Coyote Hall of Famer Kenneth Beringer dies

Henry Heider Coyote Sports Hall of Famer Kenneth Beringer of Vermillion died Wednesday at the age of 90.

Beringer was born on January 24, 1932 in Tyndall, South Dakota. He attended Tyndall High School before attending Kansas State University for a year and then completing his undergraduate studies at Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, South Dakota. He served in the Marines. In 1952, he married JoAnne Baker.

Ken and JoAnne had been USD season ticket holders for over 50 years and were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. The couple arrived at Vermillion in 1964 and spent the better part of three decades serving as teachers, d Coaches and Business Leaders for the Vermillion School District and USD. JoAnne, who passed away in 2019, worked at USD for 24 years as an assistant registrar. Ken was the Head Athletics Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Vermillion High School. He served as director of housing at SHU and assistant superintendent of the Vermillion School District, briefly serving as superintendent.

Ken served over 50 years as an official and referee throughout the region and was assigned to 54 high school state tournament games. His love of baseball led him to coaching ball for the American Legion for over 20 years, where he coached his three sons, Kenneth Joseph, Jeff and Jon.

A public visitation will be held Monday at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Vermillion from 5 to 7 p.m., with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Agnes on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be directed to the University of South Dakota Athletic Department.