Downtown Kiwanis Club History

Kiwanis International was established in Detroit, Michigan, on January 21, 1915. A year later the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada was chartered and the organization grew apace in the two countries. On April 17, 1962, a program of international extension was begun with the chartering of the Kiwanis Club of Tijuana, Mexico. Since that time, Kiwanis Clubs have been built in thirty other countries in Western Europe, the Far East, the Caribbean area, South and Central America, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club was issued a charter on April 12, 1920. One hundred charter members were in attendance at the official presentation of the charter at Shriver-Johnson’s Tea Room. Officers elected at the Charter Meeting included Mayor George W. Burnside, President; George W. Talbott, Vice-President; W. L. Baker, Treasurer; and Raymond W. Dennis, Secretary, who continued to serve in this capacity for several years. Edwin R. Smith was appointed secretary in 1928 and continued in this capacity until January 1, 1961, at which time Art Myklebust was appointed secretary. He served until January 1, 1969. Rod Ellerbusch was appointed secretary on January 1, 1969. He served until June 4, 1971. Rex Bahnson was appointed secretary June 23, 1972. He served until July 5, 1988. Lyle Terveen, was appointed secretary August 2, 1988, and continues to serve in this capacity.

Since 1920, the Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club has met at various locations such as Shriver’s Tea Room, Hotel Cataract, Hotel Carpenter, and Nettleton Manor. Our club currently meets at the Royal Fork Restaurant (just south of the Empire Mall at 4610 W Empire Pl).

In 1930, the club membership requested that the city commission identify the street running north and south on the west edge of the city as Kiwanis Avenue. This request was accepted and the Avenue has continued as Kiwanis Avenue since that time. In 1932, the members of the Kiwanis Club planted 70 trees on the west side of the avenue from 12th to 18th Street. A bronze marker at the entrance to the Great Plains Zoo now memorializes this event. 

On July 6, 1993, Kiwanis Memorial Park along the Sioux River was dedicated.  The Park is on the River Greenway that will hopefully soon be accessible from Falls Park.  Currently the park is only accessible through Sioux Steel property.

The Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club merged with the Sioux Falls Exchange Club’s thirty members in January 1933.

Throughout the history of the Club, it has been active in community affairs, aimed mainly at youth of the community, through its constant support, both with service and financial support to organizations including: CASA -  Advocacy efforts with trained volunteers to help with abused and neglected children involved in Court proceedings, Augustana Reads - Literacy and reading skills development program for refugee and immigrant children in grades 1-5, Inter-Lakes Community Action, Inc. (Heartland House) - Funds to assist needy families with strollers, car seats, youth beds, or other durable goods used by young children, Furniture Mission - Approved recipients are supplied with beds including a new frame mattress and bunk board, which is made at the Furniture Mission. Children between the ages of 2-10 are given the beds, The Teddy Bear Den - An incentive and education program for limited income pregnant women in the community, which includes purchasing cribs and mattresses for women enrolled in the program in exchange for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare - Helps families address and deal with the delicate nature of childhood and behavioral problems. These childhood behavioral problems are quite often the result of abuse and neglect, Moving Assistance Program - Provides moving assistance to individuals and families who financially cannot afford to physically move to a better or safer home. The age span of children involved in the program is 0-17 years, Girls on the Run of Sioux Falls - A character development program for girls 8-13 that uses the poser of running and training for a 5K run/walk event to teach life skills. Girls on the Run serves 5 of the 8 schools in Sioux Falls that have been given the Title I designation schools with the highest percentage of children from low income families, Family Connection - Provides support groups to children Kindergarten-8th grade who have a parent in prison in an effort to break the intergenerational cycle of incarceration, and Backpack Program - Provides food for children outside of school.

In April 1937, the Kiwanis Club sponsored the Sioux Falls Safety Council. In 1952 the Kiwanis Club inaugurated the program of bicycle inspection in cooperation with the city schools, Police Department and Fire Department and the club continues to help with bike repair every spring at the Children's Home Society.

Major projects which the Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club participated in during the first fifty years were the creation and establishment of the Crippled Children’s Hospital and School and the construction of the antelope exhibit at the Great Plains Zoo. New community affairs activities have been added. On August 5, 1986, Tom Peterson proposed that the Club serve at “The Banquet”. It was suggested that Florence Holton be asked to do the cooking for the meal. The board approved $200 for the expense of food. The Club continues to serve at The Banquet.

On March 7, 1989, John Ranek presented a report on a proposed project a “Day at the Zoo.” Five agencies were contacted to see if they wanted to participate. The Children’s Home Society said, "Yes." The tradition continues with the “Zoo Day” with the children every spring or early summer. On September 7, 1993, Dick Casey presented a plan for an on-going relationship with the Children’s Home Society. The first monthly visit at the Children’s Home Society took place in December 1993. This relationship continues every spring as Club members go the Children's Home Society for the annual bike repair.  The Club also contributed money and labor for a play area and outdoor drinking fountain at the Children’s Home Society.  In honor of the 75th anniversary of the tree planning on Kiwanis Avenue, the club planted a tree at Children's Home Society in June of 2008.

