Spirit of Dakota

South Dakota's Premier Woman's Award

Established October 1987

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Statement of Purpose & Criteria

The Spirit of Dakota Award is an annual honor bestowed each fall by the Spirit of Dakota Award Society at a state-wide event at the Crossroads Hotel & Huron Event Center. The Spirit of Dakota award is given to:

• An outstanding South Dakota woman who has demonstrated leadership qualities and has been successful and admired in her community and state.
• A woman with roots deep in Dakota whose courage and strength of character have helped develop her family and community.
• A woman who has represented social, cultural, and education advancement for others.
• This award is not Mother of the Year, nor Teacher of the Year, nor categorized but rather a recognition of those outstanding women who have been the symbols of all that we are proud of in our Prairie Women.
• The nominee does not need to be a native of South Dakota, but must be a current, living resident of the state.

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History of Spirit of Dakota Award

The nine foot bronze sculpture "Spirit of Dakota" which stands at the entrance of the Crossroads Hotel & Huron Event Center is the source for the state-wide Spirit of Dakota Award. Dale Claude Lamphere, nationally recogonized sculptor and artist, is the creator. This sculpture of a pioneer woman balanced against the wind was unveiled and dedicated in October 1987 by the citizens of Huron and is the unique possession of this community.

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Spirit of Dakota Award

South Dakota's Premier Woman's Award

This prestigious Spirit of South Dakota award plaque is an outstanding piece of art; each individually created by renowned sculptor, Dale Claude Lamphere, and treasured by each honoree. A one-foot bronze oval is graced with the pioneer woman sculpted upon its facade. To further illuminate the award, the bronze oval is mounted on smoky black lucite which is etched with the award inscription. The final element of the honor is an 18x20 burnished gold wooden frame which securely hold the cherished woman.

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Millie Humphrey - Whitewood

Millie Humphrey of Whitewood, second from right, is the 2011 Spirit of Dakota winner.  She was introcued by First Lady Linda Daugaard, back right, at the event in Huron at the Crossroads.  Others shown are Donna Christen, Huron, chairman of the first Spirit of Dakota committee; Marilyn Hoyt, Huron, current chairman; Governor Dennis Daugaard, Dale Lamphere, who sculpted the Spirit of Dakota statue that was the inspiration for the award; Bette Poppen, De Smet, chairman of the selection commission; Humphrey; and Earl Nordby, Huron, who is the innovator of the award and event.

 

The 2011 Spirit of Dakota Award winner, Millie Humphrey of Whitewood, SD, views life as an adventure – an adventure that has taken her to all corners of the world. Her limitless quest to make the world a better place has endeared her to people from all walks of life.

Millie’s adventures began 88 years ago in Meade County. One of six daughters, life’s challenges were always present as her family struggled with the loss of their home in a fire and then her father’s death only six months later. The family moved from Plainview to Sturgis with many adjustments for this country girl to make.

Her thirst for knowledge and inquisitive nature led Millie to excelling in high school as she turned her energies to writing and journalism. She will never forget the time that she interviewed South Dakota poet laureate Badger Clark for the school newspaper. To prepare for this assignment, Millie memorized his poem, “A Cowboy’s Prayer” and to her surprise was asked by Mr. Clark to recite the poem following his speech at the school assembly! This was the beginning of many occasions when Millie’s talents would be noticed and called upon in ways that she would never dream to be possible.

 After high school graduation in 1941, Millie worked in the county superintendent’s office and soon became deputy clerk of courts. It was during this time that a service club was built at Fort Meade which became the USO Center where Millie volunteered as a hostess. Her patriotic spirit would again be put into action much later in her life as she became an advocate for disabled veterans during the Vietnam War.

Although successful at her work in Sturgis, Millie never forgot her country roots. Together with her husband, Jim, they raised seven children. Jim was a ranch manager, rodeo rider, and cattle buyer. One of the adventures they had together was managing the horses for a Hollywood film crew who came to the Black Hills to film the movie “Tomahawk” starring Rock Hudson and Van Heflin. This was when Millie was seven months pregnant! Along with raising seven children – Burton, Casey, Colleen, Kerry, Patrick, Molly and Susan – Millie worked as a freelance writer and spent an endless amount of time cooking for ranch hands and hay crews.

In 1967, Millie began working at Fort Meade Veterans Administration Hospital near Sturgis. It was during this time that Millie met Rev. Herbert Cleveland who enlisted her support in New Life Mission. The Mission’s goal is to rescue young women sold by their families to drug users and for prostitution. While on a mission to Southeast Asia, Millie assisted in this life-saving work, riding elephants to reach their destination.

"Millie certainly is a Dakota Spirit Woman,” writes Rev. Cleveland. “She never missed an activity and was always ready to do more. Whether she is riding her mule, visiting her kids, helping with community activities, or in an oriental mission, Millie is the personification of the Dakota Spirit.”

That bold spirit inspires the 2011 Spirit of Dakota Award winner in all of her endeavors in life. Atop Buck, her favorite mule, Millie was part of the 17-day Ft. Pierre to Deadwood Wagon Train in 2008, at the age of 85.

Born on the Dakota prairie, Millie Humphrey is a shining example of the qualities that characterize pioneer women – qualities that serve as a guidepost for this generation and beyond. The Spirit of Dakota Society congratulates this year’s honoree for her outstanding contributions as a trailblazer, volunteer, patriot and missionary.

 

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2011 Nominees

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Spirit of Dakota Award Society

Marilyn Hoyt, Chairman
605-352-6073
Email

• Beckie Freeman
• Sue Gose
• Stephanie Hertel
• Deannie LeRoux
• Sandy Mencke
• Jeannette Peterson
• Bette Poppen
• Terri Anderson-Schlader
• Linda Schwartz
• Rebecca Steele
• JoAnne Thurnbeck
• Mary Walz
• Cindy Wilk 
• Darcy Haber
• Sarah Rubish
• Erica McNeil
• Nicole Miner
• Mary Pearson
• Shelly Noonan