Andy Zephier, 80, died Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Andy was born October 26, 1930, in Greenwood, SD to Antoine L. and Victoria (Aungie) Zephier. He attended Flandreau Public School and graduated on May 27, 1949. He was a three sport athlete participating in football, basketball and track, earning All-State honors at the 1948 Class "B" Basketball Tournament. Andy was married to Ramona Fielder on February 22, 1952, in Pipestone, MN. He graduated from Augustana College in 1957 and began his education career as a teacher, coach and administrator at the Flandreau Indian School on February 20, 1957. He coached football, basketball, cross-country, and track, but made his mark on SD High School Athletics by coaching his FIS harriers to seven State "A" Cross Country titles and one State A Track title in 1962, breaking Sioux Falls Washington's streak of nine. Andy calls that track meet as his most memorable, as they won the meet with just seven athletes. His wife preceded him in death on October 3, 1973. He retired from FIS in 1990 and went on to work as a compliance investigator at Royal River Casino until 2005. Andy married Wendy Weets on December 11, 1999, in Flandreau and they have made their home in Sioux Falls. Andy was a member of St. Mary's Our Blessed Redeemer Episcopal Church in Flandreau where he was a senior warden and lay reader, a member of the Flandreau Masonic Lodge, and served on various committees at both Flandreau Public School and FIS. He was president of the Elderly Board of the Santee Sioux Tribe in Flandreau and a 30 year Booster Club member at FIS. His hobbies were golf, bowling, calligraphy, playing the guitar and he was an avid Chicago Bears fan. Andy was inducted into the SD High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1991 and the SD High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1992. He was honored as Flandreau High School Booster Outstanding Contributor in 1993 and selected as an honorary referee at Howard Wood Dakota Relays in 2003. Andy was named the winner of the Lefty Olson Award for 2003 from Augustana College. The award recognizes lifetime service and achievement in athletics or athletic administration by an Augustana graduate. Andy has also been published in the "The Coaching Clinic". In 2006, he was inducted into the SD Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in June of 2010.

Andy is survived by his wife, Wendy, Sioux Falls; four children, Stuart (Margo) Zephier, Flandreau, Marcia Zephier, Nelson (Eli) Zephier, and Zane Zephier, all of Sioux Falls; two stepsons, Darin (Jamie) Weets, Clark, SD, and Bernie (Jadie) Imhoff, Holland, MN; eight grandchildren, Myles (Melissa) Zephier, Ramona Zephier, Myhra (Daniel) Roper, Nathaniel Haase, Shelbey Haase, Darcie (Jason) Kuemper, Kira Zephier, and Aidan Zephier; eight step-grandchildren, Jordan, Bailey, Kobe, Kamrin, Kristian, Klinton, Mylee, and Kathryn; seven great-grandchildren, Cole, Connor, Cayden, Eva, Marshall, Tayvin, and Marianna; seven siblings, Darlene (Maurice) Willliams, Faith, SD, Harley (Alverda) Zephier, Aberdeen, Charleen (Donald) Wince, Pine Ridge, Richard (Carol) Zephier, Aberdeen, Evon Holliday, Rapid City, Jewel Zephier, Moorehead, MN, and David (Amy) Zephier, Hartford, SD. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ramona, his parents, three brothers, William, Donald (Alberta), and Robert, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 11:00 am at Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, Sioux Falls, with burial in Union Cemetery, Flandreau. Visitation begins at 4:00 pm Friday with a 6:00 pm prayer service at the Cathedral.