Laverne Diede - Inducted 2021

Laverne Diede was a pioneer in South Dakota high school girls’ sports and was a leader in helping establish girls’ sports in the 1970s and beyond. She was a teacher, coach, and administrator for more than 40 years in Delmont, Marion, and Freeman. She was especially involved in helping girls’ track to prosper.

In 1977, Diede guided the Freeman girls to the state Class A Track & Field Championship. Her Flyers were runners-up in 1975 and 1976.

Diede graduated from Scotland High School in 1956. She enrolled at Southern State Teachers College (USD-Springfield) and graduated in 1960. She was inducted into the Southern State Hall of Fame in 2002.

In 1976, she was recognized as Girls’ Track & Field Coach of the Year by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association. For many years she served on the state advisory board for track & field and cross country.

Diede is a member of the South Dakota Cross Country and Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame. She served as an Honorary Referee for the 2011 Howard Wood Dakota Relays.