24, 1965. From 1964 to 1966, he headed the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. During his tenure in La Crosse, he reduced the diocese's debt from $11 million to $4 million between 1965 and 1981. He established a diocesan commission on Christian renewal in 1965, and the first lay ministry training program in the United States in 1975. Freking also oversaw construction of 14 churches, 15 rectories, seven elementary schools, 22 religious education centers, five convents and the Newman Center. Freking also supervised 36 church renovations and expansions, and 59 priests were ordained while he was bishop. He was instrumental in the founding of the Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center for the elderly by the diocese and the Lutheran Church in La Crosse. On May 10, 1983, Pope John Paul II accepted Freking's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse. Frederick Freking, who long suffered from respiratory problems, died from complications of emphysema at the Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse at age 85. See also Catholic Church hierarchy Catholic Church in the United States Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States List of Catholic bishops of the United States Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops References External links Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona 1913 births 1998 deaths Catholic University of America alumni Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester Roman Catholic bishops of Salina Participants in the Second Vatican Council People from Jackson County, Minnesota 20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Roman Catholic bishops of La Crosse Religious leaders from Minnesota Catholics from Minnesota