Commissioners

Yankton County Commissioners

Cheri Loest

Chair Cheri was elected to the Yankton County Commission in January 2019. She grew up on a family farm south of Wessington, South Dakota. Her family raised cattle, hogs, sheep and horses and harvested small grain crops and alfalfa. Her parents both worked off the farm, so she and her sister did a majority of the chores. Cheri earned a chemical engineering degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and joined the ag-processing industry to produce corn sweeteners and design ethanol facilities. This experience was the basis for earning her Professional Chemical Engineering (P.E.) license. After 14 years, she returned to her first love, teaching. Next obtaining a Master of Education, she devoted three wonderful years teaching math and chemistry to students at Yankton High. At that time, she and her husband Greg decided that her becoming a stay-at-home mom would be the best for their two boys. Cheri supports their soccer love by serving as secretary/treasurer for Yankton Soccer and pursuing construction of a new soccer complex for the next generation. The balance of her time is spent tending pasture land, gardening and enjoying the four seasons of South Dakota life. The Loest family resides near Utica. Send an Email

Joe Healy

Co-Chair Joe was elected to the Yankton County Commission in January 2019. He graduated from Yankton High School and went on to get an Electrical Engineering degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He worked in design and manufacturing in Yankton for 10 years and is currently working full time on his family farm. He and his wife enjoy raising their three children in the community that they grew up in. Send an Email

Dan Klimisch

Commissioner Dan was elected to the Yankton County Commission in January 2019. He was born and raised on a small family farm near Utica, SD. His family homesteaded in Yankton County in 1886 and has been farming in this community for over 132 years. Dan is a graduate of Yankton High School and South Dakota State University. He has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from The University of Mary. Dan is a retired Army Officer and decorated combat veteran who has served multiple overseas tours of duty and is very involved with local veterans groups. Additionally, Dan serves as a director for the James River Water Development District, and farms part-time with his family. Send an Email

Don Kettering

Commissioner Don was elected to the Yankton County Commission in January 2015. Send an Email

Wanda Howey-Fox

Commissioner Wanda Howey-Fox was elected to the Yankton County Commission in January, 2021. She is originally from Watertown, South Dakota. Wanda graduated from SDSU with a B.A. She attended USD and graduated with a J.D. She worked for the Department of Agriculture before working as a Special U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. She accepted a position with John Harmelink in 1986 and became partner in the firm of Harmelink and Fox in 1987. She was appointed as the Child Support Referee for the First Judicial Circuit in 1989 and held that position until 2018. She worked as the Yankton County Deputy State’s Attorney under both Mike Ridgeway and Don Erickson. She worked as the “senior” partner with Harmelink, Fox & Ravnsborg until Jason Ravnsborg was sworn in as the Attorney General for the State of South Dakota in January, 2019. Currently, she is practicing as a sole practitioner in Harmelink & Fox Law Office, PC. Send an Email

Announcements

Yankton County Highway Department

Friday, January 1, 2021

We are in our winter hours now which are 6:45 am to 3:00 pm -- Monday thru Friday.

Main Phone:
605.260.4400

Address:
321 West 3rd Street, Suite 100 Yankton, SD 57078

Office Hours:
9:00am - 5:00pm CST, Monday-Friday
Closed on Holidays, Saturdays, & Sunday