13 things about Pierre, South Dakota native John Thune

John Randolph Bodine Thune was born in Pierre, South Dakota, United States to Harold Richard Thune and Yvonne Patricia “Pat” Bodine Thune. Harold and Pat got married in 1943.

Harold was born in Murdo, South Dakota to Nicolai “Nick” Thune and Maude Louella Riley Thune. Harold turned 100 on December 28, 2009 and died in Murdo on August 15, 2020.

Pat was born in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Canada to Mahlon Leonard Leslie Bodine and Dorothy Jane Miller Paul. Pat turned 90 on May 13, 2011 and died in Central City, Nebraska, USA on March 7, 2012.

BIOGRAPHY

Thune is an American politician who is a member of the Republican Party. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In 1979, he graduated from Jones County High School in Murdo where he played basketball and football and competed in track.
2. In 1983, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Biola University in La Mirada, California, USA where he played basketball.
3. In 1984, he graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota with a master’s degree in business administration and he married Kimberley Weems Thune.
4. From 1985 to 1987, he was a legislative aide for James Abdnor, who was a U.S. senator from South Dakota from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1987.
5. In 1989, he moved to Pierre.
6. From 1991 to 1993, he was the railroad director of South Dakota.
7. From 1993 to 1996, he was the executive director of the South Dakota Municipal League.
8. From January 3, 1997 to January 3, 2003, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota’s at-large district.
9. In 2002, he ran for U.S. senator from South Dakota and lost to Tim Johnson.
10. In 2004, he ran for U.S. senator from South Dakota and defeated Tom Daschle.
11. As a U.S. senator from South Dakota, he was reelected in 2010 unopposed and by defeating Jay Williams in 2016 and Brian Bengs in 2022.
12. In 2024, he was elected the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate.
13. On January 7, 2025, he turned 64.

TIMELINE

Kimberley is a native of Doland, South Dakota. She and John have two daughters together namely Brittany Weems Thune and Larissa Weems Thune.

2024

• On November 13, 2024, he won the U.S. Senate Republican Conference leadership election.

2025

• On January 3, 2025, he assumed office as the senior U.S. senator from South Dakota, the U.S. Senate Republican Conference leader and the U.S. Senate majority leader.
• On January 7, 2025, he spoke at the funeral service of 39th U.S. president Jimmy Carter alongside 49th U.S. vice president Kamala Harris and 55th U.S. House of Representatives speaker Mike Johnson.