Harry Prendergast

Harry N. Prendergast, age 90 of Milbank died December 24, 2015, at the Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Heath.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 31, at 11:00 a.m. at American Lutheran Church in Milbank. Rev. Carl Larson will officiate. Burial will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service on Thursday.

Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Birch-Miller Post #9; V.F.W. Grant County Post #3486; V.V.A. Northeast SD Chapter #1054; and D.A.V. Chapter #19.

Honorary bearers will be his grandchildren: Chris Prendergast (and wife Ashley Blake); Steven Prendergast; Shauna Pauli; and Gene Vostad, Corey Hooth, Daniel Gould, and Jordan Shiner.

Harry Neill Prendergast was born September 1, 1925, in Milbank, SD. He was the son of Thomas A. and Helene (Owen) Prendergast. Harry grew up in Milbank and graduated from Milbank High School. He earned a B.A. degree from Huron College in 1953. He continued his education by achieving a Master’s Degree of Education from South Dakota State University.

Harry proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1943-1946. He was a member of Naval Olympic Champions Basketball Team in 1946. He played in 198 games of military basketball. He was honorably discharged and returned to South Dakota. Harry was united in marriage with Dorothy Angerhofer on October 22, 1950, in Huron, SD.

In 1953 Harry began his career in teaching and coaching in Geddes, SD. He coached six man football, basketball, track, all grade school sports and city athletic baseball during the summer. In 1957, Harry coached and was the Athletic Director for Sioux Valley at Volga, SD until 1976. He coached eight man and 11 man football for years, basketball from 1957-1966, as well as track and cross country.

Harry’s career continued at Newman Grove, Nebraska from 1976-1979. He moved to Wilmot, SD in 1979 and coached until 1987. He coached nine man football and track.

Harry’s passion and love of coaching for 35 years will be remembered by many, many, students that played on his teams. Even though Harry coached over 10, 000 students, he fondly remembered so many of them.

Harry also served as the Recreation Director for the South Dakota American Legion Boys State for 36 years. He was the Athletic Director for over 30 years at Camp Horseshoe for Boys in Minong, WI and Rhinelander, WI. He was an inductee to the Huron College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999; the South Dakota Independent Basketball Hall of Fame in 1972; the South Dakota High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992; and the South Dakota High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.

Harry was the only football coach in South Dakota history to have coached six, eight, nine, and 11-man football at varsity level.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dorothy of Milbank, SD; two children: Terry (and wife Susan) Prendergast of Sioux Falls, SD; Sue Pauli of Milbank, SD; his twin brother, Tom (and wife Arline) Prendergast of Sisseton, SD; three grandchildren: Chris Prendergast (and wife Ashley Blake) of Sioux Falls, SD; Steven Prendergast of Sioux Falls, SD; and Shauna Pauli of Milbank, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Jim; and one sister, Mary Ellen.

Harry’s family suggests memorials be given to the American Lutheran Church (401 S Flynn Dr., Milbank, SD 57252) or the Milbank Community Foundation (904 E 4th Ave., Milbank, SD 57252).