Beau Keeter, 19, was found dead in his dormitory room Wednesday morning, September 23 at Dayton Hall on Dakota Wesleyan University’s (DWU) campus in Mitchell, South Dakota. Keeter, of St. Lawrence, S.D., was a freshman athletic training student, Bishop’s Leadership Award winner, member of the Student Ministry Council and a member of the men's basketball team. Photo: DWU File photo.

Keeter tested positive for bacterial meningitis, campus officials said Saturday, September 27. Mitchell police responded to a call at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, September 23.

In March, Keeter was awarded the Bishop Leadership Award, a scholarship at DWU for students affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The Bishop Leadership Award is a $14,000 per year award available to a United Methodist student who demonstrates strong commitment to youth leadership in his or her local church and pledges to be active in student ministry at DWU.

Rev. Eric Van Meter, campus pastor and campus officials at Dakota Wesleyan University called the members of the Student Ministry Council and the Resident Assistants on campus to Van Meter’s early Wednesday afternoon to inform them of Keeter’s passing.  “We wanted to inform these students about Beau’s death and also prepare them to help other students throughout campus,” said Rev. Van Meter.

This was the second death of the student involved in campus ministry in less than ten months.  Hali Strom passed away while traveling with a group of students from DWU Student Ministry Council in January 2015. 

A memorial service was held on Wednesday evening, September 23.  Rev. Matthew Richards, pastor for Miller UMC, came to campus and to the service to speak for family.  “I wanted to be present and supportive,” said Richards. “God was at work and allowed me to be there for such a time as this.”

Even though Keeter was just beginning his college career and involvement with the Student Ministry Council his impact was already strong.  “He had not been with us that long.  He was solid person, well liked and trusted, “ said Van Meter. “He was only a freshman but he was trying to live as a model for peers. Student ministry would have been a focus for Beau."

According to his obituary, Keeter’s funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Miller Armory, with Rev. Matt Richards officiating. Burial will be at Beulah Cemetery, rural St. Lawrence. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 29, with a 7 p.m. prayer service, all at the First Methodist Church, Miller.

Keeter was a talented high school athlete from Miller High School and a member of the DWU basketball team.  The coach and members of the team spent time together to cope with Keeter’s death.

"If you wanted the definition of a kid with the compass pointing in the right direction in all areas of his life, I'd think that would be Beau," DWU head basketball coach Matt Wilber told KDLT-TV.