Alice Kundert

No one has displayed more dedication and committment to the TARs over the last five decades than Alice Kundert. As state TAR advisor for much of the 1970s, and as TARs biggest supporter since that time, she has been a tremendous influence on the South Dakota TAR Federation and on many local clubs.

Alice is a former South Dakota Secretary of State, a former State Auditor, and fomer gubernatorial candidate. In the almost five decades that TAR Camp has been a reality, Alice has missed camp only once. The newspaper article below describes her impact not only on the SDTARs, but also on the state of South Dakota.

Kundert has a long and varied career

By Dorene Nelson, Dakota Press

Eighty-five years ago on a farm located on the prairie in Campbell County between Java and Mound City, a baby girl was born who would grow up to become one of South Dakota's most valued public servants. This baby girl, Alice Kundert, was one of three girls in a family of nine children.

Alice began her education in a rural school near her home. She graduated from Java High School and attended Northern Normal School (now Northern State University) for one year. In order to earn her elementary state teacher's certificate, Alice completed correspondence and extension courses and attended summer school, adding up to a total of three and one-half years of college.

Alice didn't set out to be involved in politics. That just sort of developed all by itself. Instead she started her career by teaching in various country schools, following her life-long love of working with young people.

Alice walked to and from the schools where she taught and was even caught in a blizzard at one school where she almost froze to death. She taught for four years before she and her sister left South Dakota and moved to California.

Their main objective in California was to find work which would pay them enough money so that they had some left to send back home to their parents. During her five years in California, Alice managed a department store in Beverly Hills and a dress shop in Hollywood. When her father became ill, she moved back to South Dakota permanently and taught school for five more years.

Alice's life as a public servant began with her appointment as the deputy superintendent of schools in Campbell County. She was on the town board and the school board and later served as Campbell County's clerk of courts and registrar of deeds. During this time Alice organized a Teen Age Republican (TAR) group in Mound City. It was actually this group of teenagers who talked her into running for a political office on the state level.

The first state governmental office Alice decided to run for was the State Auditor. The teenagers who convinced her to run also attended the state convention and campaigned for her. As a matter of fact, this convention was the first ever in South Dakota with teenagers in attendance. Part of their campaign efforts included making homemade signs and buttons. Apparently they were very persuasive campaigners since Alice won this race even though she had faced an incumbent in the election. She subsequently served three two-year terms as State Auditor followed by two four-year terms as Secretary of State.

Following her successful terms as State Auditor and Secretary of State, Alice next decided to run for the governorship in 1986. In order to be the Republican nominee, Alice first had to face four men in the primary. She was told that a woman had no business in politics; she should be home scrubbing floors and washing dishes. Alice's response was that she had that done already and was now ready for a new challenge: the Republican primary. Her attempt to become the Republican nominee for governor was her only political defeat when George S. Mickelson secured the nomination and went on to become the 28th governor of South Dakota.

Alice wants to clarify the reason for this defeat. She claims that she lost in the primary, not because she was a female, but because she was too short. All of her opponents were over 6 feet tall; Alice is only 5' 1". "It is impossible," she explains, "to debate eyeball to eyeball when I had to do it eyeball to belt buckle."

Even though Governor Mickelson had defeated Alice, he recognized her capabilities and competence so he appointed her to the Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. In this position, Alice traveled all over the State of South Dakota, dressed in pioneer clothes, talking to school children and teaching them about the early pioneer history of Dakota Territory and the State of South Dakota.

Alice's last political office was her election in 1990 as a State Representative, when she served seven counties in the Mobridge area. She served two two-year terms in this office.

As Alice reflects back on her life as a public servant, she wishes she had traveled more and tried harder. If she could change any one thing, she'd like to make all office holders remember that they represent the people, not themselves, and that this sacred trust must never, ever be violated.

According to Alice, being involved in politics has both positive and negative aspects. She adamantly dislikes politicians who have their re-election as their main goal. The most rewarding part of her political life was the privilege of working with teenagers.

Her love of young people led directly to her forty-five years with local, state, and national teenage clubs and members. As a matter of fact, she was the State TAR Advisor and State TAR Camp Director. She spent many personal hours and drove endless miles traveling around the state starting new clubs and visiting and encouraging ex-isting clubs. She did all of this at her own expense and on her own personal time. Alice continues to address each Teen Age Republican camp group, emphasizing her two main beliefs: the necessity for ethics in politics and the importance of every citizen's responsibility in preserving the democratic process.

On the national level she has conducted classes and has been the banquet speaker several times at the National Teenage Conference in Washington, D.C. At the onset Alice took teenagers to the National Conference in her own car. In later years she and South Dakota teenagers raised the money time and time again to travel to the National Conference by bus.

Former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Harry Truman, former Congressman Ben Reifel, former Senator Jim Abdnor, and former Governor Nils Boe are five of the political leaders who have most impressed Alice. She is the most disappointed by "pork barrels" when politicians add their favorite pet projects to really important legislation in order to get them approved. When the bill is passed, the politician reaps favor and votes back home. This common practice, one of Alice's pet peeves, is why she continues to preach on the need for ethics in politics.

On the state level, Alice named two people she believes were under-rated as elected officials. Vern Larson, former State Auditor, was the first name Alice provided. He is a man of integrity, dedication, and trust, exactly the kind of person needed in that office. Ralph Herseth was her second response. After all, Ralph had done a good job as governor, all in the face of tough Republican opponents who were in the majority in the State Legislature.

When discussing State leaders of the past and present, Alice described most as being dedicated, intelligent, and competent. She singled two out for special attention. Alice is very impressed with Stephanie Herseth, describing her as highly capable and extremely intelligent. Governor Mike Rounds, a former TAR member, is the second political official who has impressed Alice. His campaign is the perfect example of ethics in politics: state your views and beliefs without attacking the opposition. This ethical campaigning method is one of the primary reasons that he is the governor of South Dakota today.

Alice is particularly impressed with the hard work and cooperation from John Thune, Stephanie Herseth, Tim Johnson, and Mike Rounds to save Ellsworth Air Force Base. This is a great example of what can be accomplished when the elected officials do their job instead of concentrating mainly on the next election. Alice says that this is like a breath of fresh air - and so desperately needed.

Alice moved to Mobridge in January 2005 and keeps busy with Ladies' Aid, writing, and being an active listener. Even at 85 years of age, Alice believes in keeping very busy.

Her service to her fellow man and her contact and work with teenagers are the two things Alice is most proud of today. Her advice for everyone today is to set a goal in life and keep your eye on that goal!


This article was first published in November 2005 in the Dakota Press of Groton, SD, and appears here courtesy of that paper.