The McKellips family of Alcester has always exemplified the best of South Dakota. I love the old story of when the family’s bank closed in the Great Depression and they lost everything, and so did a lot of their friends and customers who had money in that bank.
But Roger’s dad never gave up. He worked day and night, and started selling insurance because there was more money in insurance than banking. We’ve told the story in South Dakota Magazine.
Finally the McKellips family paid back everyone who had lost money in their bank. Roger was a teenager then but he must have been paying attention because that’s exactly what he was like when I got to know him at the state legislature a half-century later.
Humility. Selflessness. Determination with patience. And a great devotion to community.
Roger served in World War II and then returned to run the family bank, and devoted his life to Wilma and their beautiful family, to community and public service.
I felt very blessed to get to know Roger and Wilma in 1993 when I first went to the state senate. Of course, Roger had been there for years and I was a rookie.
The years 1993 and 1994 were fascinating in the State Capitol because, after a long spell of total Republican rule, the Democrats had pulled an upset in the 1992 election and took control of the State Senate, 19 to 16.
Roger McKellips’ Democratic caucus was quite a mix. It looked a lot like South Dakota.
Some of us were ideological young freshmen who wanted to change the state and change it now.
Then there were those veteran lawmakers who had been around for a long time and who thought they’d been pretty abused by the Republican leadership. They wanted revenge, a pound of political flesh.
We had six women among the 19 Democrats – strong women: Pam Nelson, Linda Stensland, Roberta Rasmussen, Rebecca Dunn, JoAnn Morford and
Sharon Green.
They felt it was long overdue to start talking about children and health care and schools and things that didn’t always get enough attention in those days.
There were several Native American senators and they had some issues that they felt had been ignored for too long.
Add to the mix a few liberal Republicans, Larry Gabriel’s Republican House majority, and the old cowboy Walter Dale Miller who was Lieutenant Governor, and you had quite a cast of characters.
Walter Dale had been around forever as a legislator and lieutenant governor so he knew all the rules and he’d written many of them.
Of course, he felt it was his job to help the Republican lawmakers and Governor George Mickelson.
So there was Roger, caught in the middle of all that at age 70 as Senate Majority Leader. I’m sure he must have wondered many times why he wasn’t home with Wilma, or fishing with the grandkids.
It started out very wild. An organization that was supposed to be non-partisan held a reception and had a drawing for door prizes provided by Republican elected officials.
We were all there. Roger’s face got red as they kept awarding the prizes and he started to fidget around – and then he finally jumped to his feet and sought out the leader of the group, a man who might have been a foot taller and a 100 pounds heavier, and he gave him a tongue lashing about the meaning of non-partisanship and how they had just insulted the entire citizen legislature.
And we freshmen learned right then — that’s why Roger was our leader. He was looking out for us!
On another occasion, early in session a young legislator tried to pass a bill for a scholarship program and the old-hand Republicans were really blistering him for being frivolous.
Roger finally got to his feet and gave an impassioned speech about how much we’d spent that year already on new buildings and bridges and such, and he said, “brick and mortar is nice but it’s not as important as the boys and girls of South Dakota.”
He showed us how to have fun. He kept an all-purpose amendment in his desk drawer on the senate floor that proposed to close the law school in Vermillion and re-direct the $5 million in savings to (fill in the blank). When the loyal opposition would object to the cost of a program he liked, he’d sometimes rise to his feet and tell Walter Dale, “I have an amendment ….”
I don’t know what he had against the law school. He must have had a skirmish with some lawyer at some point. But he always had that Johnny Carson grin when he did it.
Looking back, I know the Republicans loved Roger almost as much as we did even though there were times when he’d fight — red-faced and passionate — with Harold Halverson and Jim Dunn and Lyndell Peterson, some of the old lions of the legislature — and you’d think they would never speak to each other again.
But once the vote was taken and the matter settled, they might go and exchange a few words and share a grin and go on to the next bill, which they might even agree on. Who could stay mad at Roger McKellips for long?
And if they did agree on a bill, Roger might say, “I commend Senator Halverson, my good friend from the great city of Milbank, for bringing this important matter to our attention ….”
And then the next bill they might be back at it – passionate and miles apart. He taught us all to not take politics personally; take it one issue at a time, one vote at a time and live to fight another day.
We had some long days and nights in those two years because Roger and his caucus had the votes to bring things to a halt if we didn’t like the direction. I think the Republicans thought they could wear old Roger down. But he enjoyed every minute of it.
