Hidden Stories Among Us

Tucked into the wide-open spaces of northern Kidder County, at least a couple miles from the nearest neighbor and just outside Robinson, the Tufte family has built a life they love… quiet, peaceful, and firmly rooted in rural North Dakota. And while the views are expansive and the traffic almost nonexistent, their connection to the rest of the world has never been stronger.

Jerod and Mylynn Tufte chose rural living before raising their three children. They purchased their property back in 2004 and have called Kidder County home since 2005. About two years ago, they built a new home on the same land, just up the road, on what was once open pasture. “We’ve done the bigger city life,” Jerod says. “We just really appreciate the peace.”

Not too long ago, living in a rural community often meant choosing between a long daily commute or giving up certain career opportunities. Then COVID changed everything. Suddenly, professionals across nearly every industry discovered that with a strong, reliable internet connection, they could work from home, collaborate with colleagues online, and stay fully connected without being tied to an office in the city. That shift opened the door to new possibilities for families who wanted the best of both worlds, and for the Tufte family, it created opportunities that reshaped how and where they live, work, and thrive.

“We couldn’t easily live where we do without direct access to high-speed fiber internet,” Jerod says. “Fiber gives us the option to live where we want to live.” To make that move possible, BEK extended fiber directly to their home. That connection isn’t just convenient, it’s essential.

Jerod Tufte took this photo from his home office.

Both Jerod and Mylynn know all too well how essential their roles have been. During COVID, Mylynn served as the State Health Officer for the North Dakota Department of Health. Today, she works remotely from her home for Optum, a division of United-Health Group. Jerod is currently one of five Justices on the North Dakota Supreme Court. Before that, he served as Legal Counsel for BEK Communications and a district judge in the BEK territory. He also was General Counsel for Governor Dalrymple.

“With BEK Fiber, we have the capacity to do anything we need to do,” Jerod explains. “Whether we’re sitting in the Capitol building or in our home office, there are no limits, no restrictions, and no worries about weather or bandwidth.”

The Tufte family chose to raise their three children, ages 16-20, surrounded by the freedom of rural life. Their oldest son attended Kidder County schools before moving on to Shiloh Christian School in Bismarck. Their daughter is a high school senior in Steele, and their youngest son is a sophomore.

One of the things Jerod appreciates most about rural schools is opportunity. “In small schools, kids don’t get cut. They get to be part of a team. Almost everyone needs to participate to make things work, and that’s a powerful experience.”

While the kids may not always love being so far from town, Jerod and Mylynn value the clean air, open views, and quiet evenings. That peace comes with trust, trust that when something goes wrong, help is close by. Living in cooperative territory means knowing someone from the community can show up quickly if service is ever interrupted.

“People who don’t live in a co-op community don’t always understand,” Jerod says. “BEK has always been incredibly helpful on short notice. That matters when your work, your kids’ schooling, and your daily life depend on being connected.”

For the Tufte family, BEK Fiber doesn’t just provide internet. It provides the freedom to raise a family in the wide-open spaces they love, while staying fully connected to careers, classrooms, and the world beyond their back porch.