Children’s Home Society of South Dakota is healing trauma, raising hope and growing resilience for the children, families and communities we serve. We offer everything from residential treatment and schools to outpatient mental health services, forensic interviewing and more. And now we’re expanding services at our new location on Mount Rushmore Road in Rapid City.
Here in the Black Hills of South Dakota, we don’t just hike trails or cast a fly rod for fun. We build companies around them. We turn bike grease into customer loyalty, tree stands into classrooms, and backyard streams into global destinations. The outdoors isn’t just our playground. It’s our office, our sanctuary, and our origin story all wrapped into one. It’s also an excuse to sneak in one more ride before dinner.
Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we give a nod to locals who’ve made careers out of catching trout, fixing bikes, teaching archery, and convincing Texans that fluffy cows and marshmallows can coexist. These people didn’t go looking for the plush corner office. They went looking for the trailhead.
Take for instance Hans Stephenson, whose story seems like something out of A River Runs Through It. Hans took his lifelong obsession with fly fishing and turned it into Dakota Angler & Outfitter, a business that teaches patience, rhythm, and how to outsmart some trout without Wi-Fi.
Then there’s the story of Tim Rangitsch, the calm Jedi behind Acme Bicycles, who’s been fixing bikes longer than some of us have been legally allowed to drive. Tim doesn’t chase the
trends on social media. He builds community—one tire at a time. He also reminds us that the Mickelson Trail is basically South Dakota’s answer to Route 66, if Route 66 had switchbacks and better snacks.
Lacy Elrod, Director of the Outdoor Campus-West, grew up listening to stories about her great-grandfather’s marshmallow-eating bear named Jed (yes, really), and teaching llamas to pack. After spending years in zoo education, she returned home to help other families discover the outdoors isn’t only for hikers. It’s for everyone who ever wanted to touch a frog, cast a line, or maybe just see what 4,600 gallons of freshwater looks like indoors.
Finally, there’s Al Kraus, owner of Black Hills Archery. Al is equal parts mentor, MacGyver, and motivational speaker with a quiver. He’s outfitted kids with custom bows, trained future champions, and made archery feel like a lifeline. For Al, the goal isn’t just hitting the target. It’s giving kids a reason to take the shot in the first place.
Together, these four stories remind us that you don’t need a boardroom to lead. Sometimes all it takes is a pair of hiking boots, a little duct tape, and an awesome bear (okay, the bear is optional). So grab your gear and your curiosity and enjoy this issue. The outdoors is waiting.
Stay wild and God-speed,
Tom Johnson, President & CEO
Elevate
PRESIDENT & CEO
Tom Johnson
SENIOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR
Taylor Davis
SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRE CTOR
Shiloh Francis
SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Lori Frederick
SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR
Garth Wadsworth
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Liz Highland
EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Rachel Nelson
WORKFORCE PLANNING DIRECTOR
Reese Niu
HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Laura Jones
ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER
Loni Reichert
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Kallie Ruland
BUSINESS PROSPECT MANAGER
Drew Staufer
CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER
Bailey Sadowsky
EXECUTIVE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ashley Simonson
June 1 - 2
CIRQUE ITALIA WATER
CIRCUS
Uptown Mall
silver.cirqueitalia.com/events
June 3
THE TUESDAY SHEDAN ALL AGES JAZZ JAM Hay Camp Brewing Company
June 4
LIVE ON THE LAWN
Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com/downtown-rapid-city/events
June 6 - 7
BLACK HILLS QUILT SHOW 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The Monument bhquilters.org/events
June 8-22
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Black Hills Playhouse blackhillsplayhouse.com
WHISKEY MYERS
The Monument themonument.live/events
June 12
YACHTLEY CREW
The Monument themonument.live/events
June 14-15
WEST BOULEVARD
SUMMER FESTIVAL
Wilson Park westblvdrc.com
June 21
KIDS’ CARNIVAL
Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com/events
June 27-29
BLACK HILLS CON
The Monument themonument.live/events
June 28
STRIDER CUP - RAPID CITY
Main Street Square striderbikes.com
June 29-July 13
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL
The Park Rapid City Black Hills Playhouse blackhillsplayhouse.com
Events are curated with the most accurate information available at the time of print. Please check the event website for full details or changes.
