• When my dad had his accident that cost him his life, my mom didn't have the option of calling 911. It wasn't available at that time in our area. So when my mom heard that Dad was caught in a grain bin, she started calling neighbors. Finding no one at home, she started flipping through the phone book looking for help. Eventually, she called the local elevator and friends and neighbors started to arrive within minutes. But what about those precious and crucial minutes when Mom had to struggle to find help? The helplessness she felt during those moments is something she will never forget and it's something we've discussed often over the years as we think back on the terrible day she lost her husband and we lost our dad. 
• That's why I am so grateful for men and women who are professionally trained and equipped to help all of us through life's most trying times.
• As I write this column, thousands of South Dakotans are still without power and

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