LeRon Knebel says he can only watch so many episodes of “Gunsmoke” before he gets bored. At age 79, you’d expect Knebel to have mostly taken up the rocking chair and to be quietly enjoying his golden years. But not so for this well-known Marshall County resident. In fact, Knebel is in the midst of 24 summers working for the South Dakota State Parks and is still enjoying every minute of it.
Knebel is an Eden native and still farms and ranches at the same place his greatgrandpa homesteaded in the mid-1880s southeast of town. Though he is now partially retired, Knebel still stays plenty busy. He’s a Marshall County Commissioner and most people know about his Christmas-time activities portraying a certain jolly fellow. He enjoys tending his donkeys and goats as well. Additionally, if you have occasion to visit Fort Sisseton State Historic Park during the annual festival or throughout the warm months, you’ll know about Knebel’s summertime gig.
Knebel’s stint with the Game, Fish and Parks dates back to 1999. He remembers Dave Daberkow, the then district manager of the area state parks, coming out and visiting him about a job. At the time, Fort Sisseton had trustees from the state penitentiary at the park working on various projects. Daberkow explains that they needed a day guard and a night guard to watch over the (Continued on pi4) group and frequently call in to the state.
“I think at the time we were having a tough time finding and keeping guards,” said Daberkow. “Just knowing LeRon, I thought he’d be good at the job.”
Knebel decided to take the night guard job and officially started the parks part of his life. He enjoyed the job and the men he worked with. “Even though they were inmates, they were really nice guys,” emphasized Knebel. “They were so happy to be out here.”
Around the same time, he also began working the annual Fort Festival as the head garbage collector. This involves Knebel trolling the grounds over the three days of festival weekend on a small tractor emptying trash cans with the help of a few strapping young lads.
The 79-year-old park employee said the festival is his favorite time of year. “It’s like a big reunion every year. I know most of the people who come out here,” he explains. “The food vendors and the rendezvous folks. Even the campers who come back year after year are familiar. I’ve met the most wonderful people out here.” He adds that he is never too busy to stop and visit with some campers who want to offer him a cookie or a hamburger.
While he still leads the garbage crew at the festival, Knebel says his regular duties have changed over the years. The trustees are long gone, so he has taken up other jobs. He worked on the maintenance crew and helped with repairs and random jobs around the park. These days, though, Knebel mostly operates the mower and keeps the grass looking good around the large fort property.
Though Knebel has been a steadfast park employee, he has had some down time here and there. His summer was cut short in 2020 due to a very serious bout of COVID. He also had a brain tumor removed in 2021. When he recovered from his illnesses though, Knebel time and again worked his way through the rolling hills back to Fort Sisseton.
When asked why he keeps coming back to the fort every summer at almost 80 years old, Knebel said there is something special about the place. “I think it’s the most wonderful place in the world,” he proclaimed. “If you spend any time out here, it gets in your blood.”
Though he admits he might need a break in the comfy chair in the shop from time to time, he still enjoys the job. He especially appreciates the folks he works with from head maintenance at the park to the managers, past and present. “All the people who work here have been so great to me,” Knebel asserts.
On their part, Knebel’s coworkers also appreciate his contributions not only to the beauty of the park, but also the quaint ambiance he adds. “Everyone loves talking to LeRon,” said a past employee. “He always has a fun story to share about the area or a lesson to teach. He’s just a great guy who will give you the shirt off his back.”
As he considers a possible retirement next year after 25 years of park employment, Knebel is still leaving the door open for anything. “If I still feel good, who knows how long I’ll stick around,” he said. With any luck, Knebel will be standing just as long as the historic Fort Sisseton buildings that dot the prairie.
