Meet The Team
Renee Eggebraaten
Branch Director - Rapid City
Welcome to Bethany Christian Services of Western South Dakota and Cheyenne! It is my privilege to serve as branch director in Cheyenne, Rapid City and Sioux Falls. I have worked in this field for more than 30 years and love the work and ministry of this agency. Whether it is the services we provide to adoptive families or the support and counsel we provide to expectant parents, all of this is done with genuine compassion and care by our staff. I am also excited to have Safe Families for Children™ as an active and growing ministry in our branch. Thank you for taking the time to visit us and we look forward to assisting you.
Vanessa Mader
Assistant Branch Director - Rapid City
Vanessa Mader joined Bethany Christian Services in 2014 and now serves as the assistant branch director. She enjoys walking alongside people as they begin their adoption journey, supporting families the entire time. She has a heart for both clients and staff and has witnessed the fact that Bethany’s mission statement is more than words on a wall but rather a way of life.
Kenneth Smit
Regional Director Donor Engagement - Orange City
Ken and his wife, Kim, have four children and six grandchildren. Ken felt the calling to help “every child find a loving family” back in 2013 and joined Bethany after a long career with Procter & Gamble and the Sioux Center Hospital. He is a regional development director working with the Eastern South Dakota office and the Northwest Iowa office in Orange City, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. Ken has been a volunteer EMT for more than 30 years and considers EMT work as his second ministry.
Tracy Folkerts
Safe Families for Children™ Coordinator - Eastern South Dakota
Before Tracy joined the Bethany team in 2013, she worked as a children’s pastor for more than 20 years in Minnesota, Connecticut, California, and South Dakota. Looking for a change, Bethany’s Safe Families for Children™ ministry matched Tracy’s passion for both children and the local church. She finds meaning in unleashing local church volunteers to make a significant impact in the lives of vulnerable families who are experiencing a temporary crisis. Tracy graduated from Northwestern College in St Paul, Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in Christian education from Sioux Falls Seminary. She and her husband, Jason, have three teenagers and she is an avid movie fan who enjoys walking and spending time with family.
Melissa Steltz
Adoption Specialist - Eastern South Dakota
Melissa has been a licensed social worker for over twenty years and with Bethany since 2008. She graduated from Augustana College with a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota with a master’s degree in Social Work. She has held a lifelong passion for adoption and loves seeing how God creates relationships and families. She and her husband Michael are blessed with three children biologically and through adoption. Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading.
Christine Robertson
Office Administration - Eastern South Dakota
Christine joined the Bethany team in December 2015 as the office administrator. She comes from a long history of ministry and admin positions and is excited to serve alongside our staff. Christine enjoys camping, crafting, learning, and teaching. She and her husband of more than 30 years were born and raised in Sioux Falls and cherish time with their four children and three grandchildren.
Morgan Jarding
Expectant Parent Advocate - Eastern South Dakota
Morgan began working at Bethany in 2018. She attended both undergraduate and graduate school at the University of South Dakota and recently graduated with her master’s degree in Social Work. After spending time at Child Protective Services, Morgan realized her passion for being a voice to those in need of an advocate. She is excited to continue this work with expectant parents and is here to listen to, educate, and empower parents to make the best decisions for their children and ensure loving futures for the families Bethany serves.
Tiffany A. Beukelman
Safe Families Coach BS/BA - Eastern South Dakota
Tiffany Beukelman, SFFC Coach I have been married to my amazing husband Jonathan for 10 years. We have three kids, Ezra 7, Ethan 5 & Eliza 3. I am a stay at home mother and wife and have loved the time I have had to be invested in my children’s lives. Our families loves to go biking riding on the trails and play at different parks. I enjoy spending time with my family and also going out with friends for sushi in the evenings. I graduated from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska with a degree in Social Work. My family and I attend the Ransom Church downtown. I’m involved in prayer team and also on the restore team at the Ransom Church. I also help coordinate a local MOPS group thru Faith Baptist Church. I have learned so much about grace, love and forgiveness from being a volunteer with Safe Families for Children the last 4 years as a coach. I am so excited to join Tracy Folkerts as a Family Coach. Where I can continue my passion and love for the ministry. I look forward to getting to know each of you and being a support and resource to you in this incredible ministry called “Safe Families For Children.”
