Sisters take different paths,
then return home to build lives
Sisters Ashley Geigle, Sophie McKenzie, and Kamaria Labrier may have taken different paths early in life, but they all returned to build a life in Jones County.
Together, they represent different parts of the community they love and use their talents to help it thrive.
Each chose the county – and specifically Murdo – not only for their own hometown but also to be their children’s hometown. They contribute to the community by encouraging businesses and investing in economic development, baking and selling cookies from a commercial kitchen, and running a boutique selling modern fashion.
Ashley Geigle
More opportunities in Murdo
The sisters each spent time away from Murdo after high school. The oldest of the three, Ashley Geigle, left for college, graduated, and lived in Hawaii for a year before returning home. She and her husband, Seth, raise their children where she feels most connected.
“I always felt like I was going to come back,” Ashley says. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my degree, but I always had a vision for Murdo. When I heard about the position for economic development director, I wanted to go for it.”
As Murdo’s first economic development director, Ashley works to attract new residents to the area and support local businesses. She also hopes visitors see the value of life in Murdo and choose to make it their home.
In 2025, Ashley earned the Governor’s Rising Tourism Star Award for her work to help the community embrace the strengths of tourism and visitors in the community. She wants to see the continued success of the city and help improve the economy.
In May, Ashley and Seth purchased a building downtown with hopes of transforming it into a community meeting and study area. While much work remains, Ashley hopes it will become a place for people to gather and connect.
Sophie McKenzie
Baking smiles from home
Sophie McKenzie, the youngest, lives with her husband, Craig, on their family ranch north of Murdo. She also spent time abroad in New Zealand, Canada, and Australia but always knew she wanted to live in Murdo.
Sophie first taught high school but shifted paths after her second child was born. Wanting more time with her sons, she returned to her passion for baking and decorating cookies in 2017. The next year, she created Sugar Coated by Sophie, a fulltime business that allows her to work from home while caring for her children.
She personalizes every order, designing a collection of cookies with different shapes around a theme. In her commercial kitchen on the ranch, she also hosts occasional instructional baking classes for all ages.
Kamaria Labrier
Local clothing where it counts
Unlike Sophie, Kamaria Labrier didn’t think she would return after college. She interned in Washington, D.C., for six months and considered staying there but ultimately came home because she missed ranch life. Soon after graduating, Kamaria married Chauncey, and the couple ranches south of Murdo with their four children.
Kamaria opened Prairie Chic Boutique in 2013 and began selling clothing. Since then, Chauncey built a space for her shop above their garage, allowing her to work from home while offering a valuable online service for the community.
“I enjoy helping local guys purchase gifts for their wives and styling outfits for customers,” Kamaria says. “I can also provide in-town delivery to cut customer shipping costs.”
Caring for each other
For the sisters, Murdo is a place where people take care of each other. In addition to Ashley’s work with the city, Kamaria serves on the school board, helping to shape the future for Jones County schools. Sophie has also provided her services and space for the South Dakota Board of Tourism, annual community events, and more.
Their dedication to the community is a sentiment echoed by many Murdo residents. “There’s nowhere better to raise a family than in Murdo,” Kamaria says. “We’re a close-knit community and we all take care of each other’s kids. For a small town, there are so many opportunities.”
Reliable hometown service
High-speed internet plays a big role in helping the sisters focus on what matters most. Kamaria says the fiber-optic upgrade that her ranch received in late 2022 transformed her business, changing uploads from an overnight process to seconds.
“Everything relies on the internet these days,” Kamaria says. “Golden West makes it possible for me to run my boutique and still be here for my family and my community.”
Ashley depends on reliable service to collaborate with people and promote Murdo’s assets to potential residents and visitors. Sophie uses Golden West to manage her website, connect with customers, and share her work on social media.
“I do most of my business online, especially now with the rise of the internet,” Sophie says. “I built my website, sell cookies, and run my social media with my Golden West service. The internet is how I grew my business and was able to get people to learn about me.”
With Golden West’s service, Ashley also knows what people around the community say. When the fiber upgrade came to Murdo, she says it was monumental for many people. It allows the three sisters – and the people in the town they love – to focus on what matters most with their families and their work.
