A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Barbara Brooks Johnson believes
her roles as wife, mother, and professional go hand in hand with her strong
commitment to community, family, and making a difference in the lives
of others.
A graduate of the University of South Dakota and Michigan State University,
Barbara has been active in children's issues and services for more than
thirty years. Her experiences merge a unique blend of South Dakota and
national policy, direct practice and academic research, and have helped
establish Barbara as a role model and strong voice for children in South
Dakota and Washington, DC.
Before her husband's election to the United States House of Representatives
in 1986, Barbara held a position as an Associate Professor at the University
of South Dakota. While teaching and researching, she worked closely with
the South Dakota Department of Social Services in obtaining and directing
training grants for child welfare staff. It was during this time she gained
a valuable understanding of the potentially powerful combination of community
involvement, education, and sound policy in making life better for South
Dakota's children.
In addition to her work at the University, she spent fifteen years as
a social worker in elementary and secondary education. She is intimately
acquainted with the education and mental health needs of students.
Barbara currently serves as a steering committee member for the Executive
Council for Congressional Families for Cancer Prevention. She is a two-time
breast cancer survivor and remains active in promoting the need for cancer
research and early detection through public service announcements, presentations
and an annual booth at the South Dakota State Fair.
Tim and Barbara still have their home in Vermillion. After serving with
the Army in Bosnia, Kosovo, South Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq, their
oldest son, Brooks, currently works with the National Guard. In May 2004,
Brooks married Naida Snipas Johnson of Massachusetts. They have a son,
Arijus Timothy Johnson, or Ari for short.
Their second eldest son Brendan worked as an assistant prosecutor for
Minnehaha County, clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier in Rapid
City and currently practices law in Sioux Falls. Married to Jana Beddow,
together they have four children: Sutton, Trualem, Peneal and Cooper.
"Tru" and "Pen" recently joined the family as they were adopted from Ethiopia.
Their daughter, Kelsey, a 2004 graduate of the University of South Dakota
is currently in graduate school at George Washington University and works
in policy development for the American Association for Cancer Research.