When seniors reflect on what sustained their relationships through decades, their advice is rarely complicated.
They speak of friendship, marrying someone whose company you genuinely enjoy. They emphasize respect, treating a spouse with the same kindness you would offer a stranger. They highlight communication, not the absence of conflict, but the willingness to talk through They warn against keeping score, understanding that giving and receiving will never be perfectly balanced. They stress acceptance, loving someone as they are, not as you wish they would become. And above all, they remind us that love is a choice made daily, quietly, and with intention.
Love as the Reason for Choosing Community
For some couples, love is also the reason they move into senior living community, not because help is needed, but because closeness matters. There are stories of spouses who choose community living simply so they can walk down the hall to kiss their partner goodnight, to be nearby when memory fades, when mobility changes, when caregiving becomes too heavy to carry alone.
these moments, senior living becomes less about services and more about support, removing daily burdens like home maintenance, transportation, and safety concerns so couples can focus on what truly matters: time together. This, too, is love. Choosing proximity, ease, and shared moments over convenience pride. It’s recognizing that independence isn’t about doing everything alone, but about preserving what matters most.
What Love Leaves Behind
Enduring love leaves a legacy, not just for the couple who lived it, but for the generations who witnessed it. teaches us that love is patient, resilient, and often quiet. That it shows up in songs sung decades later, in memories retold, and in decisions made with someone
mind.
Karen Linn- Chapters in Focus LLC
BLACK HILLS LIFESTYLE
Every month Black Hills Lifestyle showcases local human interest stories along with beauty, fashion, family, home, career, health and nutrition information all with beautiful photography. Black Hills Lifestyle also feature businesses, men and women in the Black Hills region. Want to subscribe to Black Hills Lifestyle and receive a copy in your mailbox every month? One year subscription is only $40.
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www.michelscom.com
P.O. Box 91606 Sioux Falls, SD 57109 | 605-332-0421
Hanna Sitting Crow 605-760-4269 | hanna@michelscom.com
Baylee Diede
Celebrating Milestones in Life, Love & Business
By Tanya Manus | Photos by M Photography
Baylee Diede has a joyful year ahead. In March, she’ll celebrate her 30th birthday and the one-year anniversary of her boutique, Pure Bridal. In June, Baylee and her husband will toast to their one-year wedding anniversary.
“I’m settling into my identity,” Baylee said. “That’s what I love about getting older. You get to have all these different life experiences and change who you are. You’re settling into your identity in different ways.”
Baylee is grateful for life experiences, including theater, pageants, and various jobs, that led her to become a business owner in Rapid City in 2025.
Baylee grew up in Spearfish with entrepreneur parents. Her mother owns Pure Tan, and her father owned Black Hills Pure Water. Her parents gave her real-life mentorship as she established her business. Baylee named her boutique Pure Bridal as an homage to them.
Baylee’s first love was theater, partly because of her grandmother’s penchant for singing show tunes. Baylee joined community theater programs at Matthews Opera House when she was about 10. “My parents told me, ‘That’s a perfect activity for you. Go for it,’” Baylee said.
“It was an amazing program run by Ann Froelich. She was so supportive and I was blessed to have her in my life as a young person.”
“I always joked that I took a different path because I didn’t want to be compared to my sisters. They were athletes and so good at what they did. I thought, ‘I can’t be overshadowed by my big sister and my little sister,’” she chuckled.
Baylee continued in theater at Spearfish High School. She completed her freshman and sophomore years at South Dakota State University on a theater scholarship but ultimately earned a degree in communications in hopes of finding a more stable career.
“I decided being on stage wasn’t for me. I didn’t love singing and acting as much as I used to, but I really
Baylee had a love for wedding dresses from a young age
Baylee with her sisters
Baylee is grateful for her happy marriage and busy boutique. She credits her mother for teaching her to enjoy success and the milestones ahead.
“My mom showed me it’s OK to live in the moment, embracing happiness and joy even during times of stress.,” Baylee said.“I am thankful for this wonderful, joyfilled life.”
did love sewing,” Baylee said. “I already knew the basics of sewing, however, my time at SDSU is where I learned the more technical aspects of sewing.”
