Teresa Estes was born and raised on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. She is an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe – Kul Wicasa Oyate. Teresa received her college education in accounting at Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD.

Teresa has twenty-three years of government service with the Department of Real Property Management. She has had the pleasure of working in Fairbanks, Alaska and Lower Brule, SD in this capacity. Teresa has many details of where she has lived in her life over the years to include the towns of Winnebago, NE, Rosebud, SD, Crow Creek, SD and New Town, ND. She always enjoys the opportunity to volunteer her professional services to other agencies and organizations, and embraces opportunities to share her knowledge and skills in the field of Real Property Management.

Teresa is a dedicated volunteer and is currently serving as the Board Vice-President on the Habitat for Humanity Dacotah Tipis Board of Directors in Fort Thompson, SD. Working with the Executive Director, Teresa has been an asset in the work required to develop the current Habitat project. She is also, a previous board member for Boys & Girls Club organization of Lower Brule, SD.

Teresa has three sons that she is very proud of. The eldest son, Benjamin Cory Estes is a Paramedic for Chamberlain Ambulance Service. Her second son Nicholas Walker Estes is employed with the Board of Regents of the State of South Dakota, and is currently working in Rapid City, SD. Her youngest son David Charles Estes is in his second year of college at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD studying Criminal Justice with a minor in Lakota Studies.

In her spare time, Teresa enjoys quilting and sewing.  As a result of this hobby, she has established her own successful quilting and embroidery shop “Maka Suta Creations” in Lower Brule, SD.