My deep South Dakota roots date back to late 1800’s with the arrival of my great-grand parents who homesteaded southwest of Woonsocket. For the past 39 years I have served as a Lutheran pastor, starting in parish ministry in rural Aberdeen, and later serving in Mitchell and Pierre. I was elected to serve two terms as the statewide Bishop of the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2007 and re-elected for a final term in 2013.
Wherever I have served, I have collaborated with the entire community in both civic and religious arenas. It is this approach that guided me as I led over 120,000 baptized members in 252 congregations as the Bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, leading us through the recession of 2008-2010 with fiscal responsibility and discipline. I will take these same principles to Pierre as your next Republican Senator for District 14.
My wife of 44 years, LaDonna, is a college advisor and instructor. We are the parents of four children and have eleven grandchildren. I want your family and mine to stay and thrive in South Dakota.