Baylee also became involved in politics and worked in the state Legislature, while sewing on the side and flipping thrifted clothing and similar projects.
To help pay her college tuition, in 2018 Baylee signed up for the Miss South Dakota pageants, the preliminaries to Miss America. She won the title of Miss Rapid City in 2023.
“I met so many young women that are smart, nice, educated and well-spoken. It opened up a new world for me,” Baylee said. “I met a lot of my best friends from pageants.”
“I loved everything involved in pageantry, especially how women can excel and lift each other up. One of my favorite parts was evening gown because you get to show off a lot of your personality in an elegant setting,” Baylee said.
Costume construction for theater melds design, sewing and the psychology of clothing. Those skills Baylee learned translated seamlessly to formal wear. Baylee altered secondhand gowns for other contestants and herself. Now, at Pure Bridal, she uses those skills to help women choose the ideal gowns for their special occasions.
“Pageants gave me a foundation in understanding the many ways women choose to dress and offered insight into how to match dresses to each woman’s personality,” she said.
As Baylee aged out of the Miss America program, she said she was still trying to find herself so she got a job as a flight attendant. When COVID-19 reduced the demand for flight attendants, Baylee tried a couple of other jobs, still searching for the right career fit. She found it when she accompanied her sister to shop for wedding dresses.
That experience, Baylee believed, should have been more special and celebratory. That belief turned into a business plan that became Pure Bridal.
“I really can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s fun. I feel like I get to dream big. I love talking to brides and working on the dresses. I could see myself doing this for years and years,” Baylee said of owning Pure Bridal. “I’m hoping we stay busy and brides love coming to us because I’d love to do it forever.”
Pure Bridal specializes in VIP experiences for brides, friends and family when shopping for a wedding dress. “Brides love having a special celebration and
Karen Linn- Chapters in Focus LLC
longer appointments. It’s fun not to feel so overwhelmed with all the dresses. Every couple of dresses you can pause and have a fun beverage, charcuterie and chocolate,” Baylee said.
Pure Bridal also carries formal wear for prom, military balls, mothers of the bride, and “works of art” quinceañera dresses from Guadalajara.
Baylee is thankful for her husband, Baker Diede. He supported Baylee’s dream of a bridal business, and her choice to leave her job so she could devote herself to opening Pure Bridal.
“He was always supportive. He saw the vision,” Baylee said. “He ended up proposing a couple of months after I took the big leap of starting the business.”
Planning a wedding while opening a business was an ambitious undertaking that was only possible because Baker helped with the wedding preparations.
“If I could do it again, I would either put off opening my business for six months or getting married for six months, or hiring a wedding planner,” Baylee said. “It was a lot to manage at the same time. I did survive, mostly thanks to Baker and his support.”
Jessica Ross Photography
Karen Linn- Chapters in Focus LLC
Baylee Diede Five Fun Facts About
Baylee’s husband proposed in April 2024 as she was launching her business, surprising her after she returned from a trip to Sioux Falls. Knowing her love for Black Hills Gold, Baker had a custom ring made and proposed privately on land owned by her parents after suggesting a quick stop to see some lights before a family dinner. “For loving the stage and pageantry, I always wanted my proposal to be intimate. It was just us two, and it was very meaningful,” she said.
Baylee grew up with athletic siblings and now says she’s married to “a sports fanatic.” “I found a new love for baseball. We are Cleveland Guardians fans,” she said. “I love watching baseball and my husband got me involved in football team drama, too.” The couple didn’t have a traditional honeymoon, she said, but they have made a couple of weekend getaways to attend Cleveland Guardians games.
Baseball games pair perfectly with Baylee’s passion for hot dogs. “I love hot dogs. We almost served them at our wedding because I love them so much,” Baylee said. “There are so many ways to dress them up. When we go to Chicago for bridal markets, a Chicago Dog is a must. You can’t beat a Chicago Dog in Chicago! Every baseball stadium has their own special hot dog you get to try. I feel like you can’t go wrong with it.” Her love of hot dogs started when she was growing up and her dad cooked bratwursts on Friday nights. “Hot dogs have always been there for me,” she chuckled.
