Delray "Madd Frank" Dvoracek

Delray’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 2:00 PM Friday, November 7, 2025:

Delray Kent Dvoracek was born on his parent’s farm on March 11, 1940, near Tyndall, South Dakota. His parents were Libbie Albina and Ernest Blezek Dvoracek. The doctor who delivered Del was the same doctor who delivered Ernie many years earlier.

Del attended Hawthorne Elementary School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming and for a short time and later moved in with his favorite Uncle Adolph and Aunt Esther by Tabor, South Dakota. They then moved to Sioux Falls where Del attended school and later graduated from Washington High School in 1958. After graduation he entered the Air Force spending three months in Texas and then off to Monterey, California for nine months where he learned the Russian language. A test given by the military indicated that Del had the natural ability to learn languages.

He was sent to Trabzon, Turkey for one year as a “spy in the sky” and where he would listen and interpret the Russians. He loved that job because he enjoyed flying and appreciated the camaraderie of his fellow officers. While he was there, he got word that his father had died unexpectedly at the age of 51. Sadly, he didn’t make it home in time for the funeral and lamented that for many years.

He flew back to Turkey and later was stationed in Germany where he learned the German language. When his military career ended, he attended Augustana College graduating with a BA degree in German with minors in art, theater, and biology. While in college, he met Verlene Nelson, and they were married on June 24, 1967. Del received his master’s degree in German at the University of Nebraska. During the summers he attended the University of Minnesota and received his PhD (all but dissertation) in Foreign Language Education. He taught German at MSUM and Russian at Concordia.

When his teaching career ended, he went to work for Silverline Boat Company and then started his own advertising agency called Del Agency and Associates. His best account was Hornbachers designing the weekly ad and jingle that he wrote. In the evenings he also taught advertising classes at MSUM. In 1985-1995, he was Madd Frank and introduced “spooky” movies on KVRR TV every Saturday night. He enjoyed using his drama and writing skills as he prepared for the show. On Wednesday nights, the crew of Madd Frank (which included Marty Jonason, Judy Rae, Dave Prentice, Bill Flint, and James Erickson) wrote the script for the upcoming movie. It was so much fun to listen to them as they rehearsed for the show and designed their props. Another Spooky Movie hostess was emerging in 1981 from California, and the show was called Elvira’s Movie Macabre and continued until 1986. There were two distinct differences between Elvira and Madd Frank-she probably made a lot more money and she had a cleavage.

Verlene and Del had a lot of fun riding our Goldwing in the Black Hills, Canadian Rockies, and across Montana to Utah where Kam worked for a short time. Both Ver and Del loved horseback riding with Becky and Wash in the Sand Hills and especially in the Bad Lands of North Dakota with his cousin Jackie and many friends. He had an interest in aviation so he learned how to fly a plane and would give rides to Libbie and other family members.

Del had many hobbies and talents. He wrote and published seven books-westerns under the pen name Kent Kamron and espionage novels under the pen name Delay K. Dvoracek. He created many interesting characters out of wood which consisted of cowboys, animals, Star Wars characters, and anything that anyone would request him to create. We would usually buy homes that needed fixing up so he learned how to build a garage, do wiring, plumbing, painting, and even make furniture.

Del had many health issues such as a heart attack, stroke, West Nile, and finally MS, but that didn’t define him. He never lost his sense of humor. His musical talents included teaching himself how to play the saxophone, playing the piano (he couldn’t read musical notes), and playing two favorite songs on his harmonica. He enjoyed fishing with Kam and Kent, attending music concerts (even Kam’s strange “gigs” with his band in Minneapolis) and very loudly cheering Kent on at Fargo South’s football games. You could hear him say very loudly “whose kid is that?” He was so proud of his sons and their achievements and never missed any of their events. He so enjoyed being at the cabin where we entertained relatives like the Gustads, Aments, Mielkes, Dvoraceks and many friends. Since his immobility made it difficult to do much at the cabin, he appreciated all the projects that his sons did.

The last three years and four months at Fargo Elim were very special. The staff took really good care of him and of course he loved all the attention. It was so special when his high school buddy Dick McNamara came, and they played Bingo with the residents and staff.

Preceding him in death were his parents Libbie and Ernie, son Kam, brother Sidney, cousin John Ament and many good friends and relatives.

Remaining relatives include his wife of 58 years Verlene, son Kent, brother Clifford and his wife Bea, brother-in-law Eldon Nelson and wife Pauline, cousin Ardy Ament, cousin Jackie Davis and many special nieces and nephews, especially Sheryl and Kenny Mielke.

Can you just hear the Madd Frank laugh?

He chose the Madd Frank name because of his grandfather Frank.

A thank you to Mike Bredon for producing the movie “Madd Frank presents Madd Frank.”

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 PM November 7, 2025, at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center in Fargo – with a visitation beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will take place at the Fargo National Cemetery near Harwood, ND.