Pine Ridge entrepreneurs now leading Rapid City’s first Native-owned, full-service automotive repair shop
Two million business loan represents the largest ever for two partnering Native Community Development Financial Institutions
Entrepreneurs and tribal members Betty Richards and Nicholas Matzke made history this year–in more ways than one. First they partnered with two Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)–Lakota Funds and Four Bands Community Fund–to secure the largest collaborative business loan in either institution’s history. With that essential financing, they became the first Native owners of a full service automotive repair business in Rapid City. Today, as they jointly operate Wicked Wrenches, they are breaking new ground as Indigenous entrepreneurs
“I’ve been doing mechanical work since I was 14 years old. It’s always been a passion for me,” said Betty. Given her history and experience, buying Wicked Wrenches felt like the perfect next step for Betty and her business partner Nicholas. The entire team at Lakota Funds was excited to help them take that significant step as entrepreneurs. And as Betty shares, “everyone [at Lakota Funds] was amazing to work with and helped us realize our goal.”
From their first exploratory conversations, the Lakota Funds team had no doubt that Betty and Nicholas possessed the collective expertise to tackle any kind of automotive repair issue, from the heaviest duty diesel truck to the fastest motorcycle. But it was also clear that purchasing Wicked Wrenches–which included the land, the shop buildings, and all the equipment–would be a major endeavor.
Chris Burlinson, creator of Wicked Wrenches–a respected business owner who also happens to be Betty’s loving husband–was the first to open possibilities for the purchase. After ten years of developing the most well-equipped, one-of-kind auto shop in South Dakota, Christopher recognized that Betty and Nicholas were the best entrepreneurs to take Wicked Wrenches into its second decade of business. He adjusted his asking price to help make the sale manageable, and he has continued to serve as a strong mentor to Betty and Nicholas in overseeing shop operations through the ownership transition.
Because of the amount of financing needed, Lakota Funds Loan Officer Bintul Malik reached out to partners at Four Bands Community Fund on the Cheyenne River Reservation to explore collaborating on a loan. Both CDFIs believed in Betty and Nicholas’s vision–and got to work on finding a path forward.
“There was a lot of coordination involved in this project, because Betty and Nicholas had to purchase the land and buildings, then the existing business itself, from two different owners. But they were so determined–and always prepared with the information we needed. And by partnering with our colleagues at Four Bands, we were able to facilitate one of the largest business loans we’ve ever managed,” said Bintul.
“Our whole goal is helping tribal members become business owners, because that begins the process of creating generational wealth for their families and economic development for our entire communities. Wicked Wrenches is an amazing example of what can happen when we come together in support of Native businesses.”
As it turned out, the loan for purchasing Wicked Wrenches happened on Betty’s birthday–providing more than one opportunity to celebrate. Since that day in April 2025, Wicked Wrenches has already experienced significant business growth. Community support has been strong, and Betty and Nicholas now have contracts to care for the vehicle fleets of several major companies, including Stern Oil, FedEx, and Enterprise Rental Cars. They’ve been covered by regional news stations. Looking forward, they hope to be able to offer services to tribal agencies and community members at competitive rates.
With the business growing strong, Betty and Nicholas are now thinking about new ways to give back to the community that supported them. Betty shares that she and Nicholas have an interest in creating opportunities for high school students to gain practical work experience in auto repair. As both a business owner and a mother with deep connections on the reservation, she is excited about Wicked Wrenches being a space where young people can open their minds to the possibility of future careers in business.
“I’m interested in bringing back as much as I can to the community–creating new jobs and opportunities, particularly for young people,” said Betty. “For us, being good business owners is also about being good role models.”