Meet the Owners

Meet the Owners 

Golden West is your telecommunications cooperative, owned by the people. The next time you jump online, watch a show, or make a call, think about this:  People make your community great. And people are what this co-op is all about. Golden West is owned by the very people it serves.

Below are highlights of some of those member owners.

Bob Ecoffey - Pine Ridge Subway
Brad & Kelly Bednar - Ace Hardware
Deb Mergen & Diane Bunkers - Always Your Design
Keisha - Golden West Member Services & Sales Specialist
Lyle & Dawn Howey - I-90 Speedway
Austin  - Golden West Field Service Technician
Brian Gronli - Gronli Cabinetry
Casey Remmers - Creekside Meats
Bob Zwart - Dells Auto
Travis Kuehl - Travis Electric 
Brian Anderson - Dells Theatre 
Stacy & Kyle Wengler - Knotty Gnome 
Kari Karst - BX Civil
Terry Arends - Central States Mfg. 
Merlin & Sherri Goebel - Sunshine Foods 
Aaron & Amie Delgado - Fourth & Ladelle Coffeehouse
Teri Michaels - Hartford Veterinary Clinic 
Lynnae Redenius - Tammen Auto & Tire Inc.
Mike Parks - T&C Self Service 
Adam & Kim DeJong - Pizza Ranch
Chris & Callie Tuschen - Buffalo Ridge Brewing 


Bob Ecoffey

Bob and Darlene Ecoffey brought a Subway franchise to Pine Ridge as a way of giving back to the community. Over the past 15 years, they have offered healthy meals, created jobs, and provided opportunities for people to connect. Helping others is an important Lakota tradition, and Golden West is honored to have played a role. "Golden West has always been very active in providing for our communication needs," Bob says. "There are a lot of good opportunities as a result of their investment in the community." 

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Brad & Kelly Bednar

Brad and Kelly Bednar stock some unique items in their hardware store. Like furniture and appliances. It's their way of making sure customers don't have to drive an hour for hard-to-access items. Catering to the community's specific needs is their way of paying it forward to Hot Springs residents, who welcomed them to town with typical small-town friendliness. "Everyone is very helpful," Kelly says. "That sounds so cliche, but it's true." You now what? We aren't a bit surprised. 

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Deb Mergen & Diane Bunkers 

Deb Mergen and Diane Bunkers have owned and operated Always Your Design for the past 12 years. Finalists for the Better Homes and Garden’s top 10 quilt shops, the sisters showcase their 6,000 fabric bolts from their historic Main Street location in Dell Rapids. They support their community by attracting shoppers to town who help boost sales tax collections, by creating jobs, and by donating items to community fundraisers. They also sell their products online. “People wouldn’t know we’re here if we didn’t have Golden West,” Deb says. “If we didn’t have that opportunity to be online, no one would know we are here.”

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Keisha - Member Services & Sales Specialist

As a member service and sales specialist, Keisha likes to help keep people connected. Working at Golden West also keeps her connected to the Hartford community. “I want to be more involved within the community, and Golden West participates in different events that happen throughout the year,” she says. “As a co-op, we  provide a lot of scholarships, and promotions, and money for things that go on throughout Hartford.

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Lyle & Dawn Howey

Lyle and Dawn Howey own and operate the I-90 Speedway three miles outside of Hartford. They offer weekly races through the summer with sprint cars, stock cars, and modified stock cars. “In this business, everything’s fast,” says Dawn. “Our season’s fast; our night is fast. So, we need fast internet, because we’re high tech, and Golden West – they’re the best.” Still, she says the connections are the most important. “It’s the people that you meet.”

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Austin - Field Service Technician

Field Service Technician Austin Parry takes pride in all the work he does for Golden West customers. He enjoys learning more about his customers. “I like making sure all my installs are nice and neat, and that the customers are happy with how I did it and the service they’re getting is what they need,” he says. Austin appreciates his coworkers and working for Golden West. He also likes working in the Hartford area because of the community, the people, and the “good vibes.”

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Brian Gronli

Brian Gronli has been building custom cabinetry and doing other fine finishing woodwork from his rural Dell Rapids workshop for the past eight years. "I go to people's houses, and I see what they do - how they live - and understand what they need," he says. Brian appreciates his Golden West service. "We just take it for granted. We forget that they're our service provider because service is so smooth."

