Reed Harter, 28, of Ethan, SD, formerly of Colome, SD passed away due to an automobile accident on Friday, January 16, 2026.  Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 24th, 2026 at 10:30AM at the Greg Sherman Memorial Colome High School Gymnasium in Colome, SD.  Burial will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at the Greg Sherman Memorial Colome High School Gymnasium from 5:30PM-6:30PM with a prayer service beginning at 6:30PM.  Funeral service will be streamed through the Colome Cowboys Live. https://colomecowboyslive.com/

Reed Glen Holden Harter was born to Ferman and Sally (O'Bryan) Harter in Gregory, South Dakota on February 27, 1997. Reed grew up on a farm near Colome, South Dakota with his two brothers, Toby and Zach. Reed loved animals, cats and dogs alike. With animals being his young passion, sports were arguably his top priority which later led to his natural ability to lead a team.

Always a leader, Reed played multiple sports from a young age. His basketball career started in Country Conference as an Ideal Tiger, progressing to being a Tripp Country Trojan traveling team, and ultimately leading to a Colome Cowboy. At all ages, Reed participated in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball with recognition as a three-sport All Stater in high school. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Colome Cowboys basketball program, a record that is unbroken since 2016.

Reed graduated from Colome High School in 2016, spending the summers playing Legion baseball, helping his dad in the hayfields, and starting his career as a respected umpire.

Reed received multiple accolades throughout his life, from being crowned homecoming king in high school, to the most recent being his induction into the South Dakota High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. Reed was a proud member of the Winner/Colome Pheasants Amateur Baseball Team since 2016. As a stellar second baseman, Reed rallied the Pheasant family to many victorious seasons. In 2019, he won the Tony Adams Hustle Award as well as making the State Amateur Baseball All Tourney Team in 2016 and 2019. Reed gave 100% to everything he did, and expected the same from others. He was a competitor with a big heart and a whole lot of passion, which is a major reason for his successes throughout his life.

After high school, Reed decided to major in History Education. He attended the University of Sioux Falls for one semester after high school to play baseball. He later transferred, in the Spring of 2017, to Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota where he thrived and met lifelong friends. Reed was an honor roll student every semester, while he also excelled as a player and leader on the baseball team.

When COVID-19 arose, Reed was given an extra year of baseball eligibility which he decided to utilize. While playing that last year (2020-2021) Reed pursued his Masters of Educational Administration.

After graduating from DWU in 2020, Reed began teaching social sciences in Ethan, SD in 2021. Reed was an assistant football coach in 2021 and 2022 for the Bridgewater Emery Ethan Seahawks. He was also the assistant boys basketball coach for the Ethan Rustlers from 2021-2026. During this time, Reed also was a volunteer assistant baseball coach at his Alum, Dakota Wesleyan University, from 2023-2026. Reed was a loved colleague, teacher, and coach by many.

Reed married the love of his life Mikayla (Heirigs) Harter on July 6, 2024 in Irene, South Dakota. The couple purchased their first home in 2023 in Mitchell, South Dakota, shortly after their engagement. Reed and Mik met at the Artesian street dance in 2017 and one year later, in 2018, at the same street dance started dating and the rest was history.

Reed made people feel noticed and important, whether in the classroom or everyday life. He was genuine and soft-hearted, which explains why he was such a great "cat-whisperer". Reed and Mik rescued their cat Mr. Binx from the side of the road on their way back from their last marriage class, and their world has  revolved around him ever since.

Reed proudly became Uncle R in May of 2023 to Wrenly Rae. His kindness towards children and animals translated onto each person he met, and even those he didn't personally know. His charisma carried further than his voice, making him truly a one of a kind person. Students, from all walks of life, adored Mr. Harter, even his meticulous lesson plans.

Reed is survived by his wife Mikayla Harter and Mr. Binx (their cat), Mitchell, SD; his parents, Sally and Ferman Harter, Colome, SD; his brothers, Toby (Blakley) Harter, Grand Forks, ND;  Zachary (Alissa) Harter and his niece Wrenly Rae, Elk Point, SD; his in-laws Bruce and Jodi Heirigs, Irene, SD; Christopher Heirigs, Tacoma, WA; Skyler Heirigs, Irene, SD; many aunts, uncles and several cousins; baseball family; and a large circle of friends.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Mavis and Richard O'Bryan Sr. and Leonora Harter and Ferman (Bud) Harter Sr., his "sister-cousin" Sara (Slim) O'Bryan Bradford, and one of his dearest friends Chandler (Chuck) Bakley.