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AL KRAUS CHANNELS HIS LOVE FOR BOWS AND ARROWS INTO CREATING A SANCTUARY TO SHARE IN THE THRILL OF NATURE.
It’s hard to overstate Al Kraus’ enthusiasm for archery, but it’s easy to get caught up in it. Over his 28 years of ownership, Black Hills Archery has only grown and expanded. And Al Kraus has done it all with a no-pressure sales approach.
“Say you come through the doors with your kid and you’re just kicking tires. If you’re going to come in and try a bow. We’re going to do it for fun and for free. If you ever want to come back, you know I’m here,” he said.
“ARCHERY GETS YOU OUTSIDE. THERE’S SO MUCH YOU SEE. SAY YOU CLIMB UP 20 FEET INTO A TREE STAND; THE WHOLE WORLD IS GOING ON WITHOUT KNOWING YOU EXIST. AND THE SOUNDS YOU HEAR! THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A BULL ELK BUGLING IN SEPTEMBER. IT’S JUST MAGICAL.”
- AL KRAUS
One need not dig very deep on the internet to find videos depicting Al, 58, joyously celebrating a successful hunt, extolling the virtues of the bow or helping a novice archer refine their technique.
Born in Kentucky and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Al’s upbringing was unstable. His traveling salesman father was always on the road, leaving Al in the care of an unkind stepmother. “I moved in with my friend in fourth grade and his dad introduced me to the outdoors. It truly saved my life,” he said, struggling with the heavy emotions that the memories evoke.
The stewardship of his second family profoundly changed the trajectory of Al’s life and brought new meaning to his budding interest in archery. The experience informs Al’s every interaction at Black Hills Archery. “When a kid comes in, I don’t know what their life is like outside those doors. So I try to introduce them to what saved me,” he said. “I give them an escape, even though they may not need it.”
It wasn’t until 1990 that Al found his way to the Black Hills, where he helped run an uncle’s Rapid City ammunition business.
However, Al still felt the powerful draw of archery. He sought out the only bow shop in town, Black Hills Archery, at the time owned by founder Bob Martinson. “I was just there all the time, because that’s what I love to do. I helped Bob set up leagues and helped him fletch arrows,” Al said. “The ammu-
nition shop went south with my uncle, but at the very same time, Bob wanted to sell his business. I walked out of the ammunition place on a Friday night and I was behind the counter at the bow shop on Saturday morning.”
Al has a knack for removing obstacles so anyone with an interest in archery can pursue it. He has implemented assistive mechanisms that allow the differently abled to draw a bow with their teeth and improvised workarounds for the visually impaired to continue to enjoy the sport. “I had a kid at State 4-H just two weeks ago—he has no arm from the elbow down—and he shoots lights out with his mouth. It’s awesome. I get a little emotional just thinking about it,” said Al.
Perhaps Al’s most noteworthy business accomplishment is also rooted in finding a novel solution to a problem. By 2018, Al’s youth program had become
one of the largest in the nation. His building could no longer accommodate all of the young people seeking lessons. Rather than turn kids away, Al found a bigger space, not so that he could grow his business, but in order to accommodate all of the kids.
“There’s a lot of kids that don’t have equipment and I’ve always wanted to provide it for them. So I give them their own bow, their own arrows and they are theirs for the whole year.” The gesture ties up thousands of dollars of Black Hills Archery stock, but that’s a small matter for Al. “They’re having a good time and that’s what’s most important to me,” he said.
In his way, Al has awakened scores of youngsters to the outdoor splendors of the Black Hills. Archery hones skills like concentration and patience while uncovering the therapeutic majesty of
nature, which Al refers to as his church. “Archery gets you outside. There’s so much you see. Say you climb up 20 feet into a tree stand; the whole world is going on without knowing you exist. And the sounds you hear! There’s nothing like a bull elk bugling in September. It’s just magical.”
One of the perks of living in South Dakota is free access to 2 million acres of public land, said Al. A person can hike to any point of Forest Service ground, set up a target and practice shooting a bow to their heart’s content. “It’s just the freedom to do what you want in the Black Hills. Fishing, hiking, biking, whatever. We’re lucky to have that.” *
3645 STURGIS RD 605.394.9663
BLACKHILLSARCHERY.NET
It all started with two young brothers pedaling their bikes, fishing poles slung over their shoulders as they explored the ponds around Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Hans Stephenson and his brother Karl spent nearly every day outdoors honing their fishing skills, always chasing the next big catch. Their passion for the sport reached a new level when a friend’s dad introduced them to a different kind of fishing.
