| CONGRESS | NAME OF SENATOR | TERM BEGAN | TERM ENDED | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||||
| 51st - 56th | Richard F. Pettigrew (R, SR) | Nov. 2, 1889 | Mar. 3, 1901 | |
| 57th - 62nd | Robert J. Gamble (R) | Mar. 4, 1901 | Mar. 3, 1913 | |
| 63rd - 68th | Thomas Sterling (R) | Mar. 4, 1913 | Mar. 3, 1925 | |
| 69th - 71st | William H. McMaster (R) | Mar. 4, 1925 | Mar. 3, 1931 | |
| 72nd - 77th | William J. Bulow (D) | Mar. 4, 1931 | Jan. 3, 1943 | |
| 78th - 80th | Harlan J. Bushfield (R) | Jan. 3, 1943 | Sept. 27, 1948 | Died |
| 80th | Vera C. Bushfield (R) | Oct. 6, 1948 | Dec. 26, 1948 | Appointed; then resigned |
| 80th - 92nd | Karl E. Mundt1 (R) | Dec. 31, 1948 | Jan. 3, 1973 | |
| 93rd - 95th | James Abourezk (D) | Jan. 3, 1973 | Jan. 3, 1979 | |
| 96th - 104th | Larry Pressler (R) | Jan. 3, 1979 | Jan. 3, 1997 | |
| 105th - | Tim Johnson (D) | Jan. 3, 1997 | Present | |
| Class 3 | ||||
| 51st | Gideon C. Moody (R) | Nov. 2, 1889 | Mar. 3, 1891 | |
| 52nd - 57th | James H. Kyle (PO, R) | Mar. 4, 1891 | Jul. 1, 1901 | Died |
| 57th - 60th | Alfred B. Kittredge (R) | Jul. 11, 1901 | Mar. 3, 1909 | Appointed, then elected |
| 61st - 63rd | Coe I. Crawford (R) | Mar. 4, 1909 | Mar. 3, 1915 | |
| 64th - 66th | Edwin S. Johnson (D) | Mar. 4, 1915 | Mar. 3, 1921 | |
| 67th - 74th | Peter Norbeck (R) | Mar. 4, 1921 | Dec. 20, 1936 | Died |
| 74th - 75th | Herbert E. Hitchcock (D) | Dec. 29, 1936 | Nov. 8, 1938 | Appointed |
| 75th | Gladys Pyle (R) | Nov. 9, 1938 | Jan. 3, 1939 | |
| 76th - 81st | J. Chandler Gurney (R) | Jan. 3, 1939 | Jan. 3, 1951 | |
| 82nd - 87th | Francis Case (R) | Jan. 3, 1951 | Jun. 22, 1962 | Died |
| 87th | Joseph H. Bottum (R) | Jul. 9, 1962 | Jan. 3, 1963 | Appointed |
| 88th - 96th | George S. McGovern (D) | Jan. 3, 1963 | Jan. 3, 1981 | |
| 97th - 99th | James Abdnor (R) | Jan. 3, 1981 | Jan. 3, 1987 | |
| 100th - 108th | Thomas A. Daschle (D) | Jan. 3, 1987 | Jan. 3, 2005 | |
| 109th - 108th | John Thune (R) | Jan. 3, 2005 | Present | |
1. Elected to fill the seat for the term beginning Jan. 3, 1949; subsequently appointed to fill vacancy in the term ending Jan. 3, 1949.
