Kenneth Wayne Hladky

Kenneth Wayne Hladky

Kenneth Wayne Hladky, age 88, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Avera Majestic Bluffs Care Center where he had been a resident since August 2023. A prayer service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD, on Friday, April 25, 2025 beginning at 7:00 p.m. with refreshments to be served after.

Ken was born on December 5, 1936 in Rapid City, SD to William and Alice (Schoenfelder) Hladky. The family moved back to the family farm in Utica, SD in 1937 where Ken grew up. He attended Pershing School District 50 which was a 1-room schoolhouse. At age 17, Ken had an operation for kidney stones and passed 3-4 kidney stones per week. He was not expected to live past the age of 36. He graduated from Yankton High School in 1954. He was active in 4-H for all his adolescent life. He showed registered angus cattle and was on various judging teams where, in 1952, he won the Weaver Award for livestock judging in the State of South Dakota. He won several trips to Chicago and St. Louis and toward the end of his 4-H career, in 1955, he met his future wife at 4-H Achievement Days. Ken married Beverley Irene Broderson on November 3, 1957 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton.

After graduating from high school, he started working for the Director of Equalization Office. In 1959, he joined the Police force as a patrolman and moved to Yankton. That same year his dad sold the farm and split the money using that for the down payment for Charlie’s Pizza in the fall of 1960. Ken and Bev ran Charlie’s together for 25 years. While owning Charlie’s, Ken also managed Tommy T’s and sold that in 1962. He also restarted a 3-2 dance hall.

In 1977, Ken and Bev built their house on land out by Lewis & Clark Lake. They had 48 acres on the back side that allowed them to raise Chianina cattle, the world’s biggest beef breed. Ken won many awards with his cattle at the State Fair. In 1984, he won the herdsmanship award.

In 1985, they sold Charlie’s and their cattle and moved to Las Vegas where Ken and Bev worked for the Candlelight Wedding Chapel. Ken was one of 17 limo drivers (Bev was the wedding director). They both enjoyed their work there. In 1989, they moved back to take care of their mothers. Ken then took a job as a jailer for the County of Yankton. In 1991, Ken built a concession stand and was a concessionaire at the Sturgis Rally for 8 years. He was known as The Buffalo Man. He provided concessions at Riverboat Days, the Huron State Fair, Sioux City, South Sioux City, and various celebrations throughout the area. Ken also worked various jobs through the years to include Global Life Insurance sales, water purification, and for Bob Kellen. His last job was with Slowey Construction where he worked for 14 years either loading trucks or taking bids for a job letting.

Ken joined the National Guard in 1953 and was enrolled for 8 years. In 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis was going on; however, Ken didn’t pass his physical and was discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In his younger years, Ken loved fishing and hunting trips for Stone sheep, moose, elk, and white mountain goats. He hunted and fished in Canada/Alaska along with the lower 48 states. In 1970, he was gone all of September hunting. He had a real feel for dogs and cattle. His favorite hunt of all was for wild mushrooms. He was known to find bucketfuls when others couldn’t find any. Ken was also an avid golfer and bowler. He was a member of the Country Lanes Tournament Team.

Ken and Bev loved to spend time in Las Vegas for long weekends. That eventually changed to vacations on the water. They loved going on cruises and they danced on every ocean. It was on these trips that they met many of their close friends from countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, England and Holland. They had a year’s worth of time on the water. Bev and Ken loved to throw parties, one of their last was their 55th anniversary celebration. Friends from Hong Kong and Australia were able to attend.

Ken was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Yankton. He is survived by sister-in-law Carol Broderson, nieces-in-law, Dr. Stephanie Broderson and Kristi Broderson, and numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, his wife, Bev in 2019, his parents, brother-in-law Warren, niece Sharon and nephews-in-law Michael and Philip. Ken also was preceded in death by his best friend/companion, his dog, Sam.

Blessed be his memory.

Cards of condolence can be sent in care of Jill & Robert Sternhagen, 2504 Mulligan Drive, Yankton, SD 57078.