Rebuilding after tornado, church looks to give new life to old furnishings

Feb 11, 2023
Feb 11, 2023

Church tornado damage — Beaver Creek Lutheran Church near Valley Springs, S.D., was damaged by a tornado last year. Members hope to incorporate material from other churches into the rebuild.
Submitted photo

Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle Atyeo

Last spring brought some rough weather to the Tri-State Neighborhood. There are still dented grain bins and twisted road signs dotting the landscape. We’re still picking up the pieces, and the same goes for our beloved rural churches.

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Small church weathers the storm to survive 140 years

Sitting on the countryside of eastern Kingsbury County, South Dakota, the Lake Whitewood Church looks much the same as it did in photographs from its 1906 dedication. The landscape, however, changed significantly in just the last year.

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Prayers on the Prairie: Rural setting a strength for historic Swedish church

One rural church in southeastern South Dakota is looking to the future by preserving the past and celebrating one of the things that make country churches so special: A serene setting in the heart of nature.

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.