Fund raising for Club projects is on-going and changing. The Club introduced the so-called “gum ball” project in 1948. The gum ball project resulted in a franchise for Kiwanis Clubs with the Ford Gum Ball Machine company for the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, and part of Minnesota.

On July 10, 1981, Bill Beck and Dr. Tom Peterson reported on activities relative to the building of a Pancake House on the Sioux Empire Fairground. The original Pancake House committee consisted of Steve Norberg, Bill Heimerman, Earl Gerlach, and John Simko. Taking the idea from the 75 member Huron Kiwanis Club, our Club raised $15,000 to build a Pancake House. The Pancake House was designed to be a neat, clean, air conditioned structure large enough to feed 30-40. The Pancake House was opened in time for the 1982 Sioux Empire Fair. It continues to provide funding for our Club’s Projects and camaraderie for the many Kiwanis volunteers and the customers who pass through its doors.

On January 4, 1994, the board adopted Funding Guidelines to assist the Finding Committee on the allocation of the money raised each year from the Pancake House.  The guidelines specify that the money is to be directed toward young children from prenatal through age twelve. The Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club currently accepts applications in the winter and presents checks to organizations that support children in the late spring.

Many traditions have been adopted over the years that continue today. The Washington Senior High School Chorus was a participant at the December 12, 1973 meeting. Director Rolf Anderson was the son-in-law of then club member Rex Banhson.  Washington Senior High School continues to provide a musical program every December. Kiwanis International planned a Worldwide Kiwanis Prayer Week for May 12-17, 1980. President Bob Kiner, in discussion with Spiritual Aims chairman, Reverend Tom Tucker, felt that it would be good for our club to share in the Kiwanis Week of Prayer and organized the first Kiwanis Prayer Breakfast on May 12, 1980, at 7:00 a.m.  The Club continues to have a Prayer Breakfast every May and it is now an all city Kiwanis event that members from all the area clubs attend. 

On August 7, 1981, Bob Kiner proposed that our club select a Kiwanis “Man-of-theYear.” The “Man-of-the-Year” is now the “Kiwanian of the Year”.  On August 1, 1995, the Happy Dollars program was adopted for meetings on a “temporary” basis and Happy Dollars continue today as a way to earn money for the club administration and for members to share news.

Women have changed the face of our Club. In March 1973, our Club had its first Ladies Night for all the wives and sweethearts of Kiwanis. On October 31, 1973 and January 16, 1977, Kiwanis wives were invited “to join us for lunch.” Beginning November 8, 1978, the Club’s Board decided that in the months of five Wednesdays, the Club would have one of them be “Ladies Luncheon Guest Day”. Kiwanis International filed a complaint against the Kiwanis Club of Ridgeway, New Jersey in federal district court following the club’s admittance of a woman member in July 1984. On June 24, 1986, almost 5,000 club delegates considered the proposed adoption of a women’s membership amendment. The vote was 53 percent no, 47 percent yes. The amendment failed. On January 5, 1988, our Club discussed the addition of women to Kiwanis. On March 1, 1988, the Club’s by-laws were changed to comply with International changes regarding membership. On September 6, 1988, John Quello was directed to recruit women for our club. (We all know that Dick Justman would have been selected, but he wasn’t a member of our club yet.) In October 1996, Donna Jipp became our Club’s first woman president.

Our Club has a long tradition of long standing membership. Dr. H.L. Eggers, a charter member was still in attendance October 18, 1972. Edwin R. Smith served as president for one day, April 11, 1980, in honor of his years of membership. He completed 31 years of perfect attendance and 48 years as a member before failing health forced him to leave. At his death, the board noted that “He has been a loyal and dedicated member and has the longest PERFECT ATTENDANCE record in our club.” Each year we celebrate perfect attendance winners.  Pat Baxter has perfect attendance since 1975 and many other current club members have over 10 and even 20 years of perfect attendance.

The Club has maintained Club relationships with the Minnesota-Dakota’s district, as well as Kiwanis International. Harold Flint served as Lt. Governor in the early 40’s. Art Myklebust served as District Governor for the Minnesota-Dakota’s district in 1954 and Wayne Sutherland served as Governor in 1962. Howard Crandall was elected to the post of Lt. Governor of District 13 in 1975. John Ranek served as Lt. Governor in 1997-1998.

In 1954, the Sioux Falls Kiwanis Club sponsored a new club for South Sioux Falls and for Lennox, South Dakota. There are currently six clubs in Sioux Falls, our Club, Sioux Falls East, Sioux Falls South, Sioux Falls West, Sioux Falls Daybreak, and Sioux Falls Diversity Clubs. Since 1920, the Downtown Kiwanis Club has survived through trying periods and has enjoyed times of prosperity along with the city of Sioux Falls. In retrospect, we are grateful for the efforts expended by fellow Kiwanians. As Kiwanis is a service organization, we all anticipate that the Club will continue its service from this time forward.