Notable People from South Dakota

Sitting Bull

Hunkpapa Lakota medicine man and holy man (1831–1890)

Ernest Orlando Lawrence

American nuclear physicist (1901–1958)

Hubert Humphrey

vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969

Crazy Horse

Oglala Sioux chief (1840–1877)

Theodore Schultz

American economist

George McGovern

American historian and politician (1922–2012)

Gene Amdahl

American physicist (1922-2015)

Zitkala-Sa

Yankton Dakota writer (1876-1938)

Marvin Heemeyer

American news figure (1951–2004)

Tim Johnson

American politician of South Dakota (1946–2024)

Alvin Hansen

American economist (1887–1975)

Rose Wilder Lane

American journalist (1886–1968)

James Abourezk

American politician (1931–2023)

Patrick Spencer Johnson

American writer

Muriel Humphrey

American politician (1912–1998)

Jerry Brudos

American serial killer (1939–2006)

Floyd Red Crow Westerman

Native American entertainer (1936–2007)

John King Fairbank

American sinologist (1907-1991)

James Bausch

American athletics competitor (1906–1974)

Wilbur Thompson

American track and field athlete, gold medal in shot put at the 1948 Summer Olympics (1921-2013)

Dorothy Provine

American singer, dancer, and actress (1935-2010)

Gall

19th century Lakota chief (1840–1894)

James Abdnor

American congressman for South Dakota (1923-2012)

Spotted Elk

Native American leader

Vera C. Bushfield

American politician (1889-1976)

Gladys Pyle

American politician (1890-1989)

John Miljan

American actor (1892–1960)

Gene Okerlund

American professional wrestling interviewer and announcer (1942–2019)

Angela Aames

actress (1956-1988)

Jessi Combs

American racing driver (1980–2019)

David Rumelhart

American psychologist (1942-2011)

Spotted Tail

Brulé Sioux chief, Native American leader (1823–1881)

Ivan Dresser

American long-distance runner

Charles Jacobs

American pole vaulter (1886–1971)

John O'Neil

American rugby union player (1898–1950)

Glenn Hartranft

Track and field athlete, American football and baseball coach (1901–1970)

Alfred L. Werker

American film director (1896–1975)

Clinton Anderson

American politician (1895–1975)

Joe Foss

United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient (1915–2003)

Hallie Flanagan

American theatrical producer (1890-1969)

Judith Evelyn

American actress

J. James Exon

American politician (1921–2005)

Vine Deloria, Jr.

American writer (1933-2005)

Gary Owens

American radio announcer

Eagle Woman

American peace activist (born 1820, near Big Bend of the Missouri River [in what is now South Dakota], U.S.—died December 18, 1888, Miles City, Montana)

Peter Norbeck

American politician (1870-1936)

Karl Mundt

American politician (1900-1974)

Keith Olsen

American record producer and sound engineer (1945–2020)

Ernest Lundeen

American politician (1878-1940)

Jess Thomas

American opera singer