Our Survivor Bonnie Kooima
Bonnie is a two-time heart survivor. After her first heart attack at the age of 33, Bonnie changed her life by eating a healthier diet, exercising more and watching her heart health very carefully. But at the age of 59, doctors at Sanford Health discovered problems with one of her heart valves. Bonnie says that doctors were doubtful she would survive the surgery, but her desire to see her grandchildren and complete her "bucket list" brought her through the surgery and into the next phase of her life as a passionate advocate for women's heart health.
Keynote Speaker Kimberley Thune
- Kimberley Thune was born and raised in Doland, South Dakota. She graduated from Biola University in LaMirada, California, with a degree in Communications/Speech. In 1984 she married John Thune, a native of Murdo, South Dakota, and shortly after moved to Washington, D.C. While in Washington, Kimberley worked for Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 1989, Kimberley and John returned to South Dakota where she worked on special projects for the late Governor George S. Mickelson.
From 1994 to 1996, Kimberley served as the Education Director for Community Bible Church in Pierre and assisted John on the campaign trail. In 1996, John was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and their family spent the next two years living in Washington, D.C., where she was active in the National Prayer Breakfast, Angel Tree, and the Republican Congressional Club.
In 1998 they returned to South Dakota. John served two more terms in the U.S. House and in 2004 was elected to the United States Senate. Kimberley took an active role in each of those campaigns, traveling and speaking on behalf of John and the Republican Party. From 2006-2011 she worked as a Business Development Executive for Sanford Health Plan.
John and Kimberley have two daughters, Brittany a law student at St. Thomas University and Larissa, a senior at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. Kimberley has served on the Board for Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Teddy Bear Den and is currently on the Board of Directors for the University of Sioux Falls. She is a member of PEO and The Federation of Republican Women and continues to be involved with political events, speaking and traveling throughout the state. She enjoys volunteering, scrap booking and spending time with her family.
Kimberley will share her experience with her own family’s history of heart disease and how she encourages her family members to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She will stress the importance of prevention and awareness in the fight against heart disease.
