Eminent Homemaker
County: Brookings
Rae Jean Gee is best known for giving of her time, talent and leadership skills within the communities in which she has lived, especially Brookings. Over the past 35 years, she has taken on many leadership roles in organizations such as Northview Lads and Lassies 4-H club, Brookings Homemakers Club, State and National Iris Society and McCrory Gardens.
Rae Jean volunteered to chair the SDSU Festival of Champions, an event honoring academic and athletic accomplishments of over 200 student-athletes, their parents and supports of the Jackrabbits. She made everyone involved feel special with her terrific energy, outgoing personality, and kind nature.
Gee graduated with a degree in home economics from the University of Minnesota. She worked for a year at the South Dakota State University Poultry Department and from 1966 to 2000 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Northern Grain Insect Lab.
She has also traveled nationally and internationally along with her husband, Dan, as he led his duties with the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership program. For those within the program, Gee was loved and influential in their lives as much as Dan.
Rae Jean and her husband have three daughters. All three daughters hold their bachelor's degree from SDSU.