Spirit of Dakota - South Dakota’s Premier Women's Award

Established in October 1986, 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 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.

2026 Spirit of Dakota Award - October 3, 2026

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Spirit of Dakota Award

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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 recognized 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.

Throughout her life Deanell Backlund has used her many talents to make the world a better place. As this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Dakota Award, Deanell’s courage and strength of character serve as a role model for present and future generations. Testimonials of her impact as an educator, advocate and civic leader provide a snapshot of the countless contributions she had made to her family, church, community and state.

For over three decades, students in her classroom were both challenged and encouraged to do their best work – a lesson that continues to inspire them into adulthood. Janett Uttecht, who was on the school faculty with Deanell recalls, “It is not uncommon to encounter a former student of the famous Mrs. Backlund and have them express what a profound influence she had on their life, always stating how fortunate they were to have been in her classroom. One of the comments most often stated is that she not only taught them excellent grammar and writing skills, and literature, but also taught them how to live life”.

A passion for learning began at an early age and prompted the small-town girl from Gettysburg, SD to pursue a degree at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, becoming the first one in her family to graduate from college. Since that time her dedication to DWU has been outstanding and continues today. 

For 12 years, Deanell served as a trustee and in 2023 was appointed a lifetime trustee – the first woman to receive this honor. Also in recent years, she led the efforts for the creation and placement of a unique work of art outside the new Business, Innovation and Leadership Building – raising nearly $100,000 in a successful campaign.

She and her husband, Dave, have also sponsored an endowed athletic scholarship at DWU and other scholarships. In 2021, Deanell was selected as an Opperman lecturer for DWU’s Blue and White Days sharing her story of how her cherished university has greatly impacted her life. Getting the younger generation involved in the community is another passion of our award recipient. For the past three years, Deanell has led a group of students in a community service project on Wesleyan’s Day of Giving.

The Corn Palace city is very dear to both she and her husband, Dave, and is where they have raised two sons, and are now blessed with two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Family time has always been a priority for this on-the-go pacesetter with special trips and other gatherings planned throughout the year.

Additionally, the 2025 Spirit of Dakota honoree shares her endless energy and enthusiasm with her church and several organizations in the Mitchell community. Whenever a major renovation project was needed at her church, Deanell would lead the way to raise the needed funds and to roll up her sleeves organizing work bees for building Heritage Fellowship Hall, and then adding stained glass windows and eventually a portico and other improvements. Serving on the church council and in various roles in the Women of the ELCA continue to keep her an active and vibrant member of her church.

In the community, Deanell has been involved in the Pheasant Country Chapter of Pheasants Forever as an officer, scholarship chairman, and other leadership roles. The local chapter has the distinction of hosting the largest Pheasants Forever banquet in North America. Deanell is the decorations coordinator for the event and assembles an army of volunteers to set tables for 750-plus guests, along with decorating the lobby, stage, and every corner of the Corn Palace with corn stalks, pumpkins and fall foliage.

A Master Gardener and member of the Mitchell Area Garden Club, Deanell helps to beautify the city by maintaining the flower beds at the Carnegie Resource Center and at Veterans Park in downtown Mitchell. In recent years, she has chaired the committee to place Christmas arrangements in flower pots on Mitchell’s Main Street, and has been successful in writing grants to fund the project.

During her years of community service, Deanell has also been active in the Mitchell Area Community Concert Series, Meals on Wheels program, P.E.O., Beta Sigma Phi, and Rotary. Statewide organizations that have benefited from her talents include the Honored Women Educators of South Dakota and the SD Council of Teachers of English.

Distinguished Honorees

• 1987 - *Mrs. Winifred Lorentson, Miller
• 1988 - *Dr. Jeanie K. Sherman, Madison
• 1989 - *Florence Bruhn, Watertown
• 1990 - *Jeanette Lusk, Huron
• 1991 - *Dorothy (D.J.) Cline, Brookings
• 1992 - No Award Presentation
• 1993 - *Ruth Ziolkowski, Custer
• 1994 - *Sylvia Henkin., Sioux Falls
• 1995 - Irene Fisher Coon, Sioux Falls
• 1996 - Hildreth Twostars Venegas, Sisseton
• 1997 - *Lorraine Huntimer, Oldham
• 1998 - *Mary Lou Tripp, Belle Fourche
• 1999 - Marsha Sumpter, Phillip
• 2000 - *Donna Schipke, Newell
• 2001 - Phyllis White Eyes DeCory, Rapid City
• 2002 - *Virginia Keil Lardinois, Huron
• 2003 - Patricia Fawcett, Ree Heights
• 2004 - *Alice Kundert, Mound City
• 2005 - No Award Presentation
• 2006 - Janice Manolis, Huron
• 2007 - June James, Hazel
• 2008 - Elaine Doll-Dunn, Spearfish
• 2009 - Julie Garreau, Eagle Butte
• 2010 - *Dorothy Kellogg, Watertown
• 2011 - *Millie Humphrey, Whitewood
• 2012 - Mary J. Milroy, MD, Yankton
• 2013 - Patricia Baird, Custer
• 2014 - Theresa Stehly, Sioux Falls
• 2015 - Mary Alice Woster Haug, Brookings
• 2016 - *Susan DeLaney-Kary, Parmelee
• 2017 - *Jean Wilkinson, DeSmet
• 2018 - *Beverly Stabber Warne, Rapid City
• 2019 - Jo Vitek, Watertown
• 2020 - No Award Presentation
• 2021 - Angela Ehlers, Presho
• 2022 - No Award Presentation
• 2023 - Julie Bell, Brookings
• 2024 - LaVonne Gaspar, Sioux Falls
• 2025 - Deanell Backlund, Mitchell

* Denotes Deceased Recipient

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Selection Commission

• Tona Rozum, Chair - Mitchell
• Jean Hunhoff - Yankton
• Carol Johnson - Watertown
• Julie M Johnson - Aberdeen
• Suzette Kirby - Sioux Falls
• Julie Garreau - Eagle Buttte
• Marsha Sumpter - Kadoka
• Ginger Thomson - Brookings
• Jacque Sly - Rapid City
  
• First Lady Sandy Rhoden, Pierre

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Spirit of Dakota Award Society

•   Marilyn Hoyt, Award Society Chair, email - mjhoyt66@gmail.com

• Beckie Freeman, Nominee Tea Chair
• Shelley Noonan
• Bette Poppen
• Terri Anderson-Schlader
• Linda Schwartz
• Margo Anderson
• Darcy Haber
• Sarah Rubish
• Erica McNeil
• Jenny Sorben
• Jane Meekins
• Carol Milbrandt
• Chery Dick
• Beula Jean Helmer
• Sarah Radke
• Deannie LeRoux, Member Emeritus