Funeral held for South Dakota deputy, a Lincoln native, killed in line of duty

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A South Dakota chief deputy was laid to rest Thursday after being killed in the line of duty last week.

The funeral of Ken Prorok, a Lincoln native, was held at the Dakota State Fieldhouse in Madison, South Dakota.

The Moody County chief deputy was trying to lay down stop sticks to halt a pursuit with Joseph Gene Hoek last Friday, according to court records.

Authorities said Hoek swerved his vehicle into Prorok, then ran off after crashing the vehicle into a ditch.

Prorok was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being Ken’s boss for the last eight years,” Sheriff Troy Wellman said at the funeral. “Even as a coach, as an employee, he coached me.”

Wellman said Prorok was a good right-hand man.

“He doesn’t want the limelight,” Wellman said. “He wants to be in the wings; he wants his boss to look good. I’ll try damn hard not to let you down.”

Prorok grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Pius X High School in 1990, according to his obituary. He then attended the University of Nebraska and Midland University before graduating from Dakota State.

He was also known for coaching his kids’ sports teams.

“Ken was a great father to all three of the children and a wonderful father figure to many that he coached and influenced over the many years,” his obituary says.

Hoek is facing a first-degree murder charge and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

South Dakota’s attorney general has said he’s considering the death penalty in Hoek’s case.