Deep roots

I was born and raised in Aberdeen, graduating from Central High School before moving to Arizona to study in Tucson. At that time, I didn’t have intentions of moving back to South Dakota, let alone to Huron, but on a visit home I stood at the edge of a field of soybeans and made the decision to leave the desert.
We moved to Huron because of my wife’s ties to the area, but I quickly felt a deeper connection through my grandmother. My grandmother, Marie Orth Sarvis was born in Virgil and lived there until The Depression, when her grandfather and father had to close their shop and relocate to Fort Pierre. Her grandparents, Michael and Katherine Schaffer immigrated from Russia and are buried in Alpena. Katherine’s parents, Phillip and Eva Nuss are buried near the border of Jerauld and Beadle Counties, just off Highway 281. The longwinded point of my writing is that I may not have been raised in Huron, but I have roots here and my wife and I have continued to deepen those roots with each year since we arrived.
Huron and its surrounding communities have long histories of perseverance – from Gladys Pyle to the State Fair, to the Tigers’ efforts in Rapid City this week. We’ve embraced diversity and welcomed families seeking the same opportunities our ancestors did as they arrived from Russia, Norway, and other lands across the ocean.
As the Plainsman continues to publish each new issue, I promise to do my best to live up to the histories of these communities and to continue strengthening those roots. This year we became members of the South Dakota Retailers Association to better support the local businesses that keep us and our communities thriving.
Our staff are actively working with local organizations to offer our time and support as much as possible.
I invite the community to write to our office or email me at [email protected] with what makes your community great – whether it’s a landmark, a business, its history, or an individual, I want to hear from you.
As always, thank you for reading, subscribing, or even lining your pet’s kennel with our paper.