Daniel Barker

Daniel Barker passed away Sunday, February 6, 2022 at Whispering Winds Senior Living in Howard, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM on Thursday, February 10th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Madison. Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Wednesday at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7 PM and a Rosary to follow. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Online guestbook is at www.rustandweilandfuneral.com. The funeral will be livestreamed on Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel Facebook page.

Memorials are preferred to Dan Barker Athletic Scholarship and sent to Rivers Edge Bank, PO Box 129, Howard, SD 57349. 

Danny was born August 6, 1933 in Watertown to Hugh and Ila (Williams) Barker. He attended school in Thomas, SD, where no doubt his love of sports began. His father coached the Thomas baseball team, and even hosted the baseball diamond in his pasture. Danny and his brothers played baseball and basketball and participated in track. He earned his B.S. in education from the General Beadle State Teachers College and began his teaching and coaching career at General Beadle High School. He spent his entire career in Madison schools: Lincoln Elementary after General Beadle burned down, and later at Madison High School. Danny obtained his Masters in Education from SDSU in 1965.

At MHS, Danny taught biology and coached basketball and track. He also served terms as athletic director and assistant principal. During his time as athletic director, he launched the Madison Chamber of Commerce Relays, which was later renamed the Dan Barker Relays. 

Danny was much honored as an educator and a coach. He earned the Dakota State University Outstanding Educator award. He was inducted into the Halls of Fame for the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors (1990), South Dakota High School Coaches Association (1994), and South Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (2003), and into the Madison High School Athletic Hall of Fame (1990) and Dakota State Athletic Hall of Fame (2006). He also earned the Coaches Association Distinguished Service award in 1991, and its Official of the Year award for 1998-1999. He was a referee at track meets and was named an honorary referee for the Howard Wood Dakota Relays. In 1999, He was named Track and Field Official of the Year by the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association. 

Danny was united in marriage to Marjorie Olesen May 31, 1956 and together they had two children: Susan and Steven. He was an avid fisherman and bow hunter, and visitors to his home were often introduced to game they hadn’t tried before. He started the Bowhunters Archery Den, a shop in his house that outfitted many hunters. Danny also went on many hunting and fishing adventures with friends and family, including hunting wild boar in Texas and exotic animals in South Africa.  

After Marjorie died in 1991, Danny married Shirley Wagner in 1992. Shirley passed away in March 2021. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his son Steven, brother Tom Barker, sisters Jeanne Gerling and Mary Stoner, stepson Jerry Blindert,

stepdaughter-in-law Marilyn Wagner, brothers-in-law Loren Olesen and LaVern Gerling, and faithful hunting partners Rex, Maggie, and Cricket. 

Survivors left to cherish his memory include his daughter Susan and son-in-law Martin “Beau” Connor, grandchildren Martin D. (Stephanie) Connor, Amber (Tony) Dwire, Nicholas (Erika) Connor, and Maggie Connor, four great-grandchildren, brothers Jack (Verna) and Mike (Kathy) Barker, brothers-in-law LeRoy (Peggy) and LeRue (Gwen) Olesen, sister-in-law Yvonne Barker, stepchildren Dennis, Gary (Katie), Tim (Theresa), and Rick (Cathy) Wagner, Karla Blindert, and Mary (Dan) Olson, 12 step grandchildren, and 20 step great-grandchildren.