By Lauren Johnson; Photos by M Photography
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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Carrie Moser, Dorothy Rosby, Kory Lanphear, Lauren Johnson, Natalie Frazier, Tanya Manus
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M Photography
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Margi Culhane 605-940-4724 | margi@michelscom.com
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By: Natalie Frazier
Dakota Sky Stone isn’t just a jewelry brand; it’s a thriving living legacy. Each turquoise piece carries not just beauty, but a story of the land it came from, the hands that shaped it, and the family that brought it to life.
The story traces back to Clinton and Ginny Tallman, Annie Tice Poseley’s grandparents, who first discovered Native American jewelry during business trips to the Southwestern United States in the 1960s. What began as collecting quickly turned into collaboration, and by the 1970s, a storefront in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Today, that single store has evolved into a thriving family-centered business powered by four generations, still rooted in respect for Native artists and ethically sourced turquoise. From the turquoise mines of the American Southwest to the bustling storefronts of Deadwood and Wall, the Tice family has built a legacy rooted in story, stone, and soul.
Every few months, the family loads up and heads west. These trips are part business, part pilgrimage. They reconnect with Native American artists they’ve worked with for decades, hand-select turquoise from trusted mines, and immerse themselves in the landscape that first sparked their family’s connection with the Southwest.
“It’s not just about sourcing stones,” Nettie explains. “It’s about the people, the land, the energy, and continuing a relationship that has meant so much to our family for generations.”
The family’s Wall, South Dakota Design House, once a dream of Annie’s, now serves as a hub of energy and creativity, giving an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the jewelry-making process. Inside, every family member has found their place: Annie’s brother shapes many of the stones himself, her mother Nettie does beadwork in her own nook, while her father Jim has cultivated silverwork techniques from their artist collaborators.
The space is as much a gathering place as it is a studio, and it is also home to their website, which now reaches people all over the world. It’s an area filled with laughter, shared meals, roaming puppies, and walls lined with striking pieces and boxed stones for future use.
“We’ve all found our own little corner in this space,”Annie shares. “But being under one roof, doing what we love together, that’s what makes it special.”
This immersive, hands-on approach creates a deeper connection not just between the family and their craft, but between the family and their customers. Each piece has a story, and each customer becomes part of it. Whether they’re picking stones for a custom piece, sitting down to share in one of Nettie’s legendary stories, or just witnessing the connection of the Tice family, customers walk out those doors feeling like part of the family.
“When someone picks up a necklace or cuff and asks where it came from, we can tell them exactly where the stone was found and who designed it,” Annie explains. “It turns a beautiful object into a personal journey.”
The journey doesn’t stop at their storefront doors. In recent years, Dakota Sky Stone has found itself in the spotlight thanks to country music star Lainey Wilson, who has worn their custom turquoise pieces on some of the biggest stages in the world, including the Grammy Awards and CMA Fest.
The exposure has sparked new interest and excitement for bold turquoise pieces that exude country music charm and western roots, specifically Sonoran and Sierra Nevada turquoise. A peek through the new arrivals section of their website reveals bold pieces in favorites like Kingman, White Buffalo, Spiny Oyster, and more.
This summer, customers are embracing layering: stacking cuffs, mixing stone colors, and gravitating toward vintageinspired silverwork that echoes Annie’s grandmother’s timeless style. With a season full of tourists, collectors, and even brides searching for their “something blue,” Dakota Sky Stone is a dream turned into a legacy.
The successes of the past are fueling their future goals and aspirations, a family business powered by passion, craftsmanship, and connection to culture, creating jewelry that’s as meaningful as it is beautiful.
