Free resources about the South Dakota Rapid City Mission (renamed the North Dakota Bismarck Mission):
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
Rapid City Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
This mission currently does not exist.
Phone Number: N/A
Mission President: N/A
Rapid City Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Rapid City Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Rapid City Mission:
Videos with South Dakota RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Rapid City Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
Videos about South Dakota
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about South Dakota. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about South Dakota, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Rapid City Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Rapid City Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Rapid City Mission Groups
Here are South Dakota Rapid City Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Rapid City Mission.
- Rapid City Mission (Osguthorpes) Group (215 members)
- Rapid City Mission President Dean Hooks, 91-94 Group (61 members)
- Rapid City Mission President Knowles Group (48 members)
- South Dakota Rapid City Mission Facebook Group (47 members)
- Rapid City Mission 91-94 (Hooks) Group (10 members)
- South Dakota Rapid City Mission Facebook Group (8 members)
- South Dakota Mission Moms (LDS) Group (7 members)
- South Dakota Rapid City Mission Cannonites Group (2 members)
- Rapid City Mission President Clarence Bishop Group (1 member)
Rapid City Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the South Dakota Rapid City Mission!
Shirt designs include Rapid City Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Rapid City missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Rapid City Mission gifts
Rapid City Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Rapid City Mission.
- 2015, Mission Renamed the North Dakota Bismarck Mission.
- 2012-2015, Curtis E. Anderson
- 2009-2012, Jay G. Layton
- 2006-2009, Joseph S. Cannon
- 2003-2006, Russell T. Osguthorpe
- 2000-2003, Craig W. Mecham
- 1997-2000, John R. Reese
- 1994-1997, Eugene W. Atkinson
- 1991-1994, Donald D. Hooks
- 1988-1991, Marvin Knowles
- 1985-1988, William S. Bush
- 1982-1985, R. Perry Greenwood
- 1979-1982, Morris Q. Bastian
- 1976-1979, Glen C. E. Wagenen
- 1973-1976, Clarence Bishop
- 1970-1973, Rex C. Reeve, Jr.
- 1967-1970, Harvey A. Dahl
- 1964-1967, Grant Roper Farmer
South Dakota LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 10,875
- Missions: 1
- Temples: 0
- Congregations: 34
- Family History Centers: 11
Helpful Articles about South Dakota
Rapid City Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Rapid City RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.
When did you serve?
- 1995-1997 (Paul)
- 1995-1997 (Susan)
- 1991 -1993 (Alan)
- 1991-1993 (Boomer)
- 1989-1991 (Tyler)
- 1976-1978 (Mike)
What areas did you serve in?
- Alliance, NE; Brooking, SD; Madison, SD; Jamestown, ND; Grand Forks, ND. (Paul)
- Sioux Falls, Mandan, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Rapid City. (Susan)
- Williston, Bismarck, Detroit Lakes, Rapid City, Fargo. (Alan)
- Pine Ridge, Wahpeton, Grand Forks, Chadron, Sioux City. (Boomer)
- Sheridan, Eagle Butte, Gillette, Rapid City, Chadron. (Tyler)
- Bemidji MN. Sisseton SD, Rapid City SD, White Shield ND, Pierre SD, Parmalee SD, New Town ND, Cherry Creek SD. (Mike)
What were some favorite foods?
- Steaks from the church ranches in Nebraska. (Paul)
- Lots of different foods, spaghetti, lasagna, Mexican food, Chinese food. (Susan)
- Ice Cream, popcorn, lutefisk, lefse. (Alan)
- Spaghetti and strawberry rhubarb pie. (Boomer)
- Buffalo meat, anything cheap, all you can eat pizza buffets, and bean and cheese burritos at Taco John. (Tyler)
- Mexican, Fry Bread. (Mike)
What was a funny experience?
