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History
Born in Bradley, South Dakota, on March 28, 1917, Barbara Bates Gunderson was one of six children of newspaper editor Carmon L. Bates and Helen E. (Lyman) Bates. The family resided in Onida and later Redfield, South Dakota, where Carmon owned the Journal Observer Co. until his death in 1942. Helen later married Charles Whiting Gardner in 1954 and passed away in 1978.
Barbara worked her way through Yankton College, taking on roles in kitchens, retail, and local newspapers. After earning her degree, she became the Continuity Director for WNAX radio in Yankton and occasionally performed on-air as “Ma Brown” on the Flying Arrow Ranch Show. She later worked as chief copywriter for R.J. Potters Advertising Agency in Kansas City, Missouri. On October 25, 1941, she married Robert W. “Bob” Gunderson in Jackson, Missouri, just before his deployment to Europe during World War II. The couple later settled in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1947, where Robert opened a law practice and Barbara continued freelance writing.
Barbara’s political involvement began in 1952 as Vice-Chair of the Pennington County Citizens for Eisenhower and later as South Dakota State Vice Chair. She went on to serve as a Republican National Committeewoman and, in 1954, as national Co-Chair of the Citizens for Eisenhower Congressional Committee.
In August 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her as one of the first women to serve on the U.S. Civil Service Commission. As Vice Chair, she oversaw federal personnel policies and founded the Federal Woman’s Award Program—Washington, D.C.'s first major recognition of women in government. Her tenure included nationwide travel, public addresses, and participation in forums such as a UCLA symposium on women. After leaving the commission in 1961, she continued consulting on equal opportunity issues and held appointments under President Lyndon Johnson, including vice-chair of the President's Advisory on Personnel and public member of the U.S. Information Agency Retirement Board.
In 1974, Gunderson ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate from South Dakota. She also wrote a column for the Rapid City Journal during the late 1960s and early 1970s and published two romance novels under pseudonyms: Love’s Bold Embrace (1979, as Brynn Gilbert) and Seasoned to Taste (1981, as Benna Gray).
Active in civic life, Gunderson served on the board that unified Rapid City’s hospitals and oversaw the development of Rapid City Regional Hospital. She was President of the Rapid City Library Board during the construction of the new facility, and also led the local AAUW chapter and Women’s Fellowship at First Congregational Church. Her community contributions earned her an Honor’s Day award from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a “Woman of Worth” award from AAUW. She also served on the YMCA Building Committee and boards for Pennsylvania Medical College and Yankton College.
In 1994, she was the only woman featured in the A&E television program The Contentious Years of the Presidency, a biographical documentary on Eisenhower hosted by John Chancellor.
Barbara Bates Gunderson died on July 29, 2007, at age 90 in Rapid City. Her husband Robert had passed away in 1994.