Behind every milestone at Black Hills Works are the extraordinary individuals who have dedicated decades of their lives to our mission. These staff members, who have been with us for 20+ years, embody the heart and soul of our organization through their unwavering commitment to the people we support. Their stories reflect not just careers, but callings—filled with moments of challenge, triumph, growth, and profound connection. As we share these journeys, we hope they inspire each of us to see the lasting impact we can make through dedication to our shared purpose. These are the voices of experience that shape our culture and remind us why the work we do matters so deeply.
Mary Corneliuson – Residential Supervisor
In 1984, Mary Corneliuson graduated mid-year from college with a degree in education. But there weren’t any teaching jobs open at that time. Instead, she decided to use her knowledge and skills at Black Hills Works.
“I knew I’d still be helping people learn and grow,” she says.
More than four decades later, that commitment to helping others continues to define her work.
There’s Nowhere Like Home
“I’ve always been in residential, the entire 40-something years,” Mary shares.
She started in supported living at West Winds Apartments (now Canyon Lake Apartments) and has currently been at LaCrosse Apartments for many years. She recently helped two participants move into Canyon Lake Apartments and says it feels like she’s come full circle.
Mary especially values “doing the little things that make houses feel like a home where people want to live and family want to come visit.” Supporting participants’ relationships with their family members is a source of pride.
When Mary began, Black Hills Works used huge, old school buses to transport participants to day services. Having the budget for a minivan for each home wasn’t even imaginable. Although funding can still be an ongoing struggle, she is proud of how far the agency has come since the 1980s. She also praises new staffing patterns as helping DSPs do their jobs better.
Mary has learned many lessons, including humorous ones. “I did realize it was easier for four men to share a kitchen and decide on one flavor of ice cream or one flavor of cookies. But if you take four women to the grocery store and ask them to agree on one flavor of ice cream for the week, it’s not going to happen. You go to the little pints and they each get a pint.”
There’s Always a Way
Mary is especially proud of the relationships she has built with participants over the years, particularly when it comes to communication.
“There’s always a way to communicate. Always. You just have to pay attention.”
That philosophy has shaped her approach throughout her career.
“I learned all of my sign language from a participant,” she shares. “We had a class with a professional ASL teacher and she was surprised at how well I had been taught.”
Whether through words, gestures, signs, or simply paying attention, Mary believes every person deserves to be heard and understood.
Is It Good Enough for Me?
One of Mary’s early roles was working at the then-newly opened Edwards Complex. She is thankful for the growth that has occurred at Black Hills Works in the time since then, particularly the emphasis on person-centered services and smaller living environments.
“When I started at Edwards, 13 women shared four bathrooms. Four bathrooms isn’t much. Everybody deserves a nice place to live and live with who and where they want to live.”
Supporting individuals as they become more independent has had a profound effect on Mary.
“Once I took an individual shopping who moved from a group home to an apartment. I said, ‘Okay, now you need to pick out a box of cereal.’ She looked at this whole aisle of cereal, and all she said was, ‘Holy cow.’ She had never had that experience of going out and being in a cereal aisle and deciding what box to buy. She had probably never been in a grocery store before.”
For Mary, moments like these illustrate the importance of choice and independence in everyday life.
Lifelong Connections
Building connections with families is just as important to Mary as building relationships with participants. She knows the work that she does, and other staff like her, is valued.
“I often run into participants’ family members and they remember what I did for their loved one, even if it was years ago. That fills my cup.”
Mary’s work has created a beautiful, organic network of relationships throughout the Rapid City community. Participants, health providers, parents, staff, and countless other citizens have made connections with each other. They’ve come to understand the importance of making sure individuals with disabilities have a voice in their own lives.
Because of Mary’s work, and that of her peers, these networks will continue to develop, blossoming into opportunities for everyone involved.
Thank you, Mary, for more than 40 years of dedication, compassion, and service.
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