“He had some fly rods, and we started using those — then he started taking us into the Hills to fly fish,” Hans said.
After their father retired from the Air Force, the Stephenson family settled near Sheridan Lake Road. With Spring Creek, a hot spot for fish, practically in their backyard, Hans found himself drawn deeper into the artistry and science surrounding fly fishing.
“We could hike to Spring Creek from our house; I started fishing more and more. Then, that’s all I wanted to do,” he said, recalling the memories.
Today, that boyhood passion has come full circle.
Hans now owns Dakota Angler and Outfitter, a full-service fly shop and guide service on Jackson Boulevard, where he and his brother and fly-fishing sidekick help others discover the magic of fly fishing in the Black Hills.
Hans, who had worked at the fly shop during high school and college, bought it from Dick Leir and Jim Smoragiewicz in 2006—ten years after they first opened in downtown Rapid City. With a degree in biology from Black Hills State University, Hans was able to combine his love for fly fishing with the science behind it.
“When you get into fly fishing, especially for trout, you learn a lot about the ecosystem they live in and how to match what the fish are eating with a fly that imitates that particular insect or type of food,” he said. “The more you problem solve and puzzle it together, you are rewarded by the number of fish you catch. I like that
part – it is never the same exact thing. You are looking for the next key to unlock another part of your fishery and learning that whole process makes it fascinating and never boring.”
Each stream is different, offering unique habitats and fish. Rapid Creek isn’t like Spearfish Creek, which is worlds apart from the waterways of Argentina and New Zealand, both locations where Hans has cast his line. Every fishery offers new challenges, new techniques, which keep anglers curious and always exploring, Hans said.
And while fly fishing can be intimidating—and at times, frustrating—once someone finds their rhythm, it becomes an ever-evolving pursuit that’s often meditative. “You have to focus so much on what you are doing - how the water is moving, where your fly is going to land, where you are going to cast next – that you can’t be thinking about anything else. The repetitive casting motion, the thoughts connecting you
YOU HAVE TO FOCUS SO MUCH ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING - HOW THE WATER IS MOVING, WHERE YOUR FLY IS GOING TO LAND, WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO CAST NEXT – THAT YOU CAN’T BE THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. THE REPETITIVE CASTING MOTION, THE THOUGHTS CONNECTING YOU TO HOW YOU ARE FISHING, MAKE IT SO THAT EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON IS GONE AND YOU ARE SOLELY FOCUSED ON FISHING.”
- HANS STEPHENSON
to how you are fishing, make it so that everything else going on is gone and you are solely focused on fishing.”
To help newcomers get started, Hans and his team lead guided excursions, teaching the fundamentals and sparking a lasting passion for the sport.
“Many people have never picked up a rod. They just want to try it,” Hans said. “Not only are we taking them to a beautiful place in the Black Hills, but we are teaching them from scratch. ‘Here is how you cast, set the hook, bring the fish in.’ You can read books and watch YouTube videos, but a guided trip can be a leap that helps you skip over a year or two of frustration of trying it on your own.”
Once an angler gets the groove of fly fishing, the next step is tying flies, one of Hans’ favorite parts of the sport. “If you start tying your own flies, it’s like you become a mad scientist,” Hans said, standing next to walls lined with fly-tying materials and everything else needed to get started in fly fishing.
Hans’ wife, Christine, and daughters Elsa and Irene occasionally tag along on his fishing trips, but more often than not, his outings are spontaneous adventures. That’s part of the charm of living in the Black Hills—where crystal-clear streams are never far away, and most anglers keep their rods and flies within reach for whenever the moment strikes.
“You can do a lot of this just spur of the moment. With Rapid Creek, it’s easy to go before or after work,” Hans said.
For Hans, fly fishing is more than just a passion—it’s a way to connect with the natural beauty of his home and ensure it remains unspoiled for generations to come.
