RAPID CITY, S.D. — A mother raising six children alone. A combat commander leading soldiers through Iraq. A retired general stepping back into public service instead of stepping away from it.

Those experiences shaped Jeff Marlette’s belief that the most meaningful lives are built around faith, service, and investing in others.

In the Season 2 premiere of More Than a House, host Scott Engmann sits down with the retired South Dakota National Guard General for a candid conversation about leadership, family, faith, and what it means to make a difference in your community.

Marlette’s story begins in Redfield, South Dakota, where his father died before he was born. Raised by a resilient mother who emphasized faith, hard work, respect, and service, Marlette carried those lessons into a career that took him from the classroom to the battlefield and eventually to the highest ranks of the South Dakota National Guard.

Throughout the episode, Marlette reflects on leading soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the role faith played during some of life’s toughest decisions, and why relationships matter far more than possessions.

“I’ve lived in really nice houses and really small houses,” Marlette says. “I wasn’t any happier in the big house than the small house. It’s the people you get to live with and the people around you.”

The conversation also explores the future of South Dakota, touching on education, workforce development, housing, artificial intelligence, and the importance of finding common ground in an increasingly divided world.

As More Than a House launches a new season centered around the theme of abundance, Marlette offers a powerful reminder that strong communities are built by people willing to serve something greater than themselves.

Listen to the Season 2 premiere of More Than a House on major podcast platforms. Presented by Scott Engmann, the HomeSlice Group, Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity, and Courtesy Subaru.