Walworth County Emergency Manager thanks Pierre divers for their assistance with water search near Akaska last month

February 11, 2025:

City and county leaders have again expressed their sincere thanks to divers from Pierre for the rescue work they did last month on the Missouri River near Akaska.

Central Divers in Pierre, in coordination with Pierre Rescue Team divers, spent about a week searching for the bodies of 51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling, both from Akaska. The two men went missing Jan. 15, 2025, after their vehicle went through the ice. Their bodies were recovered Jan. 23, 2025.

Walworth County Emergency Manager Jeff Jensen expressed gratitude to the Pierre City Commission during last week’s meeting (Feb. 4, 2025).

Courtesy photo.

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January 31, 2025:

Earlier this month, divers from Central Divers in Pierre, in coordination with Pierre Rescue Team divers, spent about a week searching for the bodies of two men who went missing (Jan. 15, 2025) after their vehicle went through the ice on the Missouri River near Akaska.

51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling, both from Akaska, were located the afternoon of January 23, 2025.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll organized the search efforts and sent a letter of appreciation that City Commissioner Vona Johnson read is during this week’s (Jan. 28, 2025) Pierre City Commission meeting.

Throughout the search, Boll thanked the many emergency responders and volunteers that helped find the two men, who were well known in that area.

Additional agencies that have assisted with the search include:

• Selby Ambulance

• Akaska Fire Department

• Selby Fire Department

• Game Fish & Parks

• Walworth County Emergency Management

• SD Highway Patrol

• several civilian volunteers

January 23, 2025:

Divers from Central Divers in Pierre, in coordination with Pierre Rescue Team divers, have recovered the bodies of two men from Akaska who have been missing for about a week.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll told DRG Media Group in Mobridge that 51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling were located in the Missouri River near Akaska late Thursday afternoon (Jan. 23, 2025).

Kramer and Schilling went missing Jan. 15, 2025, when their vehicle went through the ice around 7 o’clock that night.

Boll said the vehicle is still in the water.

Boll thanked all of the rescuers who showed up to help with the search.

Boll also thanked area community members who brought food and other supplies over the course of the past week to help with the recovery efforts.

Additional agencies that have assisted with the search include:

• Selby Ambulance
• Akaska Fire Department
• Selby Fire Department
• Game Fish & Parks
• Walworth County Emergency Management
• Walworth County Sheriff’s Office
• SD Highway Patrol
• Along with several civilian volunteers

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January 22, 2025:

The vehicle has been found, but searchers aren’t yet able to determine if the bodies of two fishermen from north-central South Dakota that have been missing since last week, are inside.

51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling, both from Akaska, went missing Jan. 15, 2025, when their vehicle went through the ice on the Missouri River near Akaska.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says current conditions are making the search challenging.

Boll didn’t say when the vehicle was found, but says searchers are hoping the two missing men are nearby.

Boll says the families of the two men are receiving a lot of support from the local communities, as are those doing the searching.

The search will resume when weather conditions improve. Swan Creek Recreation Area has been closed to the public because it’s being used as a base of operation for the search.

Other agencies that have assisted with the search include:

• Selby Ambulance

• Akaska Fire Department

• Selby Fire Department

• Piere FD/Dive Rescue Team

• Game Fish & Parks

• Walworth County Emergency Management

• Walworth County Sheriff’s Office

• SD Highway Patrol

• Along with several civilian volunteers

JANUARY 22, 2025:

Tuesday’s (Jan. 21, 2025) search for two fishermen who went missing a week ago on the Missouri River near Akaska came up empty, but will continue again today (Jan. 22, 2025).

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says Swan Creek Recreation Area is closed to the public while the area is used as a base of operation for the search.

A dive team and rescue workers are searching for the bodies of 51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling, both from Akaska. Their vehicle went through the ice Jan. 15, 2025, after encountering a pressure ridge around 7 o’clock that night.

JANUARY 21, 2025:

The search resumed today (Jan. 21, 2025) for two fishermen who went missing after their vehicle went through the ice Wednesday night (Jan. 15, 2025) on the Missouri River near Akaska, in north-central South Dakota.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says a dive team and rescue workers are working out of Swan Creek Recreation Area.

Last week, Boll identified the missing men as 51 year old Kent Kramer and 71 year old Brad Schilling, both from Akaska. Boll said the vehicle the men were in encountered a pressure ridge on the ice, then became submerged around 7pm Wednesday.

JANUARY 18, 2025:

As of Friday at 2pm (Jan. 17, 2025) the search for two fishermen who went missing after their vehicle went through the ice Wednesday night (Jan. 15, 2025) on the Missouri River near Akaska, in north-central South Dakota, has been suspended. No recoveries have been made at this time.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says the identities of the missing men have been confirmed as Kent Kramer, 51, of Akaska and Brad Schilling, 71, of Akaska.

JANUARY 17, 2025:

The search continues today (Jan. 17, 2025) for two fishermen who went missing after their vehicle went through the ice Wednesday night (Jan. 15, 2025) on the Missouri River near Akaska, in north-central South Dakota.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says as of Friday morning (Jan. 17, 2025), the Swan Creek Recreation Area is still closed to the public. It will remain that way until search operations have concluded.

The incident happened at approximately 7:03pm Wednesday when the vehicle encountered a pressure ridge on the ice, then became submerged.

No other information is available at this time.

JANUARY 16, 2025, UPDATE:

Two fishermen are missing after their vehicle went through the ice Wednesday night (Jan. 15, 2025) on the Missouri River near Akaska, in north-central South Dakota.

Walworth County Sheriff Josh Boll says at approximately 7:03pm, the vehicle the men were in encountered a pressure ridge on the ice, then became submerged.

Boll says the Swan Creek Recreation Area is closed to the public while emergency responders conduct a search for the missing men.

JANUARY 16, 2025:

The 22nd Annual Kids Ice Fishing Tourney at Akaska has been postponed to a date that has yet to be decided. The tournament was originally scheduled for this Saturday (Jan. 18, 2025).