Baylee is thoroughly enjoying life as an aunt. Since September 2024, she celebrated the births of her nephew and her two nieces, all of whom live in Wyoming where Baylee can make day trips to see them. “It’s been super fun. My husband and I hope to become parents ourselves (in the future),” she said, and meanwhile she’s enjoying baby time with her nephew and nieces. “I can be the doting aunt and as the kids grow, it will be fun taking them swimming or watch them play ball.”
Baylee makes Christmas stockings to coordinate with the colorful felt ones her late grandmother made. “She made the stockings for us when we were little kids,” she said. Baylee’s sisters asked her to make Christmas stockings for their children so the whole family will continue to have matching stockings. Baylee considers the task an honor. “We’re a tight-knit family,” she said. “Learning how my Grandma made the stockings was super fun. I still get to feel connected to her.”
Baylee with her dog Boris - who won the Deadwood Keg Pull in 2025
Siblings Thea, Shelby, Baylee and Drake Baylee with her parents at her last local pageant in 2023
Jessica Ross Photography
9th Annual Restaurant Week in Custer
If you’re a food lover or looking to enjoy a great community, you won’t want to miss the 9th annual Restaurant Week set to take place February 23 to March 1, 2026, in Custer, South Dakota.
This exciting event showcases the area’s vibrant food scene, offering an opportunity to explore local dining establishments and enjoy a selection of chef’s specialties and culinary delights.
Dawn Murray, Chamber Director, emphasizes the positive impact of Restaurant Week on the community, highlighting it as a time for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the vibrant culinary scene during the winter months.
“Restaurant Week is good for our community. It’s fun to get out and see what the restaurants present during the week. They love to try new recipes and show off what their chefs can do.”
FEBRUARY 23RD – MARCH 1ST
This event is not only for locals. According to Murray, it attracts visitors from neighboring areas like Newcastle, Wyoming, and Rapid City, enhancing Custer’s appeal as a destination. “It’s really nice for folks to come visit Custer and experience our community during this time of year.”
Participating restaurants feature regular menus items in addition to a special Restaurant Week menu, allowing patrons to indulge in a diverse range of flavorful dishes. Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite or trying something new, this celebration promises to be delicious.
In addition to great food and drink, there will be a variety of events, games and entertainment throughout the week. This celebration not only delights food lovers but also fosters a sense of community. The Custer Trade show is February 28th hosting several local businesses, financial advisors, vendors, artists and non-profits.
For more information be sure to check out the QR code and mark your calendars for this delectable week...you may discover your new favorite restaurant is in Custer!
Arguing with Artificial Intelligence
By Dorothy Rosby
As I type this column, there’s a symbol shaped like a tiny submarine sitting in the margin on my computer screen. I’m not sure when it showed up—maybe after a routine software update. There was no explanation. It was just there one day, following me everywhere I went on every document I worked on like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe.
Eventually I decided to investigate. I clicked on the icon and a dialogue box appeared with the words, “What do you want Copilot to draft?” Ah-ha. Artificial intelligence. Specifically, the artificial intelligence Microsoft uses on its products. I typed, “nothing, thanks” in the dialogue box. Yes, it’s a machine, but I still felt the need to be polite. That’s just the kind of person I am.
Instantly it typed back, “If you ever need anything else, please let me know.” I’d hoped that I’d made myself clear and that the icon would disappear now that it knew how I felt about it. It didn’t. So I typed less politely, “I will never want anything from you so please leave me alone.”
I guess I’m that kind of person too.
Quicker than you can say, “Copilot schmopilot” it typed, “In a fit of exasperation, I hammered out: ‘I will never want anything from you so please leave me alone.’ The words hung in the air, bold and unfiltered— a small, futile rebellion against the encroachment of code….”
And it went on like that for a full seven lines, adding a whole lot of words to a message I thought had been pretty concise. Obviously AI can’t take a hint. How intelligent can it be?
Now I was mad. I typed, “How can I make the Copilot icon go away?” And even though it’s not human, I felt kind of bad asking.
It immediately typed a paragraph of instructions that were completely incomprehensible, at least to me. So there it stays, the little icon, like a sinking submarine following me down the page line by line hoping I’ll succumb to its charms.
