Karen Miller grew up on a farm near Draper, SD, where her parents, Doris and Fred Fredericksen, grew wheat and raised cattle. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell and a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. She and her young family lived coast-to-coast: New York, Illinois, Michigan, and California. In 1983, with her children grown and her parents advancing in years, she moved to Rapid City. She served as a social worker for Lutheran Social Services, specializing in individual and marital therapy, divorce mediation, and employee assistance programs. In 1995, she established a private counseling practice.
Karen says her parents were the original family supporters of SDPB. “Draper did not have a lot of alternatives. They were very excited when public broadcasting came to Reliance. They watched public television and listened to public radio until they died. When they passed away, I upped my support in honor of them. They had been so appreciative of what public broadcasting brought to South Dakota. It sort of feels like a family tradition.”
Today, Karen enjoys news and Masterpiece programming. “I wake up to Morning Edition every morning and I listen to BBC Overnight. I watch PBS NewsHour and Masterpiece.”
“I think the news is the most extensive and includes a perspective that fits with me. It’s more substantial than other news programs. Public broadcasting has enriched the lives of my parents and myself, and I’m most appreciative of it. It’s an excellent public broadcasting system.”
The SDPB Legacy Society is composed of generous and forward-thinking donors who will support SDPB’s long-term success through a planned gift. To leave a legacy gift, including bequests, beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder trusts, please contact the Friends Development team by phone at 800-333-0789 or by email at Friends@SDPB.org