06/18/2026
Please join us in honoring Karla and Matt VandeBossche for their outstanding contributions to the students in Niobrara County through their work in our schools. A celebration will take place at Niobrara Country Club at 12:30 on June 26th, in conjunction with the NCHS Alumni Golf Tournament.
Matt and Karla VandeBossche have been in education for a combined 73 years. Both are from South Dakota, Matt from Edgemont and Karla from Avon. They met at college and did not let the west river/east river blood deter them from getting married. After earning their BS degrees from Black Hills State, both decided to be adventurous and move to warmer weather. Their teaching careers began in a mining community located in Morenci, Arizona. For 7 years, they called Morenci home. During that time Matt taught middle and high school special education. He also coached high school football and baseball. Karla taught 6th grade reading and health and coached high school girls basketball and softball. Both played slow pitch softball during the summer and traveled to many tournaments. While in Arizona, they were able to explore Mexico numerous times.
In 1995, they moved closer to family because they were pregnant with their first born, Matthew. The tree lined highway and the warmth they felt while driving through Lusk on their trips back home was very inviting. Luckily, positions were open in Lusk. They interviewed and were offered the jobs. They packed up and moved to Lusk. Karla started teaching in Lance Creek at the upper elementary level and Matt was at the middle school teaching special education. Karla then moved into town to teach 6th grade science and math. After their second child, Derick, was born, Karla shifted to 1st grade for 4 years before moving back to 6-8 science when Mr. Tully became the high school principal. Matt started as assistant football coach then took over the reins after Mr. Fullmer retired. He was assistant football coach for 10 years and head coach for 11 years. Matt participated in the Shrine Bowl as an assistant coach and head coach. He was voted coach of the year in 2014. He was athletic director for 9 years. In 2015, he gave up his coaching and athletic director positions to be able to follow the boys’ football careers at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. In 2023, he decided to retire from teaching and become a full time ‘honey-do’ kind of guy. Karla continued teaching becoming the new K-6 math interventionist in 2022 until her retirement.
Both Matt and Karla earned their master’s degrees from Grand Canyon University. Karla is also a National Board Certified Teacher. Karla coached high school girls’ basketball and middle school football, basketball, and track. One of their greatest accomplishments was being able to coach both boys in their football careers. Karla during their middle school years and Matt during high school.
Both boys are married and starting families of their own. Matthew and Shelby have been married one year and live in Spokane Valley, Washington. Matthew is a manager of CAS at Eide Bailly in Spokane and Shelby is a pediatric physical therapist at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’alene Idaho. Derick has been married for 2 years to Gabbi. They live in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Derick is assistant athletic director at Black Hills State in Spearfish and Gabbi is a hairdresser at her shop, Slate Salon, in Belle Fourche. Both families are due with their first child in October of this year.
Matt and Karla have enjoyed their time as educators. They have made many lasting relationships and are so thankful for the wonderful community they have called home for the last 31 years. They are looking forward to spoiling their grandchildren and starting this new adventure.
