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.

2025 Spirit of Dakota Award - October 4, 2025

---

Spirit of Dakota Award

---

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 LaVonne Gaspar of Sioux Falls has been a source of inspiration - not only to her family, church and community - but also to countless people she has impacted during her 57 years (and counting) years of service as a leader in health care and advocacy. In many ways, this year’s Spirit of Dakota Award winner is the epitome of a South Dakota woman who embodies the strong spirit of the prairie.

“She’s a wise and courageous leader, yet demonstrates the heart of a servant,” stated Steve Statz, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Avera Health, who was among those nominating LaVonne for the Spirit of Dakota Award. “A loving wife, mother and grandmother, she has contributed to the high quality of life we enjoy in South Dakota in so many realms from home to church, education, hospital care, senior care, and more.”

As a child, LaVonne learned the meaning of hard work as she helped tend to the cows and pigs on her parents’ farm near Spencer. Later she excelled at South Dakota State University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. In 1963 LaVonne married Ken Gaspar. They welcomed four children: Gary, Michelle, Craig, and Sheila into the world. In 1970, Ken founded Interstate Office Products in Sioux Falls, and LaVonne and another partner’s wife dedicated their evenings and weekends to working in the showroom. Balancing her family, nursing career, and the business left LaVonne with little free time; however, she remained committed to her church, the Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls.

Over the years, through Catholic Family Services, she and Ken provided housing to over 40 expectant mothers. She has also been an advocate for high quality senior health care at the state level, serving on task forces including LifeCircle South Dakota, an effort to improve end-of-life care, and the SD Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias work group – along with nursing boards and other professional organizations.

Throughout her professional life, LaVonne has been known for her unwavering patient focus. According to her daughter, Sheila Casiello, “Every action she has taken as a long-term care leader has been in pursuit of better patient experience and outcomes.”

Curt Hohman, Senior Vice President at Avera McKennan, who also nominated LaVonne for the award, added, “Another call to service that LaVonne has generously answered is being a mentor to new nursing home administrators. She has been an unpaid preceptor to dozens of aspiring administrators. LaVonne shares her knowledge of the regulations, experience within the industry, and mentors young leaders in providing excellence in service to the elderly.”

Her lifetime of service began in 1962 as a clinical instructor at Presentation School of Nursing, During this time, she was instrumental in establishing the Intensive Care Unit at McKennan and served as head nurse. She also played a key role in starting the Coronary Care Unit, working in a dual role between both the ICU and CCU for a time. Eventually LaVonne transitioned to cardiac teaching, a position she loved, as it allowed her to see patients successfully leave the hospital and continue their recovery at home. In the late 1990s, LaVonne became the Director of Nursing at Avera Prince of Peace and shortly after the Administrator, a role she held until her retirement in 2008.

Retirement did not slow LaVonne down! She was soon called to serve as interim administrator at Avera Gregory Hospital, and later at the South Dakota Veterans Home in Hot Springs, United Living in Brookings, Menno (SD) Nursing Home, Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, Avantara Nursing Home in Sioux Falls and Avera Prince of Peace.

This year’s Spirit of Dakota Award winner exemplifies the qualities admired in our state’s pioneer women. The Spirit of Dakota Award Society sends both our congratulations and gratitude for her many contributions to improving the quality of life – both today and for future generations.

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

* Denotes Deceased Recipient

---

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
  

---

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