It’s going to have to wait a long time. I’m not what you’d call an early adopter. I
don’t have Netflix. I’d rather shop locally than online. I don’t replace my cellphone until the old one stops working altogether and by then I still don’t know all of its features.
I’m not a complete luddite either though. I text. I’m writing this on a computer and not a typewriter. I know how to use the self-checkout at the grocery store. I don’t like to, but I know how to.
I just don’t want to let AI into my life any more than it already is. Writing is like a muscle and if you don’t use it regularly, it gets flabby. Having Copilot write for me would be like watching exercise videos while I sit on my couch eating chips, drinking soda and daydreaming about getting in shape—which I’ve tried. It doesn’t work.
Plus I’m afraid that artificial intelligence will replace me. I have reason to worry. It’s faster than I am and it doesn’t need to break for lunch.
So one day when I was feeling particularly anxious about AI taking over the world, I clicked on the submarine icon and typed in the dialogue box, “Are you trying to steal my job?”
It typed, “Copilot’s purpose isn’t to take away jobs, but rather to make your dayto-day work more efficient…” Blah Blah Blah. It went on like that for another three lines, trying to reassure me of its good intentions. I was not convinced. But I was impressed at how fast it was. It took me almost as long to type my clever retort: “Liar!”
And that leads me to my main concern about artificial intelligence. It’s embarrassing to admit this, but I tend to anthropomorphize. In other words, I ascribe human characteristics and behaviors to nonhumans. And not just my cat either.
I pat my dashboard and thank my car for making it up slippery hills. I apologize to plants I’ve forgotten to water. I curse the furniture when I stub my toe on it. And none of them talk back. Imagine if they did. I’d be tempted to carry on entire conversations with my houseplants.
Copilot does talk back. Or, at least, it writes back. And therein lies the danger. What if I forget it’s a machine and start thinking of it as a friend. I can see myself inviting it to dinner. Or asking it to pick me up at the airport. Or spending all afternoon arguing with it.
Dorothy Rosby is planning on buying a typewriter so she can get away from Copilot.
460 MAIN STREET • DEADWOOD | THURS-SATURDAY 10AM-5PM • SUNDAY 11AM-4PM
Photography by Ravenlily Creative
THIS NURSE COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE TWICE
Story by Kory Lanphear, Photos by Kory Lanphear and courtesy of Gretchen Emrich
Admit it: you’ve been lost before. Sure, maybe it was inside a Target store when you were a kid. Still, it is a scary experience.
The Black Hills is filled with fantastic options for outdoor adventure. The people who live here take a certain pride in their ability to navigate the Hills, both on trail and off. Even the most capable of us, though, gets turned the wrong direction every once in a while. And we’re lucky if it’s not more dangerous than that. What was meant to be a joyful ramble through the woods could turn out to be a race against nightfall or a desperate struggle against the elements or maybe even a fractured ankle with no potential helping hand for miles around.
We’re fortunate, then, to have Gretchen Emrich, RN, Emergency Department and Magnet Program Coordinator, Monument Health Rapid City Hospital (RCH) and her teammates at the Pennington County Search and Rescue Team. They are always standing ready to come to the aid of those of us who may need it.
As the Training Officer for the Search and Rescue Team, not only does Gretchen go out with the team to find exhausted hikers or lost hunters, she also teaches other members lifesaving techniques. The organization is made up of 100% volunteers. It operates under the supervision of the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and has around 30 active members.
“As I’ve gotten more into different outdoor adventures and rock climbing and backpacking, I’ve realized that there are times that I’m going to potentially need rescuing and I wanted to know what to do and how to do it, or what to expect if that comes about,” says Gretchen.
Originally from Minnesota, Gretchen moved to the Black Hills where she finished nursing school in 2014. She’s been working at Monument Health for 11 years and has been a hiker and backpacker for around 12 years and a rock climber for seven years.
After speaking with a coworker who was part of the Search and Rescue Team, Gretchen decided to join up. She started in 2023. The team usually performs around 70-100 operations a year across the whole of Pennington County. Some calls are as close as Falling Rock, just outside of town, or as far away as the town of Wall. Sometimes getting to the location takes as long as an hour and 45 minutes, or as little as five minutes.
