February 20, 2018 • Page 18 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com SD National Guard Promotes, Welcomes Its First Woman Into Chaplain Corps By Staff Sgt. Austin Pearce and Capt. Chad Carlson SDNG Public Affairs Office of my head but had never pursued it," Thury said. "My brother was in the [129th] MPAD at the time and he said, 'You know, you enjoy photography, why don't you let the The South Dakota Army National Guard held a historic military train you how to do it?'" ceremony welcoming its first woman to serve in its ChapSo she enlisted into the South Dakota Army National lain Corps at the Huron armory, Jan. 6. Guard as a public affairs specialist and joined her brothChaplain (Capt.) Kelley Thury, of Mitchell, was proer's unit, the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, and moted and named the new chaplain for the 153rd Engineer in 2010 was off to Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, Battalion. South Carolina. "I am just overwhelmed with gratitude," said Thury. "At basic training, I had a drill sergeant who was very "Being a chaplain, being in the ministry, and caring for vocal about his faith," Thury said. "Right before we left service members and their families, is a lot of trust to put in-processing and were shipped out to our respective in someone - and I recognize that. I just hope and pray training units, he prayed over us. I said, 'You know what that God gives me the grace to be able to do this and be of drill sergeant? Let us pray for you too.' service to any service member who needs me." "So I prayed for him," Thury continued. "He was kind Thury's path to chaplaincy has been a long and windof the first one that spoke it out. He said, 'Some of you are ing one, filled with highs and lows, all which will help going to do certain things in the military, some of you will her relate to various experiences Soldiers may be going get out, some of you will become chaplains' and he looked through. straight at me. It's kind of when I said, 'Yeah. I have felt the "Through all of the chaos, I realized I had to keep my call of ministry on my life.'" eye on the prize and keep going," Thury said. "Eventually Following Advanced Individual Training at Fort Meade, that part of my journey would be over and then I could Maryland, Thury would serve in both the South Dakota start the new one." and then the District of Columbia National Guard as a pubHer journey began in high school, when she became lic affairs specialist. After a couple of years, she decided involved in mission work, which ranged from reservations to move back to South Dakota determined to pursue both in South Dakota to Costa Rica and Sri Lanka. the seminary and chaplaincy. "I never really felt the call of ministry on my life then," "I touched base with the officer strength manager, and Thury said. "I wasn't thinking this was something I was after he sat down with Chaplain (Col.) David Gunderson, ever going to do." the state chaplain at the time, he came back to me and While attending college, Thury went overseas again, said, 'Low and behold, they've been looking for you. and it was then that she felt God might have a call of minThey've been looking to fill a diverse role and you just istry in her life. walked into their door. Let's make this happen.'" After graduating from Northern State University with a Thury recalls meeting with Chaplains Gunderson and Bachelor of Science in education in 2004, she felt the call Lynn Wilson at a Strong Bonds event and talking to them to the mission field, so she started training with Youth both about what chaplaincy is in the military, what she with a Mission. really felt God was calling her to in ministry and how they "Their motto is, 'Getting to know God and making might see that happening. God known,"' Thury said. "How do you focus on who you "Let me tell you, I was new with ministry and the are and how you can make God known and evangelize military, sitting before two men who were in the ministry throughout the world?" probably longer than I'd been alive," said Thury. "It was Between her degree in education and training with just incredible to hear a lot of what I really felt God was Youth with a Mission, Thury went to both Germany and calling me to do at the time." Mexico where she served as a trainer and guide to others In April 2013, Thury commissioned as a second lieutengoing into the mission field. ant and a chaplain candidate. "Through different experiences and reasons, the door The chaplain candidate program allows candidates to just really blew shut hard on both of those opportunities," follow a chaplain, be trained by a chaplain in a unit and Thury said. "I was left coming back to states going, 'Okay see what military chaplaincy looks like. God, what in the world? Did I hear you wrong? What's go"I wasn't thrust into the ministry of 'Here, go be a chaping on? What have I done? What did I not hear correctly?” lain,'" Thury said. "I wasn't thrust into a church and told, Thury was looking for something to ground her. 