Stanford Mark Adelstein died Monday, nine days shy of his 95th birthday. Adelstein represented Rapid City’s District 32 in the South Dakota Legislature—two terms in the House, 2001–2004; three terms in the Senate, 2005–2006 and 2009–2013. Adelstein also served in the army, worked as an engineer and estimator, and was CEO of Northwestern Engineering Company for decades, but according to his obituary, Adelstein “often said representing the people of District 32 was the best job he ever had.”
Adelstein dedicated his life to serving his community:
Stan is well known for his charitable giving and leadership in civic and public service organizations including: The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, St. John’s McNamara Hospital, the Journey Museum, the Dahl Fine Arts Center, the Black Hills Symphony, the Black Hills Playhouse, Lutheran Social Services, the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City, the Club for Boys, and South Dakota Public Broadcasting among many other organizations. Stan continually asked the question, “how can I help?” He committed his time, money and expertise to friends and strangers alike, changing many lives for the better [obituary of Stanford Mark Adelstein, Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, retrieved 2026.08.13].
Adelstein was one of fewer than 800 Jews in South Dakota (the smallest population in any American state). Adelstein nonetheless very visibly promoted Judaism and Israel:
He was a national leader for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, and the Republican Jewish Coalition. He was often called upon to represent the Jewish community at public events, such as helping to establish the Hanukkah menorah at the State Capitol in Pierre. He spearheaded the move of The Synagogue of the Hills from Ellsworth Air Force Base to Rapid City where it found a permanent home in a building he donated [obituary, retrieved 2026.08.13].
In his political life, Adelstein registered and ran Republican, but Adelstein publicly endorsed multiple Democratic candidates for Governor and supported Libertarian Gary Johnson for President in 2016 over fascist Donald Trump. Adelstein also fearlessly challenged his party when Republican corruption threatened the public good. He opposed neighbor GOP wingnut legislator Phil Jensen, yet he put money behind equally wingnutty bull elephant legislator Stace Nelson.
In that cross-partisan spirit, Adelstein also provided financial support to this blog for many years. I am forever grateful for not only that cash but for a great public servant’s vote of confidence in the usefulness of my reporting and commentary to the state he loved.
Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home says Stanford Mark Adelstein’s funeral will take place Tuesday, August 18, at 1 p.m. at The Monument Fine Arts Theatre, 444 North Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City. The family says don’t send flowers; honor Stan by sending money to The Synagogue of the Hills, The Journey Museum, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and/or the The Club for Boys.
My only personal interaction with Mr. Adelstein was in 2005 after he bought the Black Hills Fort Pierre Roundhouse in Lead. After losing the Ross Compressor Building bid to the now-defunct outfit that was casting the giant presidential heads my business partners and I turned our attention to rehabilitating the roundhouse. I made an appointment with Stan at his office in Rapid City and met with him after spraying texture so I was coated from head to toe. But after tracking drywall mud all over the carpet he sold it to Dr. Duane and Phyllis Sander of Brookings in 2007.
I had some differences on issues with Stan over the years. He backed the nuclear waste dump and seemed to have invested some money in the sewage to gold scam. He also backed the SDDS balefill. So, needless to say, we weren’t political allies. Still, I admired his philanthropic efforts to make Rapid City a better place and his efforts to help people in need.
Nowadays, Lar, the little bar the Sanders put in hosts private happy hours for friends of Dakota Gold, like grudznick, and an occasional event is held in the now-finished top floor for the Black Hills elite.
Earth haters like Larry Mann, no doubt.
Adelstein has a very interesting history, covered by SDBP on Jewish families who settled the Black Hills region. I found him to be a humble and generous man.
Stan Adelstein used his money to sponsor a storefront museum in downtown Rapid City, for many years. The museum displays honored Pope John Paul II, who was Pope from 1978 to 2005.
The reason for this was that the Pope was raised in a poor neighborhood in Krakow, Poland, and had many Jews as friends, due to them living near one another. They were schoolmates and buddies. He assisted many Jews while the Nazis terrorized Poland. Adelstein liked how the Pope demonstrated that Jews, Catholics, and other Christians could be positive influences toward one another. Adelstein felt so strongly about this, he sponsored the location for many years, while John Paul II was Pope. I took my children there a few times.
Good story, Louise. TY
In ’97, I performed my first of six seasons as Mother Ginger in the Black Hills Dance Theater’s production of the Nutcracker; Vanessa Short Bull danced the Sugar Plum Fairy. One of her inspirations was Maria Tallchief, America’s first major prima ballerina who was an Osage Tribal member and danced the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Stan Adelstein gave generously to every season and probably still will.
Senator Adelstein and I disagreed on some issues; however, I thoroughly enjoyed my collaborations with him on several bills and had immense respect for the successes he built in life as well as his service. Of course I caught flak from folks claiming I was somehow less conservative because of our friendship. As you know, I don’t let politics, disagreements on issues, or other people, dictate who I embrace as a friend.
Zichrono livracha (זכרונו לברכה).
Pray you and yours CAH, are well. God bless.
I loved the round house Larry, so at that time I gave him an idea for its preservation. I guess he bought it. He never responded. He plastered his name all over the Journey (much like Trump) while insisting board members each contribute $50,000 for their free service to the public. His foisted “leadership” left us with a vastly underperforming should-have -been flagship museum of western South Dakota. An opportunist at the public trough, there is that side of the “Mitch McConnell”-like personality, many times over.
Hi Leslie. Let me just say that you and I should have hooked up a long time ago.