Kenneth (Tiny) Gohring, 85, of Wessington Springs. Passed away Tuesday morning June 4 at Weskota Manor Avera.
Family and friends attended his celebration of life on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m. at David Jost Memorial Field in Wessington Springs. All joined for lunch and fellowship following the service at the Springs Rec Center.
Kenneth Ray Gohring was born to Blanche (Thomas) and Helmuth Gohring on October 11, 1938 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He graduated from Wessington High School in 1957. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Navy for 3 years. Tiny was united in marriage to Mary Sievers on July 1, 1967 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington, SD. Together they welcomed into their family a son Michael Kenneth and daughter Nicole Marie.
Tiny was a hardworking, multi-talented man and one heck of cowboy. Prior to joining in marriage to the love of his life, Mary, he went on quite an adventure. He set out on the Trail of the Jackasses as an out rider traversing 2,000 miles on a 20 mule train from Death Valley National Monument to Wessington, SD. This cowboy then spent many years farming and was a hired hand on many area ranches. After moving to Wessington Springs in 1985, he went on to work at the Wessington Springs Livestock Auction. Many memories were made there and in 1988 he was part of the winning Cattle Working Classic team. He was then employed at the Amkota Coop until his retirement.
Tiny wasn’t just a cowboy. He was a skillful wood worker constructing many treasured keepsakes in his shop. He was a Chicago Cubs fan that enjoyed fishing, hunting, whipping up caramels and especially baseball. As a young man he played on various teams while serving in the Navy and on the Wessington Amateur team. Through the years he avidly and passionately rooted on the Wessington Springs baseball and softball teams. His love for the game of baseball led him to assistant coach the Owls and was named District 3 Coach of the Year in 1998.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his loving children Michael (Melanie) Gohring of Clear Lake, SD and Nicole (Christopher) Morrow of Lakewood, CO; sister Marcene Christopherson of Miller, SD; two grandchildren, Zachary Frank of Bismark, ND and Gracyn Gohring of Clear Lake, SD; and many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his bride of 50 years, Mary, whom he adoringly called “Chicken”, brothersin- law Jim Sievers, Ed Christopherson, Bud Sulser, and recently Henry Sievers, and beloved cat, Calico.
