Kenneth Ivers, age 86, of Brookings, passed away Sunday, May 22, 2022, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview.  
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings.  Visitation will be on Friday, May 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Kenneth John Ivers was born on June 1, 1935, in Shields, ND, to Vernon and Gladyce (Skotvold) Ivers.  He lived in Mandan, ND, and Watauga, SD, before moving to and graduating from McIntosh High School in 1953.  He met Pearl Klaudt while in high school.  They both went to SDSC in Brookings.  Ken and Pearl were married in 1954.  Music was Ken’s passion.  He graduated in 1957 from SDSC with a degree in music education.  Ken enjoyed playing the saxophone with the Colliagents Band during college. Kristi was born in 1956 while Ken and Pearl were in college.  After graduation, the family moved to Appleton, MN, where Ken was employed as a high school band director.  Julie joined the family in 1958, followed by the birth of Kathy in 1960.  During these years, the family spent summers in Greely, CO, so Ken could earn his master’s degree in music education.
Ken and Pearl moved the family back to Brookings in 1962, for Ken’s new job as admissions counselor. They lived in East Men’s Hall at SDSC. Many lasting friendships were made at this time.  Ken wanted to change careers which meant another move. This time it was to Tonganoxie, KS, where Mom taught home economics and Dad commuted to the University of Kansas.  In 1971 he completed his PhD. in counseling.  Ken spent the rest of his life working in the area of counseling.  He was director of counseling at SDSU followed by working as a Psychologist at Central Plains Clinic in Sioux Falls.  Ken loved to be active. He enjoyed playing tennis, water skiing on Lake Campbell, and snow skiing. He played lots of tennis during retirement, especially during his 10 years of wintering in Florida.  He also enjoyed traveling in their RV and visiting all 50 states.  Parkinson’s Disease robbed Ken of his ability to be active and make music later in life.
Survivors include his wife Pearl of Brookings; daughters, Kristi (Douglas) Hayes of Spearfish, SD, Julie (Louis) Turpin of Rhinebeck, NY, and Kathryn (Kevin) Ivers-Osthus of Melbourne Beach, FL; seven grandchildren: Alissa Turpin of New Canaan, CT, Amanda Turpin of Brooklyn, NY, Sarah Turpin of Philadelphia, PA, Hannah Hayes of Lincoln, MA, Kelton Ivers-Osthus of Houston, TX, Kane Ivers-Osthus of Atlanta, GA, and Kalla Ivers-Osthus of Boca Raton, FL; four brothers, Roger (Donna) of Brookings, Vernon Jr. of Belle Fourche, Gary (Nancy) of Sioux Falls, and Gordon (Jhane) of San Antonio, TX; and many nieces and nephews.  
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Brookings United Methodist Church Music Program, or to your local Parkinson’s Foundation.