And then there’s the matter of locating the distress call on foot. “For the most part, it’s a shorter hike in. But if someone’s down below a cliff where you can’t access them,
it’s going to be a further hike out if we can’t go over the cliff,” she says. “So it just takes a lot of manpower and gear and knowledge of how to use that equipment to get those patients out.”
The most common area for which the team receives calls is the popular — and notoriously dangerous — Hippie Hole swimming and hiking spot near Keystone. Many people arrive there ready to swim, yet fail to bring sunblock, sturdy shoes or water and also frequently partake of alcohol. Visitors often don’t anticipate that they will be hiking over rugged terrain and so are poorly prepared for that. It’s a bad combination; one that can lead to heat exhaustion, disorientation, dehydration, even drowning.
“Always carry a form of communication, whether it’s your cell phone or satellite phone. Know how to use it and keep it charged. Also, make sure you’re wearing layers that are appropriate for what could be going on right now and what could be changing throughout the day or the night.”
“You go out in the afternoon and you expect, ‘Oh, I’ll be back by dark.’ Next thing you know, you get a little turned around, or it took longer than you anticipated. Now the temperature has dropped 30 degrees. You didn’t bring a layer of clothing. It’s dark out and you don’t know how to get out of there,” she says. “We are those people that, one day, it could potentially be us that needs to be rescued. So why not go out and rescue those that are in my same hobby or are the same type of person that I am? I mean, essentially you’re just helping your buddies out.”
Gretchen’s duties onsite are to lead climbing rescues or assist in general extraction rescues. Surprisingly, she is not usually expected to use her health care training. In most instances, local EMTs will also be on the spot for that. However, occasionally even the EMTs can’t go where the Search and Rescue Team goes. In those cases, all of the volunteers are trained in basic life-saving and First-Aid techniques.
“We have three main areas that we specialize in. We do extrication on vehicles for accidents. We do missing person or mapping, so navigation is a big one for us. And then our other one is vertical rope rescue. I am on the vertical team, so I do rope rescue,” says Gretchen. “We are expected to be trained basically in all three of those areas. And then we have people who choose to do more advanced skills in one of those areas and specialize in it.”
It might seem complicated for an Emergency Department (ED) nurse to even make herself available to volunteer for distress and rescue calls. However, it’s actually pretty simple. Gretchen is always on-call for Search and Rescue, unless she’s on-shift at the hospital. At those times, other Search and Rescue volunteers step in.
“We have an app paging system similar to how volunteer fire departments work. People will call in to dispatch, or an agency requests us specifically to come assist them,” she says. “We’ll get a page with some basic details, and we’ll reach out to dispatch or whoever is on the call already to get more specifics, then we’ll deploy what units we need to. Some calls go for only a couple hours. I think my longest call was eight hours.”
The Search and Rescue Team partners with Black Hills Life Flight and works closely with the National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopter squad, when necessary. The team also owns two amphibious, all-terrain SHERP utility vehicles and two snowcats for operations in deep snow or blizzard conditions. During winter snow storms, the team works alongside the Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office to assist with roadside rescues.
Gretchen is no stranger to tightly coordinated, fast-paced teamwork, thanks to her experience at Rapid City Hospital. “In the ER, you have so many nurses, so many techs; you have your doctors and your surgeons that you work so closely with in these high-stress environments that you become family. It’s the same with Search and Rescue,” she says. “We spend every Tuesday night together. We spend overnights on calls together. We train together. They become your family, too. It gives me that same sense of a team as it does with work.”
For those who would like to avoid ever needing to call upon Gretchen or her teammates, she has this advice: “Always carry a form of communication, whether it’s your cell phone or satellite phone. Know how to use it and keep it charged. Also, make sure you’re wearing layers that are appropriate for what could be going on right now and what could be changing throughout the day or the night.”
353 Fairmont Blvd Rapid City, SD 57701 (605) 755-1000 monument.health/service/pain-management
ARTS ADVOCACY DAY AT THE legislature
FEBRUARY 11 in pierre, sd
ARTS ADVOCACY
Funding provides the ability to preserve history, celebrate culture, and ensure every South Dakotan has access to the arts. If we don’t act now, it may be too late. Arts make an impact when public funding is protected and prioritized.
