Cut From The Same Cloth
vBy Ben Wheeler
“I think when
you have a desire to
do something, you
have to go after that
because, if you don’t,
you’re always going to
regret it,” said Jeff Van
Meeteren, regional
park supervisor for
the southeast region of
South Dakota.
That’s exactly what
Van Meeteren and
Shane Bertsch did
when they decided to
work for South Dakota
Jeff Van Meeteran
Game, Fish and Parks.
The two men share a similar background. Both grew up in South
Dakota enjoying the outdoors. Both graduated from South Dakota
State University in Brookings. Both served in the US Military. And
both work to keep up one of biggest parks in South Dakota.
“This is by far the biggest district operation in the region,” Van
Meeteren said. “Not necessarily the most complex, but it’s certainly got
the biggest volume of campgrounds, campers, etc.”
It was during their time in the military when they realized they
wanted to explore the possibility of working in the parks. Van
Meeteren sat in boot camp for the National Guard remembering a
third grade project on careers: two of them were “park ranger” and
“conservation officer.”
Bertsch was in the same mold, serving in the United States Navy
and working in radar but the job didn’t suit him.
“Working in radar and navigation, I was inside a lot of the time and
we had a little blue light in the room,” Bertsch said. “I wanted to go
outside and I remembered a lake near Miller, South Dakota — where I
grew up. I then went to SDSU and graduated in 1993 with a degree in
Park Management.”
Bertsch worked in a factory to help pay for college, and the drone
mentality to the work was something that didn’t agree with him.
“I needed that variety in my life, and this job definitely allows it,”
Bertsch said. “If we get a storm or something like that pops up, you
have to immediately shift your priorities to make sure all the campers
are safe.”
The two men have worked together for the last 17 years, after Van
Meeteren stepped into his current role and hired Bertsch, who had just
recently returned to South Dakota.
“After school, I applied to a few different states and was offered a
job in Arizona and worked there for five years until I got a job offer
at Lake Vermillion,” Bertsch said. “Worked there for a year until Jeff
hired me; that’s around the time when we expanded here. I took over
the campgrounds below the dam, like Chief White Crane and Pearson
Ranch.”
After Bertsch became district park supervisor, Van Meeteren took
over as the regional supervisor for the southeast region of South
Dakota. Despite their friendship and working relationship, Van
In Uniform
Meeteren noted there
were some bumps in
the transition.
“I’ll be the first to
admit it was a real
struggle. Some of my
favorite times were
serving as the district
park supervisor, the
role that Shane is in
now,” Van Meeteren
said. “When I was
asked to take the
regional role, that
was a big step for me
because I had to give
that up, and I have to
set boundaries because
Shane Bertsch
it would be real easy for
me to get into Shane’s business. And I think we’ve figured that out over
the years.”
Those roles aren’t necessarily defined, as both work in a job where
there is no monotony and every day brings different challenges,
something both men enjoy.
“The variety in this job is huge. It’s crazy what we end up dealing
with from day to day,” Van Meeteren said. “Every day is a new learning
experience.”
The real perks of the job are the special projects that arise around
the park system. Bertsch has worked in nine parks throughout
his career and had his hand in numerous design projects for
campgrounds. Van Meeteren’s position focuses on these projects.
“The position has evolved over the last 17 years, but I’m probably
more in an administrative long term role than I used to be,” Van
Meeteren said. “I’ve had the opportunity to really mold the parks and I
really like to work with development — to be involved in those types of
things that are going to be enjoyed by people forever is kind of — wow
— it’s really humbling.”
As for people interested in the job, both men credit their experience
talking with those already established in the profession as a final push
to follow their desire.
“I did some talking to people in the field, which I think is always a
wise thing for young people who are searching for a career choice,” Van
Meeteren said. “You know, go out and talk to people, and learn if it’s
truly something you want to do.”
The park is close to becoming fully self-sufficient; Van Meeteren
estimates that they are about 10 percent away from that. Both men
are proud of the way the park is moving forward — a testament to the
people who work among them.
Both men seem calm as the busy season moves closer, a credit to
the employees of the park, as they have dealt with an elongated winter
season. But that’s all a part of the job.
“It’s been a career that I’ll look back someday with a great deal of
satisfaction,” Van Meeteren said. “I appreciate everyone that’s allowed
me to be a part of that and just be able to enjoy this beautiful resource
we call South Dakota.” n
HISVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2018v3