Veteran help
Veteran Resources in South Dakota
Help and community for veterans and military families in South Dakota: the state veterans office, 4 VA care sites, 7 veterans cemeteries, 21 veterans posts and clubs.
Veterans Crisis Line — Dial 988 then press 1, Text 838255. Free, confidential, 24/7 — you don’t need to be enrolled in VA benefits.
State department of veterans affairs
South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs
We provide comprehensive care and quality service to veterans and their families, regarding health care, education, disability benefits, long-term care, and burial honors by providing professional customer service and care
- Address: 425 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre SD 57501
- Phone: 605-773-3269
- Website: vetaffairs.sd.gov/default.aspx
State offices help with state benefits (tax exemptions, education, veterans homes) and can connect you with accredited service officers for VA claims. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA health care, Vet Centers & offices
Vet Centers offer free, confidential counseling for combat veterans, military sexual trauma survivors and their families — often without a VA appointment. Always confirm hours by phone.
| Name | City |
|---|---|
| VA Black Hills Health Care System | Fort Meade |
| VA Black Hills Health Care System | Hot Springs |
| Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital | Sioux Falls |
| VA Outpatient Clinic | — |
Find every VA location with current hours at VA.gov/find-locations.
Veterans cemeteries in South Dakota
| Cemetery | City | Burials |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs National Cemetery National | Hot Springs | Closed |
| Akicita Owicahe Lakota Freedom Veterans Cemetery State / tribal | Kyle | Open VA Grant |
| South Dakota Veterans Cemetery State / tribal | Sioux Falls | Open VA Grant |
| Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Veterans Cemetery State / tribal | Sisseton | Open VA Grant |
| Black Hills National Cemetery National | Sturgis | Open |
| Fort Meade National Cemetery National | Sturgis | Closed |
| Sicangu Akicita Owicahe Veterans Cemetery State / tribal | White River | Open VA Grant |
“Open” cemeteries accept new casketed or cremated burials; “Closed” ones may still accept burials in existing family gravesites. Eligible veterans and family members can pre-apply for burial through VA. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration.
Veterans posts, clubs & meeting places
Local VFW posts, American Legion posts, AMVETS, DAV chapters, Marine Corps League detachments and veteran-run cafés are where veterans meet, share a meal and get help with benefits. Most welcome visitors — call ahead or check the post’s website.
Posts & clubs (21)
| Name | City |
|---|---|
| VFW Post | Brookings |
| VFW Post | near Brookings |
| American Legion | near Hot Springs |
| South Dakota Veterans Home | near Hot Springs |
| American Legion Post #66 | Lemmon |
| VFW Post | Milbank |
| VFW Post 5860 | Spearfish |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 791 VFW | Yankton |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Hall | — |
| American Legion Post 240 | — |
| VFW Post | — |
| VFW Post | — |
| VFW Post | — |
| VFW Post | — |
Volunteer in South Dakota
- At a VA medical center: escort patients, drive veterans to appointments or visit residents through VA Voluntary Service.
- At a veterans cemetery: join a volunteer honor guard, help with Memorial Day flag placements or lay wreaths in December with Wreaths Across America.
- With a local post: auxiliaries of the VFW and American Legion welcome family members and supporters.
- With Honor Flight: find the hub that serves South Dakota at honorflight.org and escort a veteran to the memorials in Washington, D.C.
- More ideas on our volunteer page.
Map
Recipients from South Dakota
7 recipients born in or credited to South Dakota.
Places to visitWar memorials & museums
13 memorials and 0 military museums in South Dakota.
Get involvedVeterans organizations
National groups with local posts and chapters.
Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (state offices, cemeteries), USO (center locations), OpenStreetMap contributors (posts, cafés and VA facilities; ODbL). Community-mapped details can be out of date — please confirm before visiting. Spotted a missing post? You can add it to OpenStreetMap.