'Here, go lead a congregation.' I was really led through the "I had always thought about the military in the back process by several chaplains in South Dakota. It was an incredible training experience for me because got to see how it works before having to do it. It is a great program." With the chaplain candidate program going well and Thury attending Sioux Falls Seminary, she and her husband had two Summer Save $30 on achildren. AC Tune-Up! MOTOR Thury was diagnosed with post-partum depression and NIOBRARA, NE the remaining path to chaplaincy seemed to be an uphill one. atrick awk "It was a and we’ll Just give us a call boomerang," Thury said. "And quite a struggle 251 Spruce Ave • Box 260 trying to balance all of those plates, meeting all of the requirements. I was really feeling God calling me to be a voice for Soldiers, for service members. I had to keep going. That this too shall pass." Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course was the next stop on Thury's path. CHBOLC is a 12 week, four-phased direct-commission, special-branch school at Fort Jackson. "We essentially go through basic training again," Thury said. "I literally went through the same training and same lanes, only this time without a weapon." Faith, family and perseverance would see Thury graduate from CHBOLC in 2014 and from seminary with a Masters of Divinity in pastoral care and counseling in 2016. "I could not have done this without my husband and the rest of my family supporting me in various ways," Thury said. "He was working full time, sometimes two jobs, taking care of the children, from one child to three, all within four years. "The trust and love he has for me and the support he has had continue to amaze me and I couldn't do it without him," Thury continued. "I couldn't have chosen a better person." Thury also credits retired Chaplin Gunderson as providing her with support and encouragement. "He is amazing," Thury said. "He was the one who really had those one liners that always kind of stuck with me. 'To be present with Soldiers.' 'To perform and provide.'" On the civilian side of life, Thury works as a bereavement coordinator for AseraCare Hospice in Sioux Falls. "When people come to the end of their life, they have the option to elect hospice service," Thury said. "Hospice services not only provide for a patient while they're living, but once that patient has died, 13 months following that patient's death, family members who have elected it will have follow up with bereavement.” Thury provides bereavement care and counseling with family and loved ones of people who have died. She also conducts community support groups, memorials and funerals, if they so choose. "I also do pre-bereavement, when a person is alive to establish relationship, and helping them grieve appropriately and walk through that part of that journey of their life," Thury said. "Like any counselor, we love when people come to an awareness of themselves. They're aware of who they are and where they are in life and how they can continue in their journey of life and continue in a positive and healthy way." On the military side of life, Thury is now the chaplain for the largest battalion in the SDARNG, the 153rd Engineer Battalion. "Having the first female chaplain is really awesome, especially in the Engineer Corps where having females in the Engineer Corps hasn't been a long-standing policy in the U.S. military," said Lt. Col. Trent Bruce, former 153rd commander. "Integrating females into the Engineer Corps in itself is historic, but as a chaplain as well, is amazing." While Thury was aware early in her journey to chaplaincy that she could potentially be the first female chaplain in the SDNG, it wasn't something she was seeking out. "I've never seen myself as a female chaplain," said Niobrara, NE 68760 send out a qualified Thury. "I've just seen myself as a chaplain and I'm here www.moodymotor.com Book 65 Intermediate Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad to serve how God has called me to serve. pjhawk@hotmail.com Service Technician like (402) 857-3711 "Because of my approach, because I am a female, (800) 745-5650 Tyler, to make sure your some people may see me more in a mother role and may Fax (402) 857-3713 Sudoku #1 Sudoku #2 be able to approach me better than a male chaplain," AC unit is ready for those Thury said. 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The Township, on Tuesday, the 6th of March, 2018, from 1 43:30 p.m. for the following purposes: To 6 on 7 9 & Supervisor (3-year term) Each) 4 1 balancing act... I've been there, I've done that. I walk 1:30 elect 1 Clerk 1 Treasurer (1-year Terms through it with you." Supervisor for the term of three years, one Township Clerk, 9 4 5 8 2 9 Thury's focus is now one Treasurer, each for the term of one year, and to do any other business proper to be done at said meeting when convened. on getting in front of 7 6 4 8 9 When You Want Comfort… You Want Kalins! Gerald Keeley, Township Clerk Soldiers. dated Feb. 14, 2018 "How can I get out and Vermillion: 605-624-5618 4 1 7 9 3 meet as many people as *Rebate offer only available to Vermillion Light & Power customers. I can and say, 'Hey, I'm 9 5 6 3 8 Call for full details. 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