I became interested in electronics at an early age because of Dad's influence. 

Here is Dad's biography from the "2005 Who's Who in South Dakota Hamdom" directory.

I became interested in radio and CW during World War II after joining the Army Air Corps in April of 1943. I served as a radio operator with the Army Airways Communications System in North Africa, the Middle East, and in the Persian Gulf Command. After the war, I returned home to the Agar area and began farming with my dad and brothers. In the mid - sixties, we purchased some CB equipment and a scanner for use on the farm and if the kids had (or got into) trouble while driving to school and activities in town. I purchased my first shortwave receiver, a National NC-190, to receive code practice, then a Heath DX-60 & HR-10 station to get on the air. I received my Conditional license in 1967 as WAØQPX, upgraded to Extra Class as WAØTZC in 1969, and at the same time received my 2nd Class Commercial Radiotelephone license. I received my current call sign in 1977. My daughter Jody WBØQVE and son Scott WAØVKC are also hams. My wife Dorothy and I retired from farming in 1993, and currently divide our time between the farm and a home in Pierre. My current station includes an FT-1000 and a TS-50, feeding an antenna farm consisting of a TH3Mk3 HF beam, HF and VHF verticals, and various HF dipoles and longwires. My ham radio activities now mostly consist of listening to all of the SD nets, copying CW, and talking with Scott after the evening net.