“We have this amazing resource that runs right through our city. The more we recognize how unique that is and put our efforts into preserving it, the more water we’ll have for fishing—and for the City of Rapid City. That conservation piece is so important.” *
1010 JACKSON BLVD
605.341.2450
FLYFISHSD.COM
FROM ZOO TO THE BLACK HILLS: Lacy Elrod Encourages a Love of Nature
Lacy Elrod’s most cherished memories are stitched together by the great outdoors—sleeping beneath the stars in her family’s green Volkswagen bus, affectionately dubbed the “Party Pickle,” exploring her great-grandfather’s buffalo ranch off Highway 385 and listening to the stories of his pet black bear Jed and even spending a summer teaching llamas how to pack. No matter the adventure, nature has always been the backdrop.
“Everything we did was outside,” she said. “We did not have a lot of money growing up, so activities that were fun to do as a family and free were all outside.”
Her love of the outdoors - especially the wildlife that calls it home - has been the roadmap for her life. After spending nearly 20 years at the San Antonio Zoo, she returned to the Black Hills six years ago to become the director of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SD-GFP) Outdoor Campus-West
“I’ve been so lucky to make connections that have given me a wide variety of experiences throughout my life,” Lacy said.
Her mission – to help others discover their own connection to nature and create opportunities for everyone to find their love of the outdoors.
Lacy grew up in Belle Fourche, where she spent most of her time camping, fishing, hunting, and hanging with the buffalo and cattle roaming her grandparents’ land. “I grew up doing it all. Some of my favorite memories were hunting with my dad, but I was also able to be around my great-grandfather, which is where I probably got the zoo bug.”
Martin Collins, Lacy’s great-grandfather, was a legend around the Hills, known for his buffalo ranch, his pet black bear Jed, and his knack for telling great stories. Tourists often stopped along Highway 385 to enjoy the buffalo and to listen to Martin, also a county commissioner for Silver City and Pactola, share his many adventures. Lacy recalls one time she, along with a group of visitors, was listening to Martin tell a story while he was feeding marshmallows to his beloved Jed. “He was telling the story and kept his finger there a little too long, and Jed bit the end of his thumb right off,” Lacy remembers. “Not missing a beat, he pulls out a handkerchief, wraps it around his thumb and keeps talking.”
“I am very lucky to have all those memories.”
Lacy earned her degree in zoology and physiology from the University of Wyoming, spending summers at her uncle’s Texas game ranch raising deer, much
“At
Game, Fish and Parks, we are trying to connect people with all the outdoor spaces that are available to them. If we show them all these opportunities, our hope is they will continue passing it down and inevitably conserve the places they enjoy.”
- LACY ELROD
IT’S JAKETHE BUL LSNAKE!
like how South Dakotans raise cattle. “I would bottle feed 40-50 fawns each summer.”
While working at the ranch, Lacy served as the main point of contact between the ranch and Texas Parks and Wildlife, giving her valuable insight into how an agency similar to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks operates.
Loving the warmer weather, Lacy stayed in Texas, landing a job as a zookeeper for the San Antonio Zoo. Over two decades, Lacy moved up from zookeeper to director of education. When her daughter Ivy turned four, Lacy and her husband Adam, a born Texan, decided to move back to South Dakota. “The kind of community and lifestyle that is South Dakota is nothing I’ve ever encountered in Texas.”
Her work as director of the Outdoor Campus closely mirrors what she loved about working at the zoo – connecting
4130 ADVENTURE TRL
605.394.2310
GFP.SD.GOV/TOC-WEST
families with the outdoors. “At Game, Fish and Parks, we are trying to connect people with all the outdoor spaces that are available to them. If we show them all these opportunities, our hope is they will continue passing it down and inevitably conserve the places they enjoy.”
The Outdoor Campus in Rapid City opened in 2011, offering free, hands-on classes in hunting, fishing and outdoor skills for all ages. Visitors can explore exhibits on local habitats and wildlife, a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium, over 1.5 miles of nature trails and a 14-station archery course and range.
“We are connecting people and families with the outdoors, but that does not mean just issuing hunting and fishing licenses,” Lacy said. “We are educating on the science behind it, on being good stewards of our environment and preserving our way of life here in South Dakota.”
This summer’s GFP theme, Make a Splash, includes everything from fishing to kayaking. “We are so lucky to have such a great space to be in; how people interact with that space is what we are trying to help with.”
Aside from locals and visitors stopping in at the Outdoor Campus, GFP also provides educational outreach to rural communities. “We are really trying to get the word out on what we can do and the services we provide. The outdoors is for everyone.”
