Families from South Dakota Surrogacy, Inc.
Families from South Dakota Surrogacy, Inc. is a non-profit group formed in 2020 to protect surrogacy in South Dakota. The group and its allies are advocating for surrogacy-specific laws that provide protections for the gestational surrogate, intended parents, and child(ren).
Meet The Team

Lisa Rahja
FOUNDER
Lisa and her husband Adam tried to have a child for 5 years. During that time, they suffered multiple unexplained losses including a 20 week stillborn. After the fifth loss, they looked at other options to grow their family. In August 2019, they welcomed their son born from a gestational surrogate.
Lisa is passionate about helping people grow their families. She has experienced the joy of parenthood because of surrogacy and she wants to help others have the same opportunity. It’s her dream to have Families from South Dakota Surrogacy become a resource for anyone going through surrogacy in South Dakota and eventually have grants for future parents to help offset some of the costs of surrogacy.
In her spare time, Lisa and her family like to go hiking, camping, visit with family, and play board games. She also has two Golden Retrievers (Riley and Loki) who are loving the extra “treats” from having a toddler in the house.

Emilee Gehling
CO-FOUNDER
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Elizabeth Waletich
BOARD MEMBER
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Amber Rikansrud
BOARD MEMBER
Amber Rikansrud is a resident of Sioux Falls, SD with her husband and 3 children; 17-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Amber is a retired surrogate of a beautiful boy who resides with his family in Dallas, Texas. Her passion to help another family by way of surrogacy began shortly after the birth of her youngest child when she learned of two acquaintances who were gestational surrogates at that time. Amber and her family knew they were done growing their family, but she wanted to help a family who were unable to carry on their own. Little did she know the journey she would embark on would be one of the biggest blessings of her life. Amber and her surrogate child’s family continue to keep in contact. She enjoys watching him grow and thrive in his loving home. Amber is now “retired” from surrogacy, but remains passionate about helping other families and continues to advocate for surrogacy in South Dakota.
Amber also serves as a volunteer throughout the Sioux Falls community; Co-Chair for the SF West Volleyball club, NICU baby rocker at Sanford Hospital, Junior Achievement classroom teacher, First Impressions team at Embrace Church-Sertoma campus, and Booster Club Chorus Rep for Lincoln High School. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, camping in the summer among other recreational activities.

Adelle Bauerle
BOARD MEMBER
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Gina McCain
BOARD MEMBER
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