A Career of Service
Ben Reifel’s career consisted of many years of faithful service, especially for American Indians. Because of his service, and the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award in 1961 for his exceptional career in the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Boy Scouts
Ben Reifel was active in Boy Scouts for many years. He served as president of Boy Scouts of America’s 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, SD in 1964.
Reifel receiving Silver Antelope Award
Ben Reifel was presented with the 1960 Boy Scouts of America Silver Antelope Award.
Honorary Degree
After his retirement in 1970, Ben was honored by several South Dakota colleges and universities.
He received honorary doctorates from:
- South Dakota State University
- University of South Dakota
- Northern State College
Other honors
A dormitory at Reifel’s alma mater named a dormitory in his honor.
The Cedar Pass Visitor Center at the Badlands National Park in western South Dakota 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.
Ben Reifel Papers
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 Dakota.