Obituary of Kenneth Halverson, M.D.

Kenneth "Ken" Halverson, M.D., 88, of Yankton, South Dakota passed away unexpectedly Monday, March 13, 2017 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Yankton with Reverend Ron Johnson officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service at the church. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Ken was born October 25, 1928 in rural Lamberton, Minnesota to CA and Vesta (Kingsbury) Halverson. The youngest of five brothers, Ken graduated high school in 1946. He stayed on the family farm for two years after his father died. He then attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was there, in a freshman English class, that he met Mary Alice Choguill, who became his bride 1952. Ken served in the United States Air Force from 1950-54, during the Korean War, as an instructor and radio operator. He returned to Macalester College to continue his pre-medical training and then attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1959. Ken did his internship at Toledo Ohio, followed by four years in Chester, Montana, doing family practice. The Halversons moved to Yankton, South Dakota in 1964 where Ken completed a five year surgery residency under Dr. Chester McVay. So impressed by Dr. McVay, Yankton's medical facilities and quality of life, he continued on as a general surgeon until retiring in 1997. Dr. Halverson was a board member with leadership roles of Yankton Clinic, Yankton Medical Clinic and Avera Sacred Heart Hospital boards. Dr. Ken Halverson was a founding board member and board president of Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health services for nearly 50 years. He was a founding member and volunteer of Habitat for Humanity. The Halverson's participated in the Habitat for Humanity project at Eagle Butte in the summer of 1994. Former President Jimmy Carter led the project and left a lasting impression on the Halversons. Halverson was named the 1999 Yankton Citizen of the Year. His love for the community of Yankton has been obvious throughout his years in the medical practice and through his volunteerism, leadership, dedication and support of numerous school, church and community events. Ken enjoyed hunting, fishing, birds of prey and gardening. An appreciation of the outdoors, the dignity of work, the importance of education and service to others were values taught in the family home. Dr. Ken Halverson was preceded in death by his parents, Carl A. and Vesta Halverson, four brothers and three sisters-in-law. Survivors include his wife, Mary Alice Halverson of Yankton, SD; sons: David (Shirley) Halverson of Sturgis, South Dakota, Lewis of St. Louis, Missouri, and Martin (Maristela) Halverson of Brazil; daughter, Ingrid (Dave Hyndman) of New Mexico; eight grandchildren: Sonja, Dan, Leif, Kai, Nick, Oliver, Lina and Natalia; one great grandson, Matteus; sisters-in-law, Florence Halverson of Minneapolis, MN and Catherine (Dale) Goldsmith of Amarillo, TX and many beloved nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial be directed to: First United Methodist Church, 207 West 11th Street, Yankton, SD 57078; Habitat for Humanity, 218 Capital Street, Yankton, SD 57078 or Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services, 1028 Walnut Street, Yankton, SD 57078.