Law enforcement and emergency personnel from every corner of the state this past Thursday helped to escort Moody County Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok to his final resting place — a small, quiet country cemetery south of Nunda.
The procession, according to those in that final leg of his journey, was nearly 5 miles long.
Hundreds of officers attended the service at Dakota State Fieldhouse, along with Governor Noem, Representative Dusty Johnson, and countless colleagues, friends and athletes that Prorok had coached over the course of his career in athletics.
Some however, like several new law enforcement students out of Southeast Tech in Sioux Falls, were complete strangers.
All who made the trip to honor Prorok’s life, service, and legacy, said it meant a lot to them to be there.

“We asked our Chief if we could come and be part of the procession today and to support Moody County,” said City of Deadwood officer Sally Sprigler.
“It’s just important that the law enforcement family across the state and across the nation support each other. I’m extremely moved and humbled that there would be people here from places like New York and Chicago to come to this.”
Officers in the final procession stopped along both sides of the highway outside of Nunda, alongside volunteer firefighters from Nunda, and saluted Prorok and his family, colleagues, and his closest of friends, as they passed by and made that final turn down the gravel road.
Prorok’s brothers and sisters in blue headed home from there, out of respect for Prorok and his family.
The outpouring of support for the family meanwhile, and especially for Prorok’s youngest son, continues across the region. Fundraisers have been held at ball games and other events in Flandreau, Colman, Baltic, Sioux Falls, and Egan, to name a few. And more will take place. Thousands upon thousands continue to be raised.
All of it, most that knew Prorok will tell you, speaks to the legacy the local deputy sheriff, husband, father, grandfather, and longtime area coach leaves behind.
“Jessica, my stepdaughter, her son was one of Ken’s players,” said Scott Wick, who helped facilitate a "pass the hat" at the Bulls and Broncs event each night in Sioux Falls over the weekend.
"Ken always told the boys, 'Wear your hat in the direction you want your life to go — forward.' Which is cool. He was a good man.”