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Casey Remmers

Casey Remmers’ interest in the food business took root as a boy when his parents had a steakhouse in Orient. He and partner Troy Grocott opened Creekside Meats in October 2021. “We chose to start our business in Hartford, because the city has seen a lot of growth, and it’s a perfect-sized community where you can get to know your customers,” Casey says. The business hopes to inspire these customers to spend more time cooking and grilling good food for family and friends.

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Bob Zwart

Bob Zwart started Dells Auto with his brother Rick Zwart in November 1999. “What I learned early on is it’s a process, and that process begins with taking care of the customer. Buyers come back if you take care of them.” Internet and phone connections are crucial for the Dell Rapids business. “Golden West has been there and provided us with that from the very beginning. It’s nice that they’re local, and it matters to us.”

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Travis Kuehl

The Travis Electric owner enjoys Hartford's small-town, progressive feel - including fiber optics from Golden West. At his wife Wendy's encouragement, Travis Kuehl started his business in 2005 as a one-man operation. Today, Travis Electric employs 24 people – and like Hartford, is still growing. Travis credits the rapid expansion to the wide range of projects the business tackles. He appreciates Golden West upgrading the town and rural area to the fiber optic network starting in 2013. “Golden West’s customer service has been outstanding,” he says. “Their investment in Hartford has been huge.”

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Brian Anderson

Brian Anderson once worked on set with Dustin Diamond, Bob Saget, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The former child actor gave up his acting dreams when his family moved to Dell Rapids, but his passion for cinema lives on. Today, he owns the historic Dells Theatre — and it’s his mission to keep the town entertained.

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Stacy & Kyle Wengler

Stacy and Kyle Wengler own two very different businesses in Hartford — but they complement each other in different ways. Learn more about their eye-catching sign, their devotion to the local business community, and why they probably won’t complain about too much garbage.

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Kari Karst

Kari Karst is a Dell Rapids native who never imagined she'd be running a successful family business from her hometown. When the opportunity arose to purchase a business her dad once worked for, she left the California dream behind – and couldn’t be happier.  

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Terry Arends

Terry Arends is a Hartford resident whose job at Central States Mfg. involves providing customers with the best products for their needs. You have to be on your game to make sure your clients get exactly what they want, he says. He believes attention to detail sets you apart from the competition. “Golden West has been a great partner with Central States,” Terry says. “They ensure we can keep our business running by providing us with our phones, emails, and fast speeds.”

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Merlin & Sherri Goebel

Merlin and Sherri Goebel believe adaptability is the key to small-town success. That, and committing to the local community — whether by carrying fresh produce or supporting charitable causes. The Goebels have owned Sunshine Foods in Hartford for two decades and still believe the best is yet to come.

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Aaron & Amie Delgado

Aaron and Amie Delgado moved to Dell Rapids to be closer to family. The couple turned a few heads due to their unconventional look but were welcomed with open arms. Their coffee shop, LaDelle and Fourth Coffeehouse, attracts both regulars and visitors with tasty treats and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

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Teri Michaels

Meet Teri Michaels, owner of the Hartford Veterinary Clinic in Hartford. Teri embraces the small-town lifestyle that Hartford provides. It’s one of the draws that brought her and husband, Phil to town in the first place.

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 Lynnae Redenius

Meet Lynnae Redenius, owner of Tammen Auto & Tire Inc in Hartford. Her willingness to learn and dedication to providing excellent customer service has paved the way for her success.

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 Mike Parks

Meet Mike Parks, owner of T&C Self Service in Dell Rapids. The service station/convenience store offers everything from hot dogs and cold beer to a friendly ear and community support. 

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 Adam & Kim DeJong

Meet Adam & Kim DeJong, a Hartford couple committed to helping the community. Longtime Hartford residents and owners of the local Pizza Ranch franchise, they help feed and support the community.

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 Chris & Callie Tuschen

Chris and Callie Tuschen craft community - and beer - in Hartford. The Tuschens own Buffalo Ridge Brewing Project and are members of the Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative both personally and with their business. Like Golden West, Chris and Callie pride themselves on the connections they provide and are committed to helping Hartford grow and be an even better place to live.

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