Angel Runnels

I grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I was blessed with a large extended family, many of whom still live there. While growing up, I was outspoken, headstrong and rebellious. I credit those years, the mistakes I made, and the guidance I was given to my eventual passion for defense work. Aberdeen was a great town to grow up in. If you haven't visited, I highly encourage it, especially if you have kids. Wiley Park and particularly Storybook Land are amazing!

I met my husband, Tom, when we were teenagers. We both worked at Burger King in Aberdeen. We have been together for 26 years. We have three adult sons.

My husband is a year older than I am and he began college first at South Dakota State University in Brookings. I worked at the Land O' Lakes cheese factory in Volga to support us and our oldest son. I learned a lot at the factory about physical and mental endurance and working with a team. That job was a dream come true because I was able to provide for my family at a time when we were young parents and my husband was focused on working toward his degree. Later, I reduced my hours to part-time and completed my freshman year at SDSU. After my husband graduated, we moved back home to Aberdeen where I continued my education at Northern State University. I worked summers at a local floral nursery and landscaping business throughout my college years in Aberdeen. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. While in school, I tutored students in many of the school's criminal justice classes. I was also active in organizations on campus that volunteered in the community and competed at a national level in mediation and mock trial. During these years, my husband and I had our second and third sons.