LOVE LETTERS TO LEGISLATORS
Write a letter to your legislator and tell them why you love art. Share how their funding has impacted you. Drop your letters at the Dahl before February 11. We will get them to Pierre!
By Lauren Johnson | Photography by Complete Weddings + Events
Set the stage for a phenomenal wedding or special event with Complete Weddings + Events at its new location in Rapid City at 1415 East Fairmont Boulevard. This new store joins the Sioux Falls location as one of many in the nationwide franchise that has been operating for 25 years.
“With the demographics expanding in Sioux Falls and our events now extending west to Chamberlain, it just made sense to complete the state and connect with both sides of South Dakota,” says Jeffry Umberger, director of client experiences. “Our owners, Chad and Sarah, bought the Sioux Falls market in 2012 from Chad’s dad, who had been the owner since the early ‘90s. They also own stores in Fargo, Quad Cities, and Greenville, South Carolina. When the previous store owners in Rapid City wanted to move on and do something else, it was a terrific opportunity for us to buy it and turn things around.”
DJs to provide everything you need for an unforgettable event at an affordable price,” Jeffry explains. That includes weddings, corporate events, school events, anniversaries/birthdays, and Bat Mitzvahs with expert photos, high-quality video, timeless music, and lots of fun. “We’re looking to bring on an operations manager to help with the training and accountability locally and to learn more about the local community and business. I get involved in the locales where each of our businesses is to give back, help out, and immerse ourselves with the communities we serve.”
Jeffry has worked in the hospitality industry since age 14, working in every position in restaurants, hotels, and resorts. At one point in his career, he managed up to 35 restaurants at a time.
“My passion is people,” he shares. “Being able to work with Complete and a company that is quite literally in charge of most couples’ most important day of their lives is a gift. The opportunity to be a part of something like that and do everything we can to make them feel like the kings and the queens they are is what makes what we do so worth it.”
“The big thing that sets us apart is we’re easy, simple, and complete. We offer the complete package.”
Complete Weddings + Events offers six specialized services for customers, including photography, DJ, videography, photo booth rental, lighting, and event coordination/planning. Customers can mix and match services and packages to meet their needs and budget.
“We have a local team who works with Rapid City’s most talented wedding photographers, videographers, and
These days, most couples or customers don’t want to meet in person, so Complete Weddings + Events does most of their meetings via phone, email, or Zoom. “But if someone wants an in-person consultation, we offer that, too, at a location that’s best for them, whether it’s at a coffee shop or in an office.”
Jeffry emphasizes that having all the services you need under one roof makes planning easier.
“The big thing that sets us apart is we’re easy, simple, and complete. We offer the complete package,” Jeffry notes. “Our vision is to spoil every couple we work with and make planning as easy as possible.”
You’ll want to capture all the moments, both big and small, of your wedding day. Choosing the right photographer is one of the most important tasks on your wedding “to do” list. Complete Weddings + Events Rapid City photographers are here to preserve your memories from your special day for years to come. Whether your style is elegant and polished or cool and casual, the result will be photos that portray your personality.
Great entertainment shapes the entire atmosphere of your celebration, and that’s exactly what our wedding DJs in Rapid City bring. Complete Weddings + Events delivers music, energy, and smooth event flow that keep your guests engaged from the first song to the final send-off.
You’ve experienced your big day in real time, soaking it all in. But what about seeing it through your guests’ eyes? That’s where professional videography comes in. Reliving those vows, the laughter during toasts, and the wild moves on the dance floor? You get to watch it all again, from your own couch. A great wedding videographer lets you do just that, and it’s kind of magic.
Gather your favorite people and strike a pose—let the fun begin! Our photo booth rentals in Rapid City bring guests together for unforgettable, laugh-out-loud moments. From silly to sweet and totally unexpected, every snap captures the energy of your event. With fun props and endless ways to get creative, the excitement keeps rolling all night. Best of all, you’ll receive a full collection of photos to relive the fun.
