PRESIDENT

Dale Knuth

dale.knuth@gmail.com

Dale Knuth

President: 2023 - present

Dale grew up in the Sandhills of Nebraska and graduated from Valentine Rural High School in Valentine, Nebraska. He was introduced to aviation at a young age—his father, Dan, was a pilot who used his Aeronca Champ to check cows and windmills on the family ranch. Dale took every opportunity to fly along and learn. Aviation runs deep in the family; his grandfather, uncle, and cousin were also pilots.

Dale earned his private pilot certificate in June 1993 an instrument rating in 2021, a multi-engine rating in 2023 and a Part 107 Drone certificate in 2025. In 2015, he purchased a 1952 Cessna 170B and has logged over 1,000 hours in the aircraft since then. He also currently owns a Cessna 310Q. Previously, he owned a Vans RV9A and a Rans S-6S, which he purchased to help his son, Dean, build flight time.

Dean is a fourth-generation pilot in the Knuth family and now flies professionally, operating Cessna Citations and Beechcraft King Air aircraft.

Dale and his wife, Glenda, have three children and three grandchildren. He is a lifetime member of EAA 289 and the Young Eagles program and has flown more than 100 children in his Cessna. He is also a member of AOPA. Dale loves flying and jumps at any opportunity to get behind the controls of an airplane.

Dale served in the U.S. Army, the Nebraska National Guard, and the South Dakota National Guard from 1985 to 1992. He has been a member of the South Dakota Pilots Association since October 2015, became a Lifetime Member in October 2019, and served as Secretary from 2020 to 2022.

VICE PRESIDENT

Dwayne LaFave

dwayne.lafave@gmail.com

Dwayne LaFave

Vice President: 2022 - present

In his early teens, Dwayne worked as a flagger for aerial applicator George Grubbs at Rosebud Aviation in Gregory, SD. Dwayne's actual flying started with the purchase of a powered parachute (PPC) in 2002, eventually doing some PPC instructing. Using the Sport Pilot option to transition to fixed wing aircraft, Dwayne purchased and refurbished a1946 Aeronca Champ 7AC and flew out of De Smet and the Northern Black Hills. LaFave was the first South Dakota aviator to visit all the SD airports with his "FLY South Dakota Airports" Passport book in hand. His active flying came to an end on Labor Day 2023 when a wind event at the Belle Fourche Airport destroyed three hangars and 8 airplanes, including his.

LaFave's interest in aviation has roots prior to his birth when his father Sam was with the Army Air Corps in WWII. Following WWII, Sam purchased a 1946 Taylorcraft and used his GI bill to join the fast-growing ranks of GA pilots. Dwayne's son Jeff began his flying as a De Smet High School student, by traveling to Brookings for instruction, earning his private pilot certificate and instrument rating through the South Dakota State University aviation program.

Retiring in 2016 after 45 years as a public-school educator, LaFave spends his time promoting the South Dakota Pilots Association (member since 2003) as the current vice president. He, along with several interested SDPA members has hopes of revitalizing the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in the near future. Interests other than aviation include playing music with the SD American Legion Band, Belle Fourche Cowboy Band, Northern Hills Community Band and El Riad Shrine Band.

TREASURER

Dan Renner

Dan Renner

Treasurer: 2025 - present

A lifelong South Dakotan, Dan grew up about “niner” miles from Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, near the FSD RNAV 15 path and also under a line that extends from the Sioux Falls to Madison to Aberdeen airports, so there was always a fascinating variety of airplanes flying overhead as a child. Dan earned a degree in Geographic Information Science from South Dakota State University and determined in his final semester of college in 2015 that he needed to achieve his dream of flying as soon as he could afford it, but he had already accepted a full-time job and really needed to save money for flight training. In 2019 while working full-time at an engineering firm in Sioux Falls, he started working a second job on weekends as a customer service representative at the desk of Maverick Air Center at FSD where he kept the 24/7 FBO operating through the weekends while saving money for flight training. This FBO job provided four years of inspiration, aviation friends, networking, and insight into all facets of general and business aviation outside of the regularly-scheduled airline world, including charter, corporate, medical transport, maintenance ops, law enforcement, cargo charter, transient military crews, aerial surveying, recreational flying, and flight training. In 2021, Dan became an aircraft owner when he purchased a 1952 Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer which had spent its entire life in MN, WI, and now SD. A first-generation pilot among even his extended family, Dan earned his private pilot certificate in 2023 at Riggin Flight Service and is enjoying recreational flying for now in his Tri-Pacer as he slowly builds time towards a commercial certificate in the future. Dan and his family live in Crooks, SD.

