SD's first lady leads well-rounded life
By Rebecca Cruse, The Associated Press | Posted: Friday, November 21, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- In the past six years, she has met the U.S. president, helped design a nearly $3 million mansion and got her entire family to switch their political party registration -- not bad for a woman from a small town in South Dakota who loves crafting and being a mother.
Locally, Jean Rounds is active in the Philanthropic Educational Organization, Capital Area United Way and working to promote early literacy, drug and alcohol awareness, women's health issues and domestic violence prevention.
Though her causes and loves would have ended up the same, Rounds said as a young woman, she never expected to end up in the place she is now -- the South Dakota governor's mansion.
Rounds grew up in Lake Preston, a town of about 300 people, and met her husband, Mike, while they were both attending college at South Dakota State University. She received her degree in secretarial science and moved to Pierre in 1977 to live near him. They married in 1978.
"I knew of his interest in politics right away, but I didn't know it would go this far," Rounds said about her husband.
But once he was elected to the state Legislature, she figured he would eventually want to become the governor of South Dakota.
The aspirations of her husband were always something Jean Rounds supported, but it has been difficult for her being thrust into the spotlight.
"The hardest transition was going from working full time in an office, at a job I loved, to not having a full time job," Rounds said. "Having that social connection with the same people every day, that was the part I missed the most."
Rounds held office positions in several state departments, but spent her 17 years prior to becoming first lady in the Department of Transportation.
"But I've always been private," she said. "I'm not comfortable speaking in front of groups. I do it now, but I have to really believe in it in order to do it."
Rounds does have several causes she believes are worthwhile, locally and nationwide. So she often steps outside of her comfort zone to do what she believes is right.
She is currently the campaign chair for the Capital Area United Way's 2008-2009 fundraising drive. Rounds said she is drawn to the organization because of its support of organizations and programs for children and women.
"They support so many of those organizations that it's just a natural fit," Rounds said.
She added that she and her husband have been a part of United Way since they moved to Pierre after college.
Rounds got active in P.E.O., which has a main goal of helping women attain education, through the guidance of her mother-in-law, who was involved and introduced her to the organization.
"This is a group of women from all walks of life, and it's such a fun group of women to be around," Rounds said. "They're so diverse, and they were so helpful during the first inaugural."
But having grown up on a farm with a crafty mother and grandmother, one of Rounds' favorite activities is counted cross stitch.
She has completed dozens of large cross stitch projects, and even presented her work at a downtown showing earlier this year.
"There wasn't much for TV or activity when I was growing up, but my grandma and my mom were really into crafting," Rounds said. "Counted cross stitch just kind of became my love, and now I've been doing it for 25 years. It's so relaxing."
The first lady has passed the tradition on to her four children, making them each stocking and quilts and teaching her only daughter the art. She has now started making quilts for her one grandchild and her future grandchildren.
"Crafting is kind of a dying art, I think because people are so busy. But I just love it, I guess because maybe I grew up that way," she said.
Though her life has been wholly affected by her husband's job, Rounds has tried to keep herself connected to her roots.
She may not see her family as often as she would like because the governor and first lady are so busy, but Rounds said she and her husband remain close to her parents and siblings, who all still live in South Dakota.
Rounds said the biggest change her family saw when her husband decided to run for governor was changing their registered party affiliation so they could vote in the primary election.
"My entire family is Democrat," Rounds said smiling. "We were raised Lutheran, the Roundses are all Catholic, but they all get along really well. They are all really proud of Mike."
Though Rounds admits she does look forward to the end of her husband's term as governor, she said the experience has been enjoyable for her and she is still the same person she was before becoming first lady.
"I still go to the grocery store in my sweats, and I still go (to the gym) without taking a shower in the morning. And I don't think that people look at me any differently," she said.
Locally, Jean Rounds is active in the Philanthropic Educational Organization, Capital Area United Way and working to promote early literacy, drug and alcohol awareness, women's health issues and domestic violence prevention.
Though her causes and loves would have ended up the same, Rounds said as a young woman, she never expected to end up in the place she is now -- the South Dakota governor's mansion.
Rounds grew up in Lake Preston, a town of about 300 people, and met her husband, Mike, while they were both attending college at South Dakota State University. She received her degree in secretarial science and moved to Pierre in 1977 to live near him. They married in 1978.
"I knew of his interest in politics right away, but I didn't know it would go this far," Rounds said about her husband.
But once he was elected to the state Legislature, she figured he would eventually want to become the governor of South Dakota.
The aspirations of her husband were always something Jean Rounds supported, but it has been difficult for her being thrust into the spotlight.
"The hardest transition was going from working full time in an office, at a job I loved, to not having a full time job," Rounds said. "Having that social connection with the same people every day, that was the part I missed the most."
Rounds held office positions in several state departments, but spent her 17 years prior to becoming first lady in the Department of Transportation.
"But I've always been private," she said. "I'm not comfortable speaking in front of groups. I do it now, but I have to really believe in it in order to do it."
Rounds does have several causes she believes are worthwhile, locally and nationwide. So she often steps outside of her comfort zone to do what she believes is right.
She is currently the campaign chair for the Capital Area United Way's 2008-2009 fundraising drive. Rounds said she is drawn to the organization because of its support of organizations and programs for children and women.
"They support so many of those organizations that it's just a natural fit," Rounds said.
She added that she and her husband have been a part of United Way since they moved to Pierre after college.
Rounds got active in P.E.O., which has a main goal of helping women attain education, through the guidance of her mother-in-law, who was involved and introduced her to the organization.
"This is a group of women from all walks of life, and it's such a fun group of women to be around," Rounds said. "They're so diverse, and they were so helpful during the first inaugural."
But having grown up on a farm with a crafty mother and grandmother, one of Rounds' favorite activities is counted cross stitch.
She has completed dozens of large cross stitch projects, and even presented her work at a downtown showing earlier this year.
"There wasn't much for TV or activity when I was growing up, but my grandma and my mom were really into crafting," Rounds said. "Counted cross stitch just kind of became my love, and now I've been doing it for 25 years. It's so relaxing."
The first lady has passed the tradition on to her four children, making them each stocking and quilts and teaching her only daughter the art. She has now started making quilts for her one grandchild and her future grandchildren.
"Crafting is kind of a dying art, I think because people are so busy. But I just love it, I guess because maybe I grew up that way," she said.
Though her life has been wholly affected by her husband's job, Rounds has tried to keep herself connected to her roots.
She may not see her family as often as she would like because the governor and first lady are so busy, but Rounds said she and her husband remain close to her parents and siblings, who all still live in South Dakota.
Rounds said the biggest change her family saw when her husband decided to run for governor was changing their registered party affiliation so they could vote in the primary election.
"My entire family is Democrat," Rounds said smiling. "We were raised Lutheran, the Roundses are all Catholic, but they all get along really well. They are all really proud of Mike."
Though Rounds admits she does look forward to the end of her husband's term as governor, she said the experience has been enjoyable for her and she is still the same person she was before becoming first lady.
"I still go to the grocery store in my sweats, and I still go (to the gym) without taking a shower in the morning. And I don't think that people look at me any differently," she said.
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