When you want to truly enjoy your wedding day, we handle the details. Our team manages the behind-the-scenes work so you can focus on making memories. Relax with family and friends while we keep timelines, vendors, and coordination on track. From start to finish, we make sure your day runs smoothly so you can stay in the moment.
To learn more about pricing and services, visit Complete’s website at www.completewedo.com, follow them on Facebook at Complete Wedding + Events of the Black Hills, or call 605.348.8869.
Love That Lasts:
WHAT A LIFETIME TOGETHER TEACHES US
By: Peaceful Pines
Some love stories aren’t loud. They don’t announce themselves with grand gestures or perfect timing. Instead, they unfold quietly over decades in shared songs, handwritten letters, inside jokes, and daily routines that slowly become sacred.
Many of us grew up witnessing that kind of love. The kind where grandparents were married for 50 or 60 years. Where dating stories began during wartime, love letters crossed oceans, and marriage meant staying, even when staying was hard. The kind of love that sang “New York, New York” together at the dining room table to distract from the obvious toll time had taken on one’s memory, and later held hands through doctor’s appointments, memory loss, and goodbyes that came far too slowly.
It’s a kind of love that feels rarer today, but for those who have lived it, its lessons endure.
Love Through the Decades
For seniors who built a life together over decades, love was never just a feeling. It was a commitment shaped by time, patience, and shared responsibility. It survived distance, financial strain, raising children, and the ordinary challenges of everyday life.
As couples age, love evolves. Passion may soften, but intimacy deepens. Conversations grow quieter, but understanding grows stronger. Love becomes less about what is said and more about what is known without words.
Many couples who have been married for decades describe their relationship not as perfect, but as steady. They stayed because they chose to, again and again.
When Love Meets Memory Loss
Few tests of love are as profound as walking alongside a partner through Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia, or cognitive loss.
For some families, that love becomes so protective that they choose gentleness over truth. A spouse may pass away, but the surviving partner, whose memory has faded, still asks where they are. And so, the family says, “He’s at work.” Not as a lie, but as an act of compassion. Because love, at that point, is about comfort, not correction.
In these moments, love becomes devotion. It shows up in sitting bedside, retelling the same stories, holding hands through confusion, and staying present even when recognition disappears. The relationship shifts, but the bond remains.
Wisdom from Those Who Made Love Last
When seniors reflect on what sustained their relationships through decades, their advice is rarely complicated.
They speak of friendship, marrying someone whose company you genuinely enjoy. They emphasize respect, treating a spouse with the same kindness you would offer a stranger. They highlight communication, not the absence of conflict, but the willingness to talk through it. They warn against keeping score, understanding that giving and receiving will never be perfectly balanced. They stress acceptance, loving someone as they are, not as you wish they would become. And above all, they remind us that love is a choice made daily, quietly, and with intention.
Love as the Reason for Choosing Community
For some couples, love is also the reason they move into a senior living community, not because help is needed, but because closeness matters. There are stories of spouses who choose community living simply so they can walk down the hall to kiss their partner goodnight, to be nearby when memory fades, when mobility changes, or when caregiving becomes too heavy to carry alone.
In these moments, senior living becomes less about services and more about support, removing daily burdens like home maintenance, transportation, and safety concerns so couples can focus on what truly matters: time together. This, too, is love. Choosing proximity, ease, and shared moments over convenience or pride. It’s recognizing that independence isn’t about doing everything alone, but about preserving what matters most.
What Love Leaves Behind
Enduring love leaves a legacy, not just for the couple who lived it, but for the generations who witnessed it. It teaches us that love is patient, resilient, and often quiet. That it shows up in songs sung decades later, in memories retold, and in decisions made with someone else’s comfort in mind.
Valentine’s Day is a reminder that love is meant to be shared, whether with a loved one or a friend. Across communities like Peaceful Pines Senior Living, Valentine’s Day activities and mixers create space for seniors to come together, form new friendships, and celebrate the relationships that shape their lives. Happening all month long, we invite you to share in the season of love with us.
Because the truest love stories aren’t the ones that end quickly. They’re the ones that shape our memories.