SECRETARY

Ryan Limesand

ryanlsf@gmail.com

Ryan Limesand

Secretary: 2023 - present

Ryan grew up near the airport in Luverne, MN, and was interested in aviation at an early age. He did not pursue it until his wife bought him a Discovery Flight after they were married. He began flight training in the fall of 2000, but pushed the pause button because raising a family took priority. Even though he was not a pilot yet, Ryan joined the local EAA Chapter 289 and attended as many of the aviation events as he could, including AirVenture multiple times. Ryan obtained his pilot certificate in 2019 and bought a 1946 Ercoupe, which he enjoyed flying and giving Young Eagle rides. He has since sold the Ercoupe, obtained his instrument rating in 2022, and joined the Mockingbird Flying Club in Sioux Falls. Ryan has been a member of SDPA since July 2018.

District 1 Director

Trey Stroup

Trey Stroup

District 1 Director: 2026 - present

Trey Stroup is a South Dakota–based pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, rancher, and volunteer/professional firefighter. He was raised on a ranch southeast of Fort Pierre and developed an interest in aviation at age eleven while flying home from a family trip to Disney World aboard a commercial airliner, which led him to pursue flight training.

After graduating from Stanley County High School in 2020, Trey enrolled in the Professional Fixed Wing Pilot Program at Lake Area Technical College. He earned his Private Pilot Certificate on February 12, 2022, followed by his Instrument and Commercial ratings later that year. In 2023, he obtained his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument (CFII), Multi-Engine rating, and tailwheel endorsement, completing the program in June 2023.

After graduating in 2023, Trey relocated to Sioux Falls where he instructed dozens of students. In February 2024, he founded Stroup Aviation to provide more structured flight instruction. During that time, he was elected to serve as Vice President of EAA Chapter 289. In October 2024, he purchased a 1973 Cessna 150 to support training operations through Stroup Aviation, and he continues to use the aircraft for instruction and travel.

In 2025, Trey returned to the Pierre area and serves as an Aircraft Fire and Rescue firefighter (ARFF) at Pierre Regional Airport. In August 2025, he earned his Sport Pilot certificate for gyroplanes in Pierre.

Trey has been a member of the South Dakota Pilots Association since 2022 after completing his Private Pilot certificate. He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and remains Vice President of EAA Chapter 289.

District 2 Director

Dean Kirkeby

Dean Kirkeby

District 2 Director: May 2023 - present

Dean grew up in Clark, SD, and went to SDSU for a degree in Agriculture. At 10 years old he became interested in aviation when his uncle gave him a ride in a J-3 Cub. Taking off from a grass strip, the entire passenger briefing was, "Put on your seatbelt and don't touch anything!" He passed ground school at SDSU, then again four years later at an in-person King School in Fargo. Time and money continued to get in the way, and he seemed unable to get past a solo permit. Flash ahead 20 years of reading magazines and talking with pilots, another opportunity knocked. As part of a deal to buy a used combine from a local farmer-pilot, flying lessons were included. Another crack at ground school in Watertown, and three different instructors finally produced a successful check ride in Marshall, MN on June 21, 2010. He obtained a tail wheel endorsement at Riggin Flight School in Madison, SD, in 2017. Currently, he still farms in the Clark area and lives at Benson Air Park, an FAA approved Residential Through-the-Fence airpark at 8D7 in Clark, SD. The hangar-home houses a 1973 Cessna 172M and a 1966 Champion 7E3 Citabria with the 150 horsepower Supplemental Type Certificate. Most of his flying is local, but a 3-4 hour cross-country is usually squeezed in once a year. Dean is a member of the EAA, AOPA, and a lifetime member of the SDPA since October 2015.

District 3 Director

Roger Lee

Roger Lee

District 3 Director: 2023 - present

Roger Lee took his first introductory ride in a Cherokee PA-28-140 in 1973 at the Huron Airport and has been a flying enthusiast ever since. Carl Fischer from Watertown was whom Roger finished his instruction. His private pilot certificate was signed off by Bernard Christenson in 1978. In 1991 Dave Gilbert from Madison taught Roger how to fly a taildragger. It was a Aeronca 7-AC. Roger graduated to a American Champion Scout in 1992. He owned American Aerial Advertising for a while and towed banners all over the state back in the 1990s. Roger now owns a Bellanca Citabria. He keeps the plane on the farm where he and his wife Mary have a grass strip (SD83; 3.400' x 60') located about 10 NM south-southwest of DeSmet. His son Robert is taking lessons from Riggin's flight school in Madison and has soloed. Roger looks forward to being District 3 Director. Roger Lee joined SDPA in October 1993 through 1996 and rejoined in April 2021.

