Mairose & Steele

Mairose & Steele is one of the oldest continuous law practices in the state of South Dakota, dating back to territorial days. Our founder, H. F. Fellows, started practicing in Aurora County of what was then Dakota Territory in  1882 when he was named the first State's Attorney of Aurora County. Mr. Fellows continued to practice in Plankinton for the rest of his career and was eventually joined by his sons, Donald Fellows and Lynn Fellows. They continued the practice under the name of Fellows & Fellows and continued their association even after Donald relocated his practice to Rapid City.

 

Lynn Fellows was joined in the practice by Marshall Gerken in 1962. They practiced together under the name of Fellows & Gerken until Lynn's death in 1972. Afterwards, Mr. Gerken practiced as a solo practitioner under the name of Marshall Gerken, Attorney at Law. In April 1978, Mr. Gerken was appointed by then Gov. Harvey Wollman to serve as a circuit judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He took office as circuit judge on July 1, 1978. On June 1, 1978, John R Steele, a newly admitted lawyer and graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Law, took over the private practice from Mr. Gerken. On July 1, 1978, Steele was appointed to complete the unexpired term of Mr. Gerken as Aurora County State's Attorney.

 

John Steele practiced as a solo practitioner at the Plankinton office except for an association with attorney William Gerdes for the year 1980, at which time the firm was known as Steele & Gerdes, and an association with attorney Craig Eichstadt  from 1981 to 1984, at which time the firm was known as Steele & Eichstadt. Then, in 1989, John was joined in the practice by his wife, Susan N. Steele. They practiced under the firm name Steele & Steele P.C. for the next 30 years. In May of 2019, Susan assumed the status of "of counsel."

 

In September 2019, John was joined in the practice by attorney Rachel Mairose, a 2018 graduate the University of South Dakota School of Law and former law clerk for the First Judicial Circuit of the State of South Dakota. On January 1, 2020, Rachel became a partner in the practice, now known as Mairose & Steele, Prof. LLC.

 

The law practice has always been a general practice serving the diverse needs of the people of southeastern South Dakota and, especially, Aurora County and the surrounding counties of Davison, Douglas, Brule, Sanborn, Charles Mix, and Jerauld. The actual caseload has varied with the times and with the personalities of the members of the firm and their preferences for handling various types of cases. The practice has always had a strong estate planning and administration focus as well as an extensive practice in real estate, general litigation and income tax. As the needs of the local population have evolved, the firm has also developed an extensive family law practice, handling divorces, custody issues, visitation matters, and other issues relating to family disputes.

 

The firm's criminal practice has long been prosecution oriented. Starting with H.F. Fellows' service as Aurora County State's Attorney in 1882, members of the firm have regularly served as state's attorney and as deputy state's attorney for the County. The firm also does criminal defense work in other counties, but never in Aurora County.

 

The firm has also always had a strong public-service tradition. In the last few decades, members of the firm have served as city attorneys, at various times for the cities of Wessington Springs, Plankinton, Stickney, Kimball and Mount Vernon. Members of the firm have also served on the Plankinton city council, the Plankinton board of education, and in numerous volunteer capacities for churches and other nonprofit groups in the area.