Featured Member Marsha Sumpter

This is not going to be in the usual format.....believe me there is nothing usual or predictable about this lady.

For starters on the way to the interview I kept thinking you have a lot of unmitigated nerve Shirley. This lady has a column in the paper every week (in other words a pro) and I'm going to interview Her! She has broken so many preconceived ideas of what's the NORM! Talk about a non-conventional individual that would be just a brief description of Marsha Sumpter.

Marsha is/was the daughter of Wayne & Ruth Fairchild. They had 3 children, Marsha and her two brothers. Her Mother recognised her artistic nature and encouraged her to pursue these goals and HAS SHE EVER, just read on.

She attended rural schools (Fairplay & Marietta) went to Philip High School, but graduated from Central High in Rapid City. Her love of Art & Drama was the driving force even at this tender age. She felt she could get more in depth in these fields in the larger school systems. She jokingly related that Mr. Lodge (school superintendent in Philip) would probably not have wanted her to return anyway. This is another facet of Marsha that is so refreshing..her wonderful sense of humor. Especially the ability to laugh at herself. This gift was brought out in her revelation that she was always cast (even as a youngster) as an older women, a different nationality etc. while studying for the role of an older person, she couldn't get the gait/walk down perfectly. A horse kicked her, after the horse incident, the limp helped and slowed her walk down! Academically she related that school was always a challenge for her. But later in life she looked at her surroundings and DECIDED THAT SHE WAS GOING NO PLACE FAST. She was doing menial jobs working for peanuts (driving a school bus when her daughter was little driving a 100-mile route.) She even took her young daughter on the bus with her etc. At this time she was only 19 years of age, not much older than her High School students she was driving. So in 1964.she enrolled in National College of Business and graduated with a degree.

This is just a glimmer of Marshas' unique approach to goals in her life. Marsha spent a lot of the last few years taking care of her Mother and Edna Buswell (sisters)? Their mother was a Sherwood and MC Sherwood was a pioneer of the Midland Bank, which incidentally is where the FNB of Philip originated. If you search long enough, it appears that somewhere in her background she has a relative named Louisa May Alcott. Louisa was best known for her book ‘Little Women' published in 1868.

This brings out another gift of Marsha, loyalty. Years later after purchasing a home in Kadoka, they (Bill & Marsha) built an addition to their home so her Mother would have her own private resident of her own. This space now holds or has some of her many antiques her ancestors' art, paintings and such (they were all artists) or so it seems when you view all their accomplishments and treasures that Marsha so dearly loves. This is a unique little corner of her world. She even has a photo (perhaps a negative?) dated 1911 that is in color! Dolls, dishes and on and on....I could've spent hours in this room alone. But her treasures are all through her house, you can tell she loves being surrounded by all of these.

Second traditions she has smashed... young marriages don't last! Hog wash, she was married when she was 18 to a handsome young fellow from Arkansas that she met when he was stationed @ Ellsworth Air Force Base. They have been married now for 47 years. Bill was a Master Mechanic for Frontier Ford in Rapid City, this expertise proved invaluable in their Agriculture Venture .At the time they moved to the farm Marsha had been a legal secretary for 12 years.

They have two lovely daughters, Shelley Seager has two sons, Eric in Sioux Falls and Zack lives in Philip. And Sandra May who also has two children, Amanda lives in Watertown and Chase lives in Madison.

Third tradition...She has always met life with a quest for a new challenge. When she decided she wanted to fly, she just went and took lessons in 1988! Women really didn't do much of that sort of thing then, but she did. She has been associated with the Civil Patrol for 16 years. All the people volunteered for different positions, but no one wanted the Commander position so she took that!

Has been nominated for Spirit of Dakota, South Dakota Farm & Ranch Women and who knows what else. Marsha is most proud of her accomplishments in Agriculture, erosion management etc. She was the Pork producer's 1^st woman Executive Director and presently serves on the South Dakota Farmers Union Executive Board.

Her mentor was her Grandmother, Mother & Father for all their patience with her and husband Bill for never telling her she couldn't do things.

The last thing that truly amazed me...her business that she runs from her home. Marsha SELF TAUGHT herself to run all those machines. She started with a mail order set up of a computer, scanner, two printers and a plotter in 1995. Then along came heart surgery for Bill in May - the company wouldn't take back the equipment and refund the money. Next, her mother had open-heart surgery in June. The equipment was still unopened and she was still computer illiterate, but in 1996 Bill agreed to do pig chores so Marsha hauled all that equipment to the Black Hills Stock Show and learned under fire how to make signs, used the plotter and read a lot of books.

Since then, the computer has been upgraded, more equipment has been added. She can make cups, mouse pads, special shirts, printed banners, decals for equipment and also can fill the bill for large promotion/advertising on trinkets, thing-a-ma-jigs, doodads, what-cha-may-call-its and pens. The best way to know if she can do your job is to "call and ask".

I truly enjoyed sharing the time I spent with her. She invited me back and she might regret that....it would be my pleasure.

Thanks Marsha. Shirley