Roger and Walter Dale both knew the rules of the senate by memory. But for the first time in his legislative career, Roger had the votes to actually challenge the Walter Dale’s rulings over procedural matters — for example, the outcome of voice votes.
So like an old football coach, Roger would choreograph the agenda and he’d tell us to be ready to challenge the chair. Be sure you’re paying attention and be ready to vote loud and clear, he’d say.
Walter Dale would rule against him and Roger would challenge the chair and we’d holler out a big AYE to support our leader. Roger loved it every time he challenged and won, which was sometimes several times a day.
We’d caucus long into the evenings and he never lost his spirit. We covered the clock on the last day — yes, we used to do that — and when we took the coat off the clock and finally adjourned a lot of good things had happened because Roger McKellips kept his rag-tag band of Democrats together and found common ground with George Mickelson the Republican leaders.
Education, water development, landmark environmental legislation, economic development for small businesses — even a beginning farmer program was passed, Roger loved family farming in South Dakota.
Sadly Governor Mickelson died weeks later in the plane crash and Roger retired from the legislature the next year. As far as I’m concerned, Pierre has never had a golden age like that since. But many of us who were there will always remember the lessons of life learned under Roger’s leadership.
Have fun. Don’t be so serious. Love your family and friends, even when you might disagree. Love your community. Love South Dakota and this great country.
Did anybody ever practice those principles any better than Roger McKellips? I ask you?
How about if we put it to a voice vote? One last voice vote for Roger.
All in favor of the motion that Roger McKellips remains a shining example for South Dakota say AYE!
I’d bet even Walter Dale Miller and Harold Halverson are up there shouting AYE [link added; Bernie Hunhoff, edited text submitted to Dakota Free Press, 2017.08.26].
AYE, AYE Roger McKellips!! (thank-you, Mr. Hunhoff)
Frank Kloucek
Senator Roger Mckellips Man of the People.
Bernie Hunhoff did a great job in eulogizing a great South Dakotan on the Dakota Free Press blog. There are a few things I would like to add. No matter what the odds Roger never gave up. He was the person that sponsored the legislation time after time to take the state legislators to Washington DC to lobby congress and the president on the farm crisis. He pushed very hard for it and finally got his way. 6000 farmers descending on Pierre helped convince the Governor that Senator Mckellips and his colleagues were right.
One of his lifetime goals was to be majority leader and oh what a great leader he was. His soft spoken kindness to others will never be forgotten. Along with Pam Nelson and others majority leader Mckellips made sure every bill in the Senate had a fair hearing. It was used by his loyal opposition as a means to weaken his efforts. Unfortunately some of their bills were put in to consume the time of the legislature. Hearings went on into the wee hours of the morning on many legislative days. No matter, Roger Mckellips word was his bond.
I had the rare opportunity to join Roger Mckellips, George Shannard and several other legislators in the basement of the Kings Inn for supper on numerous occasions. Discussions were held and always Roger Mckellips remained a gentleman; true to his word and true to his high principals and standards. 1993 and 1994 were good years for Roger Mckellips yet sad with the loss of another person who was a gentleman, Gov. George Mickelson. Roger Mckellips always took the high road as a legislator and a person even during difficult times.
One of Senator Mckellips lifetime goals was to ban smoking in public places. He did see it accomplished after he retired from the legislature. He continued to support it until it became law. He never gave up.
On a lighter note one of the best reflections of Roger is his card playing and coffee hour excursions in Alcester [at the feed store and cafe]. Always the gentleman he took his victories and losses at cards like he did in the legislature and in his life -with dignity respect and as a gentleman.
It was a great honor to give a tribute and plaque to Senator Mckellips when he returned to visit the legislature. Also it was a privilege to have the opportunity to visit Roger and Wilma at Dow Rummel Village last year and at Alcester in the past. Thank you Wilma, Sherran, Beverly, Gary and the entire Mckellips family for the sacrifices you made to share a man of vision and purpose with the people of South Dakota. He has made South Dakota and its people a better place.
Frank Kloucek
Scotland South Dakota
State Legislator 1991-2012
John Kennedy Claussen, Sr.
Roger McKellips lost to Bill Janklow for governor in 1978. Then, Janklow the lawyer, after eight years of Democratic rule from the governor’s office, brought Citibank to South Dakota within his first term as governor.
