Now’s your chance to finally meet someone from Deadwood, South Dakota.

John Oleson, an educator from New Underwood, was hired July 30 as Walkerville’s new principal.

He replaces Joe Conkle, who accepted an administrative position at the Newaygo County Career Tech Center, which is closer to his home in Hesperia.

John is new to Michigan, but not small, rural K-12 schools, having completed his second year as assistant principal at a school on the outskirts of Rapid City with about the same student enrollment as ours.

He taught fifth grade at the school for five years before becoming an administrator and his youngest child, Annalise, 19, graduated from there.

“The big difference between the two schools is that in New Underwood, most of the families were involved in ranching, and here they are involved with farming,” John notes.

He was raised in Wyoming and spent much of his adult life in South Dakota in various management positions before becoming a surgical technician at an eye institute.

Later in his career, he decided to become a teacher because he enjoyed mentoring children while coaching youth sports and teaching catechism.

John also sought the same work schedule as his wife, Alice, then a K-3 music teacher in Box Elder.

He went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.

About three years ago, the Oleson’s oldest child, Zachary, 31, and wife Ashten decided to move their young family to West Michigan to be near Ashten’s parents in Shelby, and her grandparents, Charlie and Evelyn Gordon, of Walkerville.

“Alice and I made eight visits to Michigan to see the kids and grandkids the first two years they were here and really liked the strong sense of community and how friendly people are,” John said. “Alice had retired after 35 years in education, our kids had launched, and we were sitting in a house that was now more than we needed. So, we thought it’d be a great time to move to Michigan.”

In July the couple purchased a house in Hart and set a goal of spending time each week on one of the beautiful beaches in the area.

They also enjoy taking rides in their side-by-side off-road vehicle, hiking, and picnicking. John also enjoys woodworking.

John said he moved to Michigan expecting to be hired by our district as a student support specialist. However, soon after his arrival he was asked to consider becoming principal with Joe’s departure.

“This was a surprise,” John said, “but I ‘m a believer that everything happens for a purpose and this is the path I’m on now. I feel ready for this challenge and I’m looking forward to it.”

Alice and John are hopeful that their daughter Morghan, an elementary school teacher who taught fourth grade at New Underwood when John was teaching fifth, will relocate with her fiance to Grand Rapids from when he finishes his doctorate degree in occupational therapy. They currently live in Rochester, Minnesota.