Lacy feels fortunate to have lived a life rooted in outdoor adventure, and even more grateful for the chance to inspire the next generation and continue the tradition her family began generations ago: connecting people to nature, one adventure at a time. *
STORY BY JENNA CARDA \\ PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY & SUBMITTED
Before Acme Bicycles became a hub for Rapid City’s outdoor enthusiasts, it began with one man and a simple mission: fix bikes, help people ride more, and keep it real. That man is Tim Rangitsch, a quiet craftsman with a steady hand and a deep belief in the power of two wheels.
Today, if you’ve ever cruised the bike path in Rapid City, chances are you’ve rolled past the shop on Jackson Boulevard. Maybe you’ve stopped in for a quick tune-up or picked up a part. Maybe you’ve noticed the vibe—unapologetically independent, deeply welcoming, and humming with purpose. What you may not realize is that this unassuming storefront has helped shape the cycling culture of Rapid City for more than 26 years, all under Tim’s watchful eye.
But Acme Bicycles isn’t just a bike shop. It’s a reflection of Tim’s journey. For him, entrepreneurship has never been
about chasing trends or scaling up for the sake of growth.
“We’ve never tried to be the biggest or flashiest shop,” Tim says. “We just try to be real, do honest work, provide good service, and treat people with respect. That’s the stuff that sticks.”
It’s a philosophy that has resonated with customers across generations. Some come back decades later with the same bike Tim sold them long ago, sometimes with a new rider in tow.
“On any given day, we’ll work on a 30-year-old bike,” he says. “We’ve even worked on bikes we sold 26 years ago that are now on their fourth owner.”
While other shops might focus on volume or flash, Acme is defined by craftsmanship. Every repair is done with care. Every customer is treated like they matter, because to Tim, they do. It’s how the shop has not only endured but thrived,
even as the retail landscape and cycling industry have evolved.
Behind the counter, you’ll still find Tim most days, wrench in hand, deep in conversation about trails, tire pressure, or someone’s first ride.
“Bicycles sort of give you something different,” he says. “It’s fast, it’s fun, and it takes you places with different perspectives than what a car could ever give you.”
That love of cycling extends far beyond the shop. Tim is an avid rider and a strong advocate for the Black Hills’ trail systems. He lights up when talking about M-Hill, Skyline, Hanson-Larsen, and the growing number of people discovering the joy of riding in Rapid City.
“The Black Hills are a dream for mountain bikers,” he says. “And in Rapid City, you’ve got Skyline, M-Hill, Hanson-Lars-
en, and the trails around SD Mines. More and more people are starting to discover how incredible these areas are.”
He is quick to credit the local cycling community, including the Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, the Black Hills Bike Hub, and the city’s Parks Department, for making that access possible. And of course, there’s the Mickelson Trail, which has become a major draw for cycling tourists.
“It’s one of the top 10 rail trails in the world,” Tim notes. “It’s beautiful, and it brings people here from all over.”
As bicycle tourism grows, Tim sees potential not only for his shop, but for the region as a whole.
“The trails are bringing people to Rapid City, plain and simple,” he says.
Still, Tim isn’t interested in taking over the industry. “I just want to keep doing
what we do well—fix bikes, help people ride more,” he says with a shrug. That grounded mindset is part of what has kept Acme not only relevant but a beloved part of Rapid City’s outdoor scene.
For Tim, Acme Bicycles isn’t just a business. It’s a vehicle for connection. It’s where kids get their first bike, where cyclists bring in their well-worn gear, and where community is built, one repair, one bicycle, and one conversation at a time.
As the city’s reputation as an outdoor destination grows, Acme Bicycles continues to serve as a steady presence. And if you stop in at the right time, you just might find Tim behind the counter, talking trails and tuning rides, the same way he’s been doing for more than two decades. *
“Bicycles sort of give you something different. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it takes you places with different perspectives than what a car could ever give you.”
- TIM RANGITSCH
Honoring Our
Legacy
In 1930, Harold “Spitz” Spitznagel set the tone with a simple principle: Design it like you own it. While times have changed, his legacy still drives everything we do—from the spaces we create to the relationships we build.
As we honor 95 years of TSP, we remain focused on the future—delivering client-first, lasting solutions built to stand the test of time.