- My first area was in Nebraska. We were baptizing a sister and I went to check on the font. It was VERY full. I took off my shoes and socks and carefully pulled the plug with my foot. I let out too much water and had to fill the font again. I had to speak at the baptism with no socks on because they were wet. (Paul)
- Sanding outside with an Ice cream cone at -65°. (Susan)
- Eating at the Zentz in Bismarck. (Alan)
- Teaching a discussion with my companion. It was very cold outside and we barely began thawing out halfway through the discussion, but our faces were still numb. My companion was bearing testimony. I was looking at the investigators who were staring at him in fear? Wonder? Disgust? I looked over. A five inch long snot rope was swinging to and fro from his nose. He had no idea. I turned into a 6 year old and laughed at him. He finally reached up and freaked out when he touched it, but still had the presence to wind it up like a rodeo cowboy. Funniest thing ever. (Boomer)
- When our car quit because it got so cold and we were driving into the wind. Luckily we were picked up by a good Samaritan who told us all the way home that we were crazy to be out on a day like that, and that even God can’t keep a guy from freezing to death in Wyoming! (Tyler)
- I was with a Elder who was going home, and I had been out a little over a year. We were on the Rose Bud reservation and were teaching a poor family. They were eating mutton and corn soup along with raw calf kidneys, and invited us to join them. We sat at the table and I wondered what to do when they handed me my kidney. I took a small bite and realized it would be a struggle to eat it, so I put it in my soup. Just then somebody let the dogs in the house and in the confusion and turmoil I picked up my kidney and slipped it into my suit coat breast pocket. My companion didn’t see this along with any one else, He later saw mine was gone and assumed I had eaten it. Not to be outdone by a younger missionary he slowly choked his down. After we left the home he asked me how I had eaten mine so fast. He was upset when I pulled it from my pocket. But I had a hard time with kidneys as I ate them often when I was in White Shield, ND, and those were cooked. (Mike)
What was a crazy experience?
- In 1997 while serving as a Zone Leader in Grand Forks, ND, the Red River was expected to flood. We spent weeks filling sand bags and building levees. The river flooded to extreme levels and the whole city had to be evacuated. Our zone spent the last few months of my mission cleaning up the city as directed by my mission president. (Paul)
- Going to a discussion with a Sioux family and the dad was intoxicated. (Susan)
- Driving on the lake. (Alan)
- Sitting in the bleachers at a high school girl’s basketball game in Pine Ridge, SD. This is the center of the Pine Ridge Reservation. At the time, the Lakota Sioux brothers and sisters were not friendly towards us hokshila (whites) due to a corporate buyout of the local tribal radio station. So my companion and I are the only white people at the game. When Marna Blackcrow made a steal and basket, the crowd cheered, but not near as loud as my idiot companion who began whooping an Indian war chant like he was in a 1950’s black and white cowboy and Indian movie. (Boomer)
- Woke up one morning and the furnace had stopped working in the night and we could see our breath inside our trailer. The water dripping from the faucet had formed an icicle clear to the sink. (Tyler)
- We had front line winds hit us in White Shield. Our trailer filled with dust so we couldn’t see across the room. So we left our trailer and went and sat out the storm in our pinto a tornado touched down a few miles away. (Mike)
What was a spiritual experience?
- Every time I bore my testimony about the Savior, His Gospel and His Church, it was spiritual for me. (Paul)
- Too many to name. (Susan)
- Tracting. (Alan)
- Getting a call from the husband of a woman we were teaching. He had not been friendly to us but I get this call and he says something like, “I want to know what you’ve done to my wife.” I asked what he meant and he said, “She’s become the most incredible person I’ve ever been around and I need to keep up with her so come teach me what you’ve taught her.” The lessons turned a gruff cranky pig farming immoral man into a humble nice tender immorality destroying Saint. (Boomer)
- I had many, but when I gave a blessing and the lady that I gave it to was healed. Long story, great ending! (Tyler)
What are some interesting facts about the Rapid City Mission?
- It’s the biggest mission in the USA, area-wise. It’s full of history and contains Mount Rushmore. (Paul)
- Coldest mission, biggest mission geographically. (Susan)
- No trees or mountains. (Alan)
- It’s cold. (Boomer)
- My mission is full of the most amazing people. Large open land, a perfect place for a young man to grow spiritually and find his way in the world. Amazing cultures with the many Native American people there. Mount Rushmore and The Black Hills! (Tyler)
What was the weather like?
