Daniel Keith Rivers, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, educator, veteran, and man of deep faith, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2026, in San Bernardino, California. He was 92 years old.

Daniel was born on October 8, 1933, in Winona, Minnesota, to Clarence and Alberta Rivers. As a boy, his mother affectionately called him Danny, and later in life, through college and beyond, he was known simply as Dan.

Dan graduated from Cotter High School in Winona in 1951 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Mary’s College in 1954. That same year, he enlisted in the United States Army and then completed Finance School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1955, before deploying to South Korea, where he served for two years in the Finance and Administration Corps in Seoul. During his time in Korea, Dan met his future wife, Caritas Jung Ae Yoon.

After completing active duty in 1957 and later receiving an honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1962, Dan married Caritas in November 1957. The couple moved west to Southern California, where they began their family in Monterey Park. Together, Dan and Caritas had four children: Audrey, Elizabeth, Kenneth, and Gregory.

Dan continued his education while building his career and supporting his family. He earned a Master of Science in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles in July 1964, followed by a California Junior College Teaching Credential in Business Administration in June 1966. Over the first fifteen years of his professional life, Dan worked as an accountant for companies throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including The Walt Disney Company and businesses in manufacturing, packaging, and freight transportation, while also teaching business courses at Monrovia Adult Education, Los Angeles City College, and Mount San Antonio College.

In 1975, Dan opened an accounting and tax preparation practice in Eagle Rock, which he operated for seven years. After a courageous ten-year battle with cancer, Caritas died in 1977. In 1982, Dan made a major career transition to full-time educator, teaching business courses overseas in Seoul, Korea, for the University of Maryland and Central Texas College. He continued teaching for the next 14 years.

In 1985, Dan married Jung Ja Yoon, affectionately known as JJ. Dan and JJ shared almost two decades of marriage, which included a move back to Southern California to begin their retirement. JJ passed away in 2002, also after a battle with cancer. In retirement, Dan continued to serve others through Church-related community outreach and at FISH Food Bank in Coachella, California, serving as its Board President for two years.

Raised Catholic, Dan married and raised his children in the Catholic Church. He was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi in La Quinta, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Indio, and later St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Rialto. During the last decade of his life, Dan studied the Bible deeply and found great meaning in his faith.

Dan was an avid recreational athlete, starting with basketball and baseball through high school, baseball and softball in his 40s and 50s, and bowling from a young age through much of his adult life. But his biggest sports passion well into his 90s was golf -- known for being loyal to individual golf clubs from multiple sets, constantly tinkering with the golf swing and making dramatic putts from long distances.

Dan had an engaging personality, striking up conversations with whomever was willing. His sense of humor was thought-provoking, and he raised his children to wonder about and pursue their potential, not simply to seek praise for trying. To those who knew him as Danny, Dan, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, teacher, friend, or colleague, his life will remain a lasting example of dedication, faith, conversation, humor, and quiet strength.

He is survived by his daughters Audrey and Elizabeth, his son Kenneth (wife Kelly and her two sons Benjamin and Spencer), his son Gregory (wife Kristen); his grandchildren, Victoria, Devin, Braelynn, and Abigail; his sister-in-law, Joyce; and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Caritas, his wife JJ, his brother Alan, his sister Iris, his nieces Kari and Kyle, and his grandson Kenneth Jr.

Mass will be held at St. Thomas More, 222 E. Easton Street, Rialto, CA, on June 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., followed immediately by a celebration of life at 15762 Kings Peak Drive, Fontana, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Rialto in Dan’s memory.

https://www.ingoldfuneralandcremation.com/obituaries/Daniel-Keith-Rivers?obId=48439504