Myer "Whitey" Skoog

Myer “Whitey” Skoog, age 92 of St. Peter, died Thursday, April 04, 2019 in St. Peter.

Funeral service is 11:00 am Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at Union Presbyterian Church, St. Peter. Visitation is 4:00-8:00pm Monday at St. Peter Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church Tuesday. Remembrances can be left at www.saintpeterfuneraslhome.com.

Myer Upton was born November 2, 1926 in Duluth to Myer M. and Nora A. (Nelson) Skoog. He graduated from Brainerd High School in 1944 and then served in the US Navy until being honorably discharged in 1947. He then attended the University of MN from 1948 – 1951 and also played basketball. During that time, he was awarded the Big 10 Medal of Honor in Academics and Athletics, was a 3 time All Big 10 Player and 2 time All American. Upon graduation he was selected 10^th in the NBA draft and played 6 years for the Lakers; winning 3 world championships and was also selected a         championship series MVP.

After his playing career, Whitey moved to St. Peter and was a professor and coach for Gustavus Adolphus College. He served as basketball coach from 1957 -1981 and was selected the 1975 MIAC Coach of the Year. He then served as golf coach from 1981-1994. In those years he won 17 Conference titles and was named Coach of the Year in 1991. On February 22, 2009 his number 41 was retired at the University of Minnesota. Whitey was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing, and will be remembered as one of the foremost pioneers of the jumpshot.

Left to remember Whitey are his son David (Rosemarie) of St. Peter; daughter Kristin Kildahl of Minneapolis; grandchildren: James, Natalie Kildahl, Joe (Bridget) Buskey, Tom (Lauren) Buskey and Hannah Buskey; great grandchildren: Nora, Maeve and Harlow; siblings: Ardyth, Rodney and Claryce; and the many athletes to whom he was simply “Coach.” He is preceded in death by the love of his life Joyce Skoog Pengra; daughter Amy Skoog Buskey; and 7 siblings.