- The winter is long and very frigid. We weren’t allowed outside on many days. Lots of time to study. The summer is very humid and muggy. (Paul)
- Freezing and humid. (Susan)
- Cold. (Alan)
- Cold. (Boomer)
- Freezing winters, perfect in the other seasons. Watch for the occasional supercell cloud or funnel cloud. I’d live there today if it wasn’t so cold in the winter! (Tyler)
- Frigid cold with heavy snow in the winter, hot humid days in the summer. (Mike)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- Most of the people were very nice. Many of the towns I served in were small compared to the very populated area of Southern Nevada where I’m from. I met some wonderful people. (Paul)
- They were very nice and receptive. (Susan)
- Accents don’t cha know. (Alan)
- Down to earth. No facade. Traditional. Simple. Easy to talk to. (Boomer)
- It’s been 25 years since I’ve returned home and not a day has passed that I don’t feel homesick for the people and the land. I will always hold the people there dear to my heart! I would encourage all who serve there to immerse themselves in the Native culture of the Lakota. There are many blessings in working with these people and loving them. (Tyler)
- I enjoyed working with the people here. They were honest and hard working. They were also decent and kind to others. They were also good to me. In white areas and reservation alike. In fact I returned to my mission to work and live 25 years later. (Mike)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Pack for very cold winters. Bring a down jacket, long sleeve shirts, wool socks and good boots. (Paul)
- Thermal garments for the winters. (Susan)
- Bring money and go to thrift stores. (Alan)
- Wool socks. No expensive shoes (they’ll get ruined). electric blanket. (Boomer)
- Pack lightly, and shop there at the thrift stores. Don’t take bedding. Buy a sleeping bag and use that for your mission and toss it when you come home! (Tyler)
- If you serve here buy your winter clothing here. Chances are that you find it heavy enough at home. (Mike)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I’m married to a wonderful daughter of God and we have four extremely smart, talented and handsome boys. I believe my family is a direct blessing of serving a mission. (Paul)
- So many. (Susan)
- Great memories, experience, and friends to this day. (Alan)
- A real testimony of my own. (Boomer)
- It’s where I discovered talents that I never knew I had, where I learned the power of the priesthood and learned to identify and work in partnership with the Spirit. It was where I learned to love unconditionally! (Tyler)
- A stronger testimony of Jesus Christ as my savior. I also started dating a young lady I had known while serving in Pierre, SD who had moved to Pierre. We married in the Logan temple and raised our family of three children in Utah. I’m so grateful for our love and companionship. My whole life after my mission has benefited from the experiences. (Mike)
What are some skills you gained?
- I learned how to work hard and talk to people. I also learned how to love and serve which may be the most important skills to learn in the mission field. (Paul)
- Comprise and allowing the Spirit to teach. (Susan)
- Leadership, compassion, friendship, forgiving, humility, and forgiving. (Alan)
- How to eat gross things and not gag. How to work with weird people (companions, sisters, investigators, members, and two branch presidents). (Boomer)
- Speaking publicly and teaching by the spirit. Many more….. (Tyler)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I come from a part-member family. I wish I would have known to study the scriptures more. (Paul)
- Been better prepared. (Susan)
- Missionaries are not perfect. (Alan)
- Wish I knew the scriptures better. Wish I was not afraid to preach. (Boomer)
- You are about to enter a land with the most amazing people that you will find anywhere in the world! Love them, be patient, and lose yourself in the work and you will weep when you board the plane to return home! (Tyler)
- Life is a journey, and so was my mission. I came out not knowing to expect, but I learned from each experience both good and bad. So I wouldn’t change anything. (Mike)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Rapid City?
- Be prepared to love and serve everyone you meet. It will bring you and them closer the the Lord. (Paul)
- Be ready to experience new things. (Susan)
- No fear, study, share your testimony with everyone. (Alan)
- You must be self-disciplined in this mission. You are far away from the mission president and others, so nobody will be checking on you. You must make yourself work hard. (Boomer)
What was a funny language mistake?
- I had a companion from Tonga and when a gentleman told us that he was an atheist, my companion said that we believe Christ is our Savior too. We laughed about it later when I explained to him what an atheist believes. (Paul)
- Just my war crying white companion. (Boomer)
- Learn the mission slang. It’s vital to survival! (Tyler)