This past April, Ken was instrumental in making the Rapid Creek Cleanup a tremendous success. His efforts with the Black Hills Anglers encouraged more than 500 people to gather over 18 ½ tons of litter from Rapid Creek. Ken was able to organize the cleaning of 8.5 miles of creek from the hockey rink above Canyon Lake Park to East St. Patrick Street filling over 2000 garbage bags and ridding the creek of appliances, tires, mattresses and even shopping carts. Ken's goal was to clean the debris from Rapid Creek, some which had been there since the 1972 flood disaster.

Chris DeGroote of the Rapid City Police Department, who worked closely with Ken on the Rapid Creek Cleanup, praised him for his organizational skills and determination to complete this long over-due project. Ken worked hundreds of hours mapping and identifying what was needed and the number of people it would take to properly clean each section of Rapid Creek. DeGroot commented that "Ken Edel set a wonderful example for the community by taking on such a project; he is a wonderful individual that cares a lot about his community."

Ken is married to Pam and they have two children, Duane and Jodie. Ken was stationed at Ellsworth AFB in 1964 and after leaving the Air Force joined the South Dakota National Guards and worked full-time in the aviation section. Ken has since retired from the full-time Guards but still enjoys his week-end commitment with the Guards.