Photo Courtesy of Karen Michels Karen says she didn’t have any reservations about supporting Matt — partly because I felt it was the right time in our lives to do something like this.” Collin is in college, so they were empty nesters and she was happy in her job. “I think the hardest thing was not deciding whether to run with Dennis but to decide to do it full-time. Which meant he would have to resign his position with Avera Health as their general counsel.” Matt joined Avera Health in 1989 and has been their general counsel for a number of years. The people Matt worked with there are just wonderful, and it was “very difficult to let that part of our life go, and start this new life as a public servant.” In January, Karen and Collin joined thousands of others in celebrating the inauguration of Daugaard and Michels. “It was an amazing weekend,” she said. “In addition to the day I got married and the day we had Collin, this is up there in the top three highlights of my life. It was just truly amazing.” But what made it even more special, she says, is having so many loved ones and friends in attendance. All of Matt’s siblings were able to come, as well as her siblings and father, Matt’s mother, plus everyone that came from Yankton. “That really made it special. They made that trip and helped us celebrate.” For now the Michels family will be separated by several miles. But they have found an apartment in Pierre that Matt will move into after the session is over. When session ends, Matt’s duties as Lt. Governor truly begin, which Karen says will be unknown territory. But she adds, “I don’t feel it’s a problem. Things will work out the way they are suppose to.” Having grown up in Pierre, Karen is looking forward to summers because she can spend more time with Matt and her family. “My father is still in Pierre, with his wife, and my brother lives there.” “We laugh because as people age they think about getting a second home some place warm. Our second home is an apartment in Pierre. That’s a good thing.” My role is to be a wife and mother, as well as a daughter, a sister and a good friend. “As I travel with Matt — and as I participate in different things, I want to be an advocate for South Dakota. I really feel that last summer as I went around this state with Matt, I really fell in love all over again with this state.” With the exception of the short time they lived in Florida, Karen says she has always lived in South Dakota. “I guess the more time I spend in South Dakota and the more people I meet I think it reinforces what a terrific state we live in.” ■ by Heidi Henson Begin the healing When a funeral is well planned, it offers us a perfect time and place to remember the life of a loved one. And it offers family and friends a way to begin the healing. Talk to our caring staff when Tami Keller the need arises. We will help you mark the occasion with Funeral Director sensitivity, compassion and respect. Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust. Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton • Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall • Memorial Chapels, Tabor, Tyndall & Menno 665-9679 • 1-800-495-9679 • www.opsahlkostelfuneralhome.com HERVOICE MARCH/APRIL 2011 ■ 9