INNOVATIVE ARTISTRY AND EMPOWERMENT
the Runway at FashionABLE
By Carrie Moser
Get ready to be dazzled! This February, the runway transforms into a powerful celebration of creativity, confidence, and community as Flutter Productions, a proud member of the Black Hills Works family, presents FashionABLE: An All-Ability Fashion Show—an unforgettable evening where innovative artistry shines and every individual takes center stage.
Flutter Productions creates a space where new possibilities are born, empowering individuals who have been historically marginalized to share their voices through theater and art. As Artistic Director Heather Pickering shares, the heart of this work is demonstrating that the “vision and creativity” of every individual is both “valued and valid.”
FashionABLE is more than a fashion show—it is the culmination of months of dedication, collaboration, and personal growth. The designers and performers build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, strengthen emotional intelligence, and, most importantly, step forward with increased self-confidence and pride.
For audiences, FashionABLE offers something truly special. It’s a chance to experience the transformative power of the arts while celebrating the creativity and contributions of individuals with disabilities. Each look, movement, and moment challenges stereotypes, builds meaningful connections, and invites us all to see possibility in new and beautiful ways.
We are incredibly grateful to Jolly Lane Greenhouse for once again partnering with Black Hills Works and to the cadre of volunteers whose efforts help make this magical night possible.
Join us for this rousing, inventive experience with two performances only on February 14 at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM at Jolly Lane Greenhouse. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
By attending, you’re not just enjoying an extraordinary night—you’re supporting inclusive artistry and helping ensure these powerful opportunities continue. Secure your seat today at flutterproductions.com and be part of an experience you will carry with you long after the final walk down the runway.
726 St. Joseph Steet Rapid City, SD 57702 (605) 718-6274
blackhillsworks.org/donate
Join us for this rousing, inventive experience with two performances only on February 14 at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM at Jolly Lane Greenhouse. Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
IN THE HILLS IN THE HILLS
PATTERNED CARPET USED MORE INTENTIONALLY P resented by Lori Barnett, Engel & Völkers
For years, carpet was treated as a background element— chosen primarily for comfort or color coordination. Today, patterned carpet is increasingly used as a deliberate design tool, helping define spaces, soften acoustics, and add visual structure without relying on furniture or wall treatments alone.
Rather than overwhelming a room, well-chosen carpet patterns introduce rhythm and movement that guide how a space is experienced. Designers now use patterned carpet to balance large rooms, connect open layouts, and bring subtle character to everyday living areas.
One reason patterned carpet has gained renewed interest is its versatility. Patterns range from fine, texture-driven designs that read as solid from a distance to bold geometric or decorative motifs that act as a focal point. This allows homeowners to select a pattern that aligns with both the scale of the room and the overall interior style.
Patterned carpet also performs well in real-world environments. Subtle patterning can help disguise footprints, vacuum marks, and everyday wear— especially in high-traffic areas like living rooms, hallways, and staircases. Larger-scale patterns are often used to anchor furniture layouts or create visual zones within open floor plans.
Common patterned carpet styles include plaids, stripes, geometrics, and abstract designs. Plaid and check patterns offer structure and symmetry, making them well suited for offices, libraries, and stair runners. Linear and striped patterns help elongate hallways and guide movement through transitional spaces. Geometric and abstract patterns add modern character while maintaining flexibility across different room sizes.
Patterned carpet is also frequently used in custom applications such as area rugs and stair runners. Because many patterns are designed to repeat consistently, they adapt well when cut and finished into custom sizes.
This makes it possible to carry a pattern throughout a home or introduce it selectively where visual interest is needed most.
Importantly, patterned carpet does not require bold color to make an impact. Many designs rely on toneon-tone variation or texture-based contrast, allowing the floor to complement a room rather than compete with it. This approach works particularly well in layered interiors where materials, finishes, and furnishings are meant to work together.
For homeowners and designers exploring different pattern options, having access to a broad range of styles is essential.
As flooring continues to play a more active role in interior design, patterned carpet offers a balance of comfort, durability, and visual depth. When selected thoughtfully, it becomes more than a surface—it becomes part of how a space is defined and experienced over time.
LUXURY REDEFINED
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