Now, Citibank was, in time and place, good for Sioux Falls and South Dakota, but the reasons for why Citibank came to South Dakota, I don’t think were ever good for America, however. The changing of our usury laws in this state ushered in a new era in banking not only for South Dakota, but for our entire country, I believe. It was that changing of the usury laws, which put in motion a change in our nation’s banking industry, where it went from being one of a paternalistic nature to one of a predatory nature, and thus added in the eventual threatening collapse of our national and world economy just a few years ago, in my estimation – and even Janklow, himself, admitted in a past PBS documentary about South Dakota, usury laws, and the credit card industry, that the changing of those usury laws may have been a mistake.
So as we all express in our own ways, condolences over the lost of a great South Dakotan by the name of Roger McKellips, we also say good-bye to a banker, whose unmatched integrity probably would have never allowed the usury laws to have been changed. And although, that potential outcome might have been at a lost for Sioux Falls and or South Dakota, in time and place. It would, I believe, have been a win for our entire country, however.
So as we say good-bye to Senator McKellips, the banker from Alcester, we acknowledge not only a lost today, but cannot help but wonder, what if, what if a banker of great integrity would have once led this state instead of his once political opponent?…..
Donald Pay
“Fair hearing” is what I remember about the McKellips years as Senate Majority Leader. The Senate Democrats were a refreshing change for those of us who were used to being summarily dismissed. Landmark legislation passed during that time. What a great change for those of us who were used to foregone conclusions in Pierre!
My main memory of Sen. McKellips was from earlier. He was a great ally during the nuclear waste fight in the middle 1980s, but he had this pet bill he wouldn’t let go of. It was a bill that would required the State of South Dakota to own and operate any nuclear waste site that was built in the state. He introduced that and we thought, “On, oh, Roger has gone over to the dark side.” I think Nick Meinhardt tried to talk him out of it, but he said it was the best way to keep the waste out that we didn’t want coming into the state. Well, we were not convinced, but he plowed on, and his bill went nowhere.
He did have a point. If the state was required to own and operate the site, Reeves v. Stake would have allowed the state to discriminate against waste imports. I would later consider using the McKellips bill as a model for our initiative during the solid waste fights, but we went a different route that was grounded in but and extension of EPA and DENR rulemaking.
Janis Frid (Weatin)
A most fitting tribute. Glad to have been there to hear you. A job at their bank brought my mom to Alcester. Nice to see past and present employees there, too.
Mary Claus
Senator Karen Muenster was also a member of the group of impressive female Senators serving during the McKellips era. Her unfailing support of the working class must not be overlooked.
RIP Roger McKellips and godspeed!
Donald Pay
Yes, and I think Carol Maiki and Judy Olson, but I may have my years off. And that’s not even considering the House side with Linda Lea Viken, and who was the lady from Watertown? At any rate, it was an incredible group of female legislators that were there in the late 1980s to mid-1990s. And then you had two great males, Bernie and Frank, two people who were destined to be different kinds of leaders.
Jim Milroy
Roger McKellips had one of THE best/worst political jingles ever in his race for Governor..it still rings in my head like a bad one hit wonder..
“Let’s send Roger McKellips…to Pierre, South Dakota..”..how the heck they got this polysyllabic rhythm into a actual singing jingle is amazing. His name and the South Dakota pronunciation of our state capital contain equal syllables!
AYE, AYE Roger McKellips!! (thank-you, Mr. Hunhoff)
Senator Roger Mckellips Man of the People.
Bernie Hunhoff did a great job in eulogizing a great South Dakotan on the Dakota Free Press blog. There are a few things I would like to add. No matter what the odds Roger never gave up. He was the person that sponsored the legislation time after time to take the state legislators to Washington DC to lobby congress and the president on the farm crisis. He pushed very hard for it and finally got his way. 6000 farmers descending on Pierre helped convince the Governor that Senator Mckellips and his colleagues were right.
One of his lifetime goals was to be majority leader and oh what a great leader he was. His soft spoken kindness to others will never be forgotten. Along with Pam Nelson and others majority leader Mckellips made sure every bill in the Senate had a fair hearing. It was used by his loyal opposition as a means to weaken his efforts. Unfortunately some of their bills were put in to consume the time of the legislature. Hearings went on into the wee hours of the morning on many legislative days. No matter, Roger Mckellips word was his bond.
I had the rare opportunity to join Roger Mckellips, George Shannard and several other legislators in the basement of the Kings Inn for supper on numerous occasions. Discussions were held and always Roger Mckellips remained a gentleman; true to his word and true to his high principals and standards. 1993 and 1994 were good years for Roger Mckellips yet sad with the loss of another person who was a gentleman, Gov. George Mickelson. Roger Mckellips always took the high road as a legislator and a person even during difficult times.
