(Needles Highway, Custer, SD)

We aren’t overly private, but we don’t have any delusions that our lives are of much entertainment or enrichment to anyone other than ourselves. In fact, we are generally pessimists in regard to social media because while we all curate our public appearance to a degree, sites such as this tend to make life appear overly easy. Life is certainly not as hard as people sometimes make it by their decisions, but every life has both moments of joy and struggles. Few things are more irritating to those people who are struggling than to see pictures of others with feet by the beach, or smiling in the mountains, enjoying fancy meals in a foreign land, etc. We have never known hunger, we have never been without a home, we have parents who nurtured us and gifted us with an education we never knew we were getting, we have healthy children and grandchildren… We live a blessed life of privilege and strive to not forget that. There is much more to our lives than a blog or some shiny photos portray but if there is something in our life edifying to others, we offer it gladly…

Camille (Jordre) Reynen; Camille here! I grew up with four siblings and lived in several South Dakota communities. I graduated from Platte High School, and consider that community my hometown. My parents, Terry and Geraldine, were teachers – but the greatest lessons they taught me came outside the classroom. Those were lessons in being kind to everyone and never looking down at anyone. My three brothers and one sister were my first friends, and I am thankful to still count them in my circle of best friends. We grew up camping, being active in sports and church, and having fun as a family. I attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and graduated with a teaching degree in English. When we had our first child, I became a stay-at-home mom and loved the activities that came with that role… including trying to pass on the lessons I learned as a child. I have always enjoyed being active in our community and church, and currently play the piano in our church home – First Presbyterian in Wilmot.

Peter Reynen; I was born in Northern Minnesota to Rev Donald and Evelyn Reynen. I grew up in Mitchell, SD after my dad was called to be the pastor there at the First Presbyterian Church. Like Camille I am the second of 5 children, and like Camille I am so very fortunate to have siblings and family as some of my favorite people. If I think about the (many) things I learned as a child, I think the lessons were to be diligent in work, faithful, and to try and think well. After my undergraduate degree from USD I received my M.Div. from Louisville Theological Seminary prior to a medical degree from the (Sanford) USD School of Medicine. I spend most of my professional life in Milbank, SD with a stop in Burlington, Iowa and 4 years in Mitchell, SD following the death of my youngest brother. I have also been filling pulpits on weekends while practicing but just retired from medical practice at Milbank Medical Center Avera Health in August, 2024 and will be moving to Wilmot, SD to serve as pastor at the First Presbyterian Church.

We were married in 1988 and have three daughters, 2 son-in-laws, 1 daughter-in-law and 5 grandchildren. When not working or spending time with friends or family we can often be found on our bicycle or walking.