Denise Gertsman has spent decades caring for the people in Beresford. As a trusted partner and EMS role model, she continues to strengthen and inspire the community.
#EMSHeroesHighlights #RuralEMS #FirstResponders #EMSSavesLives
Submitted by: Eli Seeley – Beresford, SD
For nearly 28 years, Denise Gerstman has been the unwavering backbone of the Beresford Community Ambulance Service. Since joining in the late 1990s, she has answered over 3,000 calls for help, often responding to 60 to 80 percent of the community’s total annual call volume. Whether it is day, night, weekday, or holiday, Denise consistently shows up with quiet strength, deep compassion, and unmatched professionalism.
Her dedication has touched every corner of our community. She is respected by her fellow EMTs and first responders and by law enforcement, fire personnel, emergency managers, and hospital staff across Lincoln and Union counties. Patients and families regularly express their gratitude for her kindness, empathy, and ability to bring calm to the most stressful moments.
Denise embodies the best of what EMS represents: selflessness, integrity, and service to others. Her impact extends far beyond the ambulance bay; she has become a mentor and role model to newer EMTs, a trusted partner to other emergency agencies, and a symbol of compassion in our town. Her example has strengthened community trust in EMS and inspired others to volunteer, ensuring that lifesaving care remains accessible in rural South Dakota. Denise was honored as Beresford’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year, a testament to her lasting contributions.
By sharing her story, we hope to inspire others to follow in her footsteps: to serve with humility, lead with heart, and make a difference one call at a time. Denise Gerstman truly represents what it means to be an EMS Hero.
@South Dakota EMS Association @SDAA
