This year marks the 90th annual Fish Days celebration for the Lake Andes Community. The festivities will begin on Friday, June 6th and continue through Sunday, June 8th. As with any small-town celebration, there are always two big announcements before the kickoff of the festivities. These include the parade’s theme (“Summer Fun”) and who will be named the parade marshals. This year’s Fish Days committee bestowed the honor of the 2025 parade marshals to Joel and Bev Steinmark.

Joel and Bev (Maruska) Steinmark were both born and raised in Lake Andes and were Eagles graduates of the classes of 1964 and 1967 respectively. The couple first met at the local drive in as Bev’s aunt was the owner and as such Bev spent much of her free time there. During one of those occasions, Joel caught sight of the “beautiful blonde” and the rest is history. The couple were married in 1967 and decided to “take the world by storm” and moved to Sioux Falls from 1967 until 1979. During those years Bev worked for John Morell and Joel worked for Josten Concrete. In 1979, the couple had an opportunity to move back to Lake Andes and start their dream of farming. The Steinmark’s became local dairy farmers and enjoyed every minute of it as it brought them back to Lake Andes, which to them was and will always be home.

Throughout the years, what the Steinmark’s have enjoyed about being a part of the Lake Andes community is that even though it is a small community there are so many worthy causes and organizations to be a part of. These organizations also allowed the Steinmark’s to be involved not only with the community, but with the people that they knew and had grown up with. Like most community members,theSteinmark’swere active. Over the years they have been a part of the Square Dance Club, Clerk of the Session for the Presbyterian Church in Lake Andes, Lake Andes School Board member, a member of the Country Quilters and a Fish Days parade judge.

Bev worked at the county nurse’s office before becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1983. In 1995, Bev decided to continue her education and attend the University of South Dakota (USD) for computers. She eventually became an adjunct college profession and taught computer programming at Augustana, South Dakota State University and USD. Throughout this time, she continued working as an EMT, finally retiring in 2021. She changed roles in the organization and became the Administrator for the Wagner-Lake Andes Ambulance District. She attempted to retire, but as anyone who knows her can tell you, when Bev is asked to help, Bev steps up to the plate. As such she has continued to serve as the current Administrator for the ambulance district.

As the couple were dairy farmers, they were not able to be a part of the Fish Days committee. Most years, they were so busy milking three times a day that the only part of the festivities that they were able to for sure take off time for was the parade. This is probably why both Joel and Bev said that their favorite part of Fish Days was the parade. They both enjoy seeing the creativity of what people will come up with for floats. There have been several parade floats that have stuck with the couple over the years. One noteworthy of what they look forward to seeing is what Mr. Marvin Gall will come up with the annual parade. The couple did mention that one year there was a parade entry entitled the Gall Lawn Chair Brigade, which choreographed their own routine which included marching with lawn chairs as they walked the parade. When it really comes down to it, the best part of the annual event for the Steinmark’s is all of the socializing and visiting that the couple gets to do with people who return to Lake Andes for the annual celebration.

When asked what it means to them to be chosen as this year’s Fish Days Parade Marshals, they both said that it is very special. They were surprised and excited to be thought of and chosen for this honor. They would like to thank the committee and community for thinking of them. The Steinmark’s still love living in Lake Andes as much as they always have and are happy to be a part of a thriving community that becoming home to many neat businesses.

The Steinmark’s have been married for 58 years. They have two daughters, Marlys and Sheila. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Over the years the couple has had several hobbies. For Joel, a man of few words, his hobbies have included enjoying his g scale train and the happiness he feels to get to be on the farm because he “likes cows. Bev has continued to be involved in handiwork such as crocheting, quilting and enjoying being around others socializing.

Congratulations Joel and Bev for being honored as the 2025 Fish Days Parade Marshals!