Office of the Governor; Kids' Pages

First Lady of South Dakota; About Jean Rounds -- Her Biography.

Jean Rounds reading "Cat In The Hat" to the children.

First lady Jean Rounds is the oldest of Alec and Helen Vedvei’s four children. She graduated from Lake Preston High school near her family’s farm in Lake Preston, South Dakota.

She attended South Dakota State University, where she received an associate’s degree in secretarial science and met her husband, Mike Rounds.

Mike and Jean have been married for 25 years and have four children. Chris graduated from South Dakota State University and the University of Montana. He and his wife, Lindsay, recently moved back to Pierre where he works for Fischer, Rounds & Associates, Inc. Their son, Brian, attends North Dakota State University, and Carrie attends the University of South Dakota. Their son, John, attends Riggs High School in Pierre.

Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Jean also has a long career of service to the state of South Dakota, working for more than 25 years in various areas of state government. Prior to being South Dakota’s first lady, she served as assistant to the South Dakota transportation secretary for six years.