The Dakotas Agency is located in Spearfish, South Dakota, and serves North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. Please contact any of the individuals listed below or the Dakotas Agency office if you live in this area and are interested in learning more about our life insurance or annuity products. The Dakotas Agency is also always available to help connect you to your local fraternal branch if you are interested in getting involved in any social or community service projects.
Becky Helmberger joined BetterLife as District Manager of the Dakotas Agency in April 2012.
Becky came to BetterLife through her longtime friend and former office manager of the Dakotas Agency, Ruth Doyen. In addition, Becky’s father was a valued insurance agent of the Dakotas Agency until he sadly passed away at age 36. Becky states, “My dad was a very hard worker and well-respected in our community. Even though our time together on Earth was very short, he is my inspiration. It gives me great pride and joy to know he is smiling down on me, and I know he is extremely proud to see me become a part of the BetterLife family.”
With a decade of experience in the life insurance industry and deep roots in the community, Becky is a great asset to the Dakotas Agency team.
Becky lives in Spearfish, South Dakota, and has four sons and five grandchildren. As an outdoor enthusiast, Becky enjoys spending her spare time golfing, fishing, hunting, and camping.
Rebecca Lureen joined BetterLife as an insurance agent with the Dakotas Agency in December 2016.
Rebecca was born and raised in South Dakota and currently resides in Spearfish. She attended Kaplan University and also completed the Dale Carnegie training program. She comes to BetterLife with previous sales experience and a strong desire to help people protect their financial futures.
Rebecca is an avid volunteer and always strives to make a difference in her community. She volunteers at a local food bank, donates time to help the elderly and homeless, and is involved in many other community projects.
Rebecca and her husband, Chris, have three children, Landon, Rayne, and Summer. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and camping.
Michael Johnson has been with BetterLife in the Dakotas Agency as an insurance agent since September of 2018. He comes to BetterLife with a solid background in management from his time with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.
Michael has a strong desire to help protect his clients’ financial futures after witnessing the power of life insurance firsthand. As you would expect, BetterLife was a natural fit considering its motto of People Helping People in Time of Need.
After growing up in Memphis, Michael relocated to Spearfish, South Dakota, to attend school at Black Hills State University. Today he loves to give back to his community by mentoring youth through various volunteer programs. He and his wife have one son, Jordan.
Autum Johnson joined BetterLife as an insurance agent with the Dakotas Agency in May 2019. She is passionate about life insurance and is looking forward to helping people protect their financial futures.
Prior to joining BetterLife, Autum held various marketing and sales positions and spent 20 years working in customer service. She graduated with an associate degree in marketing from Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Autum is an avid volunteer and is currently on the board for the Alliance for Successful Aging group in Spearfish. She also volunteers at fundraising events for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Autum is married to her best friend, Michael, and has one stepson, Jordan. Outside of work, she and her husband enjoy attending sporting events and concerts. She grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota and has called Spearfish home for the past 18 years.
Kate Kingsbury was looking for a rewarding career where she could serve others and make a difference in their lives, which is why she joined the BetterLife Dakotas Agency as an insurance agent in August 2020. With over two decades in the financial industry, she has helped many people with major life decisions. When it comes to life insurance, she has experienced firsthand what happens to people’s loved ones when they aren’t prepared for their own absence. That’s why her ultimate goal is to help others be responsible by planning ahead with life insurance and annuities.
Kate’s main inspiration is her husband, Rick. His success, leadership, honesty, and family values are all qualities that motivate her to continue growing and succeeding in her own career and life.
Kate was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, but has lived in Spearfish, South Dakota, for over thirty years. She is happily married to her soulmate and together they have two adult daughters and six grandchildren!
Carol Jandera joined BetterLife’s Dakotas Agency as an insurance agent because she wanted to be part of a company that’s focused on helping people. She’s been in sales for over 22 years and has a lot of experience in insurance. The reason she decided to stay in the life insurance industry is because she likes helping others prepare for the unexpected – that’s why she considers herself a “Life Plan Consultant." She also enjoys helping people create retirement plans that provide them with the future they’ve always dreamed of.
Carol is also very active in her community. She served as a volunteer on the Ambassador Committee at her local Chamber of Commerce for years. Her role there was to increase and support their membership. She’s also acted as an event coordinator for several fundraising events to support the Alzheimer’s Association South Dakota Chapter.
Carol grew up and worked on her family farm in Southern Minnesota, which is where her admirable work ethic comes from. She currently resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and enjoys gardening, golfing, and riding her Harley around the country.
Brandy Carmicheal joined the BetterLife Dakotas Team because she is passionate about helping others. Additionally, she believes in the importance of life insurance and has seen firsthand the negative effect that the lack of protection can have on a person’s loved ones after that person is gone.
Brandy is licensed in both life insurance and annuities. She started her insurance career in the property and casualty insurance sector, but has always had an interest in finding the right protection for others through life insurance and retirement plans. With BetterLife, she likes that she can guide people toward the personalized plan that will set them up for a more financially secure future.
Brandy grew up in Colorado but currently resides in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She’s been married to her husband for 18 years; together they have four daughters and three fur babies. The values she cherishes most are health, dependability, compassion, courage, and faith. In her free time, she enjoys family game and movie nights, hiking in the mountains, going for walks in her neighborhood, reading, and writing/journaling.