Ben Reifel: Service

A Career of Service

Ben Reifel鈥檚 career consisted of many years of faithful service, especially for American Indians. Because of his service, and the Department of the Interior鈥檚 Distinguished Service 啵啵直播秀 in 1961 for his exceptional career in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Reifel receives an 啵啵直播秀 from the Americans for Constitutional Action

Reifel receives award from Americans for Constitutional Action

Reifel receiving the distinguished service award from the Americans for Constitutional Action

Distinguished Service 啵啵直播秀

Distinguished Service 啵啵直播秀 Reifel received for Americans for Constitutional Action

Reifel receives Department of Interior 啵啵直播秀

Secretary of the Interior, Stewart Udall, presents Reifel with the Department of the Interior鈥檚 Distinguished Service 啵啵直播秀 in 1961.

Outstanding American Indian 啵啵直播秀

Reifel was awarded the Outstanding American Indian 啵啵直播秀 in 1956, the Annual Indian Achievement 啵啵直播秀 by the Indian Council Fire in 1960.

Outstanding American Indian of the Year 啵啵直播秀

Reifel's Outstanding American Indian 啵啵直播秀

"Whereas, this honor accorded Mr. Reifel is well deserved for his activity on behalf of Indian People and for the example he is setting for other Indians鈥︹€�

Robert Burnette, Committee Chairman, Outstanding American Indian 啵啵直播秀.

Boy Scouts

Ben Reifel was active in Boy Scouts for many years. He served as president of Boy Scouts of America鈥檚 Pheasant Council, was a member of the executive committee of the North Central Region and served as chairman of an Indian Advisory committee. He also served as a member of the National American Indian Relationships Committee.

Reifel with Boy Scouts

Ben Reifel with Boy Scouts from Aberdeen in 1964.

Reifel receiving Silver Antelope 啵啵直播秀

Ben Reifel was presented with the 1960 Boy Scouts of America Silver Antelope 啵啵直播秀.

Silver Antelope 啵啵直播秀

Silver Antelope award exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within one of the geographical regions of the Boy Scouts of America.

Silver Beaver 啵啵直播秀

Silver Beaver award for those who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

Silver Buffalo 啵啵直播秀

Silver Buffalo award for his noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth.

Silver Wolf 啵啵直播秀

Silver Wolf award for services of the most exceptional character.

Ben Reifel being hooded as he receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USD in 1971. — Ben Reifel receives an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USD in 1971

Honorary Degree

After his retirement in 1970, Reifel was honored by several South 啵啵直播秀 colleges and universities.

He received honorary doctorates from:

South 啵啵直播秀 State University
University of South 啵啵直播秀
Northern State College

Honorary Degree from USD

Honorary degree Reifel from the University of South 啵啵直播秀 in 1971.

Honorary degree from SDSU

Citation for honorary degree awarded to Reifel by South 啵啵直播秀 State University in 1971.

Other honors

A dormitory at Reifel鈥檚 alma mater named a dormitory in his honor.

The Cedar Pass Visitor Center at the Badlands National Park in western South 啵啵直播秀 was renamed the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in 1990.

A Sioux Falls middle school is currently being built and will be called the Ben Reifel Middle School.

Education

Representative Ben Reifel, his wife, Alice Reifel, his daughter, Loyce, and his three granddaughters.

Family Life

Ben Reifel at his Bureau of Indian Affairs desk, 1954.

Early Career

Ben Reifel reading a headline about his 1960 primary victory.

Congressional Career

Tom Kleppe swears in Ben Reifel as Special Assistant in 1970

Post Congress

Life of Ben Reifel

Learn more about Ben Reifel's life of service to others by diving into his papers. A large selection of the Benjamin Reifel Papers is available online through the Digital Library of South 啵啵直播秀.