District 4 Director

Steve Christensen

Steve Christensen

District 4 Director: 2025 - present

I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s in Gregory SD where there was an active aviation community. Dave Hahn was one of my high school Principals and was just starting to get his flight instructor certification. He taught an evening ground school class with 17 high school students. Two students who were also taking flight training passed the FAA written portion of the flight test. I was not one of them. I still kept my interest in flying but at that point life intervened.

I attended SDSU as a music major and graduated with a composite degree in music education. I taught instrumental music in McLaughlin, Philip and Kadoka SD for a total of 14 years. I worked summers as farm/ranch hand as well as working in a tire and auto repair shop. I spent two years working as a machinist at Scotchman Industries and two years working for ASCS (now Farm Service Agency). In 1997 I started work as a part store manager in Faulkton SD. Two years later, I joined the Faulk County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy and later elected Sheriff. In 2004 I became Platte Chief of Police and retired in 2011. After retirement I welded upper deck beams at Trail-Eze and later hauled concrete. I served six years as Mayor of Platte.

I met my wife, Karen, while teaching at McLaughlin SD. We have been married for 48 years. We have two daughters, Stephanie and Katie, who have blessed us with six grandchildren. After our youngest daughter graduated from USF in 2010, I started flight training at Quest Aviation in Tea, SD. I completed my flight training at Heartland Aviation, Inc in Alliance, NE. My oral and flight tests were at Wings of Wyoming at Cheyenne, Wyoming in March 2011.

I joined South Dakota Pilot’s Association and EAA Chapter 289 shortly after receiving my certificate. I became active flying Young Eagles and became Chapter 289 Young Eagle Coordinator. I had open heart surgery January 2019 and have been trying to meet all FAA criteria for a medical. It seems that when one set of conditions are met another set is found by the FAA team. I sold my 1952 Piper Tri Pacer in 2023. I am still very interested in keeping aviation active in all of our communities.

District 5 Director

Marsha Sumpter

Marsha Sumpter

District 5 Director: 2003 - present

Born in Philip, SD, in 1943. Married in 1961 to lifetime partner, Bill, two daughter, Shelley and Sandra; legal secretary 12 years in Rapid City, returned to farm / ranch with family in 1975. Lifetime member of SD Farmers Union. Raised hogs for 20 years, got a plane in 1988, private pilot certificate in 1989. Member of SD Civil Air Patrol for 22 years of which she was the commander of Philip Composite Squadron for 16 years – reaching the rank of captain. Haakon County Commissioner 8 years, served on the SD Pork Producers Board, 8 years. Managed the family farm from 1978-2004. Write a weekly news column for Pioneer Review newspaper. Went from a C-150 to a C-172, which was used for meetings, farm business, and pleasure. Marsha has been a member of SDPA since July 2003, and served as Director for District 5 since July 2003.

District 6 Director

Steve Eckrich

Steve Eckrich

District 6 Director: 2026 - present

Steve earned his PPL at age 19 and owned an airplane (which he built) before even owning a car. He broke an aviation world record for closed course distance in that airplane while attending medical school. He has since obtained his instrument, commercial, CFI, seaplane, and rotorcraft ratings and built another airplane in which he currently flies. He was a Flight Surgeon with the United States Marine Corps before completing his residency training in orthopedic surgery. He belongs to several aviation organizations, and is currently Chair of the General Aviation Advisory Committee at KRAP. His wife, Lynn and three of his five children are also pilots.

District 7 Director

Jerry Densmore

Jerry Densmore

District 7 Director: 2020 - present

Jerry became interested in aviation after taking an aviation intro course at a local community college in Michigan when he was a senior in high school in 1974. Jerry started in the maintenance program at Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in September of 1976 and by May of 1978, he had earned both Airframe and Powerplant certificates. Jerry also earned his private pilot certificate in May 1978 flying out of then Riverside Airport in Jenks, Oklahoma. He entered the U.S. Air Force in February 1979 as a crew chief on B-52H, B-1A/B, and later as a maintenance supervisor on RC-135U/V/W airframes retiring January 2007 from the 28th Maintenance Group at Ellsworth AFB. Jerry was active in four aero clubs performing aircraft maintenance at two of them. When the GI bill was reinstated for flight training, he used it for his instrument, commercial, and CFI certificates. After Jerry retired from the Air Force he worked for L&D Aero at Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) until the shop closed in October 2020. His current project is rebuilding a 1959 Piper Tri Pacer. Jerry has been involved with the Civil Air Patrol, the EAA as a technical councilor, AOPA as an Airport Support Network volunteer, and as an FAAST team member. He has been a member of SDPA since 2012.

Executive Director

Vacant