Ryon Reed Gross, 55, of South Shore, passed away Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, at his residence surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Waverly-South Shore School Gymnasium in Waverly. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Interment will be at Milbank City Cemetery.

Ryon Reed Gross was born in Huron on April 30, 1962, to Allen and Karen (Opperman) Gross. He attended and was a 1980 graduate of Tulare School District. After graduation, Ryon attended two and a half years at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. He then attended Northern State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.

Ryon was united in marriage with Dawn Koch on June 24, 2000, at the American Lutheran Church in Milbank.

He started teaching in South Shore in 2000. Before moving there, he taught in Mission, Letcher, Herreid and Bon Homme School Districts. Ryon also taught in Watertown from 2007 -2009 before going back to Waverly-South Shore School District in the fall of 2009. Ryon’s pride and joy was getting students to the International Science Fair, as well as the State Track Meet.

Ryon achieved the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year Award multiple times. His passion was teaching, coaching and pole vaulting. He was a Vikings fan, and also enjoyed camping, gardening, his dogs, caring for his apple trees, and watching the History Channel on television.

Ryon is survived by his wife, Dawn Gross of South Shore; his children: Jessica Jay Gross of Clark, Anthony Allen Gross of Clark, Joshua Ryon Gross of South Shore, Deontay Lee Gross of South Shore, and Alexis Marie Gross of South Shore; one grandson; his parents, Allen and Karen Gross of Menno; his siblings, Todd Gross of Tripp, Melissa (Jeff) Wormstadt of Artesian, Teresa (Brian) Mettler of Menno, and Jason (Amy) Gross of Canton.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Sam and Elizabeth Gross; and his maternal grandparents, Alvin “Bud” and Bessie Opperman.