One of Senator Mckellips lifetime goals was to ban smoking in public places. He did see it accomplished after he retired from the legislature. He continued to support it until it became law. He never gave up.
On a lighter note one of the best reflections of Roger is his card playing and coffee hour excursions in Alcester [at the feed store and cafe]. Always the gentleman he took his victories and losses at cards like he did in the legislature and in his life -with dignity respect and as a gentleman.
It was a great honor to give a tribute and plaque to Senator Mckellips when he returned to visit the legislature. Also it was a privilege to have the opportunity to visit Roger and Wilma at Dow Rummel Village last year and at Alcester in the past. Thank you Wilma, Sherran, Beverly, Gary and the entire Mckellips family for the sacrifices you made to share a man of vision and purpose with the people of South Dakota. He has made South Dakota and its people a better place.
Frank Kloucek
Scotland South Dakota
State Legislator 1991-2012
Roger McKellips lost to Bill Janklow for governor in 1978. Then, Janklow the lawyer, after eight years of Democratic rule from the governor’s office, brought Citibank to South Dakota within his first term as governor.
Now, Citibank was, in time and place, good for Sioux Falls and South Dakota, but the reasons for why Citibank came to South Dakota, I don’t think were ever good for America, however. The changing of our usury laws in this state ushered in a new era in banking not only for South Dakota, but for our entire country, I believe. It was that changing of the usury laws, which put in motion a change in our nation’s banking industry, where it went from being one of a paternalistic nature to one of a predatory nature, and thus added in the eventual threatening collapse of our national and world economy just a few years ago, in my estimation – and even Janklow, himself, admitted in a past PBS documentary about South Dakota, usury laws, and the credit card industry, that the changing of those usury laws may have been a mistake.
So as we all express in our own ways, condolences over the lost of a great South Dakotan by the name of Roger McKellips, we also say good-bye to a banker, whose unmatched integrity probably would have never allowed the usury laws to have been changed. And although, that potential outcome might have been at a lost for Sioux Falls and or South Dakota, in time and place. It would, I believe, have been a win for our entire country, however.
So as we say good-bye to Senator McKellips, the banker from Alcester, we acknowledge not only a lost today, but cannot help but wonder, what if, what if a banker of great integrity would have once led this state instead of his once political opponent?…..
“Fair hearing” is what I remember about the McKellips years as Senate Majority Leader. The Senate Democrats were a refreshing change for those of us who were used to being summarily dismissed. Landmark legislation passed during that time. What a great change for those of us who were used to foregone conclusions in Pierre!
My main memory of Sen. McKellips was from earlier. He was a great ally during the nuclear waste fight in the middle 1980s, but he had this pet bill he wouldn’t let go of. It was a bill that would required the State of South Dakota to own and operate any nuclear waste site that was built in the state. He introduced that and we thought, “On, oh, Roger has gone over to the dark side.” I think Nick Meinhardt tried to talk him out of it, but he said it was the best way to keep the waste out that we didn’t want coming into the state. Well, we were not convinced, but he plowed on, and his bill went nowhere.
He did have a point. If the state was required to own and operate the site, Reeves v. Stake would have allowed the state to discriminate against waste imports. I would later consider using the McKellips bill as a model for our initiative during the solid waste fights, but we went a different route that was grounded in but and extension of EPA and DENR rulemaking.
A most fitting tribute. Glad to have been there to hear you. A job at their bank brought my mom to Alcester. Nice to see past and present employees there, too.
Senator Karen Muenster was also a member of the group of impressive female Senators serving during the McKellips era. Her unfailing support of the working class must not be overlooked.
RIP Roger McKellips and godspeed!
Yes, and I think Carol Maiki and Judy Olson, but I may have my years off. And that’s not even considering the House side with Linda Lea Viken, and who was the lady from Watertown? At any rate, it was an incredible group of female legislators that were there in the late 1980s to mid-1990s. And then you had two great males, Bernie and Frank, two people who were destined to be different kinds of leaders.
Roger McKellips had one of THE best/worst political jingles ever in his race for Governor..it still rings in my head like a bad one hit wonder..
“Let’s send Roger McKellips…to Pierre, South Dakota..”..how the heck they got this polysyllabic rhythm into a actual singing jingle is amazing. His name and the South Dakota pronunciation of our state capital contain equal syllables!
And same syllable stresses to boot! (1-2-3-4-5)
Same syllable stresses? In a eulogy? Priceless. ..