Another Great Memory

Great people. Great memories.

We’ve asked our neighbors and friends to share with us their favorite memories of living in South Dakota. Obviously there’s no shortage of heartwarming, funny or fascinating stories when you live in a place as diverse and inspiring as South Dakota.

Click the links below to listen to the stories that help define us all. We also invite you to share your own story on this page by submitting your great memory.

Enjoy!

Balcony Memories

Transcript: Every time I drive through Deadwood, I see the balcony of the Franklin Hotel, and I can’t help but smile and remember the many years that I announced the Days of 76 Parade with the wonderful help of Marlene Straub. And then later, to meet on that balcony on a Sunday morning and read the New York Times with my friend Bill Walsh. Rodeo and parades, truly another great memory from DeSmet Farm Mutual Insurance of South Dakota.

Teaching in SD

Transcript: I have a friend who taught for half a century. Now retired, Pat says she was blessed to be an educator. She firmly believes that a good education develops life skills. Life is different today than when she started teaching, but she feels the need for encouragement. Love and guidance is still the same. All of us can make a difference to the lives of those we come in contact with when we reach out with encouragement and love. By doing that, we can truly create another great memory from DeSmet Farm Mutual Insurance of South Dakota.

Play Me A Song

Transcript: Cami, an experienced ranch girl who lives near western South Dakota, told me that she was a guitar lesson dropout. Her dad encouraged her for many years, but she just couldn’t get it. She did, however, learn enough to respond when he’d say, Cammy, play me a song. She said that the day he died, she could still hear him asking. So she played and sang at his funeral. Like the story of life, the rhythm was hers, but she played for her dad. It’s another great memory from DeSmet Farm Mutual Insurance. of South Dakota.

Goose Parade

Transcript: Last spring, a pair of Canadian geese seemed to be settling in marshy grass beside my pasture dugout. My wife and I watched them with binoculars. The gander was always on guard. One day, the goose led a parade of five goslings to swim, and they all bravely followed her into the water. As the last gosling slipped in, the gander followed. One fall day, they joined a flock flying south. We didn’t see them leave, but they became another great memory from De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance. of South Dakota.

Wizard of Oz

Transcript: Someone told me that to make life worthwhile, you needed courage, a warm heart, and to think problems through. In 1888, Frank Baum came to Aberdeen, Dakota Territory to run a newspaper. Baum was known to be a dreamer. We all know that Frank used homestead smarts to write about the cowardly lion who looked for courage, the tin man who needed a heart, and the scarecrow searching for a brain. We’re happy that The Wizard of Oz can be another great memory from DeSmet Farm Mutual Insurance. of South Dakota.

Christmas Wishes

Transcript: A red Schwinn three-speed bike with a banana seat. That was my wish. There was no way my parents could not know this is what I wanted for Christmas. On Christmas morning, no bike. I was so disappointed. But then my mom said, hey, there’s a note for you on the tree. It said to check the barn. I sprinted out and there was my bike. What a Christmas. And another great memory from DeSmet Farm Mutual Insurance of South Dakota.