Kenneth "Tiny" Gohring

Celebration of life, 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 8, at David Jost Memorial Field, Wessington Springs. Lunch to follow at Springs Rec Center.

WESSINGTON SPRINGS —Kenneth “Tiny” Gohring, 85, of Wessington Springs, passed away the morning of Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at Weskota Manor Avera.

Family and friends are invited to attend his celebration of life, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at David Jost Memorial Field in Wessington Springs. All are welcome for lunch and fellowship following the service at the Springs Rec Center.

Kenneth Ray Gohring was born October 11, 1938, to Blanche (Thomas) and Helmuth Gohring in Klamath Falls, Ore. He graduated from Wessington High School in 1957 and following graduation, he enlisted in the Navy, serving for 3 years.

Tiny was united in marriage to Mary Sievers on July 1, 1967, at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington. 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.

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 who also 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 be an assistant coach of the Wessington Springs Owls and he 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, and Nicole (Christopher) Morrow of Lakewood, Colo.; a sister, Marcene Christopherson of Miller, two grandchildren, Zachary Frank of Bismark, N.D. and Gracyn Gohring of Clear Lake, many nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his bride of 50 years, Mary, whom he adoringly called “Chicken,” brothers-in-law Jim Sievers, Ed Christopherson, Bud Sulser, and recently Henry Sievers, and a beloved cat, Calico.