The older generation at Bergen Lutheran Church in rural Day County, South Dakota, has fond memories of participating in national gatherings of Lutheran kids.
kAmq6EEJ {@F #9@56 H2D @?6 @7 7@FC =@42= 8:C=D E@ 8@ E@ E96 7:CDE 3:8 J@FE9 6G6?E :? $2D<2E@@?[ $2D<2E496H2?] y@9? t] $:856DE25 2?5 z6??J p?56CD@? H6?E E@ E96 `hdd 82E96C:?8 :? $2? uC2?4:D4@[ 2?5 y@9?’D 3C@E96C s2G:5 $:856DE25 >256 E96 EC:A E@ |:=H2F<66[ (:D4@?D:? :? `he_]k^Am
kAm%96 :>AC6DD:@? E96 EC:A >256 @? E96> 2?5 @E96CD :? E96 4@?8C682E:@? :D H92E 7@DE6CD E96:C DFAA@CE @7 E@52J’D <:5D] %96 6?E:C6 49FC49 4@>>F?:EJ 96=AD E96> C2:D6 >@?6J 7@C E96:C EC:A] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E96 a_aa tG2?86=:42= {FE96C2? r9FC49 :? p>6C:42 Wt{rpX *@FE9 v2E96C:?8[ H9:49 H2D D6E E@ E2<6 A=246 2 =:EE=6 4=@D6C E@ 9@>6 :? |:??62A@=:D[ H2D 42?46=65 5F6 E@ r~'xs\`h] xE’D ?@H D6E 7@C yF=J a_ac[ 2?5 q6C86? {FE96C2? >6>36CD 2C6 2=>@DE DFC6 E@ 36 E96C6]k^Am
kAm%96C6 >2J 36 2 D>2==6C 8C@FA @7 {FE96C {628F6 >6>36CD E@52J[ 3FE :E’D DE:== @7 E@A :>A@CE2?46 E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96J 92G6 E96 7F== 6IA6C:6?46 E92E E96 ?2E:@?2= J@FE9 4@?G6?E:@? 92D E@ @776C] uF?5C2:D6CD E2<6 A=246 J62C\C@F?5]k^Am
A headstone at Bergen Lutheran cemetery in rural Day County, South Dakota, features unique rocks.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
kAmp 3:8 @?6 :D 5FC:?8 E96 E9C6D9:?8 366 :? ?62C3J p?5@G6C H96C6 <:5D D6CG6 :46 4C62> 7=@2ED] %96J’C6 2 A@AF=2C EC62E[ 42FD:?8 E96 8C@FA E@ 8@ E9C@F89 b_ 3F4<6ED @7 :46 4C62> :? 2 EJA:42= J62C] p D=@H 27E6C?@@? 42? ?6E E96> 2D >F49 2D Sf__[ 2?5 E96J C2:D6 E9@FD2?5D @? E96 3FDJ 52JD]k^Am
kAm“%96 <:5D 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED DE6A FA E@ E96 32== 6G6CJ J62C[” z2E9J y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAmz:5D @7 E96 49FC49 2C6 24E:G6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ] pE w2==@H66?[ E96J 96=A H:E9 2 92F?E65 9@FD6 :? qC:DE@=[ 2?5 2E r9C:DE>2DE:>6[ E96J 3FJ 8:7ED 7@C =@42= 8:G:?8 EC66D 2?5 AFE @? 2 =:G:?8 ?2E:G:EJ 2E 2? 2C62 72C>]k^Am
kAmr@>>F?:EJ :D :>A@CE2?E E@ E96 6?E:C6 4@?8C682E:@?] $FCC@F?565 3J 72C> 7:6=5D[ E96 49FC49\9@DE65 E9C6D9:?8 366 :D 2 4@>>F?:EJ 72G@C:E6[ E9@F89 :E’D 366? @? 9@=5 :? C646?E J62CD 5F6 E@ r~'xs] r9FC49 >6>36C[ z6??J p?56CD@? 2DD6>3=65 2 92J DE24<6C 7C@> @=5 A2CED] xE D:ED 3J 2 8C@G6 2 EC66D ?62C E96 49FC49]k^Am
kAm"F:=E6CD DE2J 24E:G6[ 92G:?8 >256 `df BF:=ED =2DE J62C] tG6CJ 8C25F2E:?8 D6?:@C 86ED 2 DA64:2= BF:=E 56D:8?65 H:E9 E96:C 72G@C:E6 4@=@CD 2?5 :?E6C6DED :? >:?5]k^Am
kAmy@9? t] $:856DE25’D H:76 2?5 52F89E6C E2<6 @? 2 3F=< @7 E96 H@C<] %96J 2=D@ E2<6 @? E96 E2D< @7 A:4<:?8 FA BF:=ED 2E 2C62 49FC496D[ D@>6E:>6D 7:==:?8 y@9?’D 9@CD6 EC2:=6C E@ E96 C@@7 2?5 92F=:?8 E96> E@ (2E6CE@H? E@ 36 5@?2E65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65]k^Am
John E. Sigdestad, left, operates haying equipment during a threshing bee held in the fields adjacent Bergen Lutheran Church. The threshing bee is one of many community activities Bergen members are a part of.
Submitted photo
kAmx? E96 DAC:?8[ q6C86? {FE96C2? 9@DED 2 |6>@C:2= s2J D6CG:46 5C2HD 23@FE `__ G:D:E@CD 7@C 2 EC25:E:@? DEC6E49:?8 324< 23@FE g_ J62CD]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 H6 5@ 3642FD6 H6 =@G6 q6C86? D@ >F49[” y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 49FC49[ =@42E65 ?@CE9 @7 qC:DE@=[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ H2D @C82?:K65 :? E96 72== @7 `ggd 3J AC:>2C:=J }@CH68:2? 72>:=:6D H9@D6 ?2>6D DE:== >2<6 FA @? E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@52Ji $:>@?D@?[ $:856DE25[ |@C<[ p?56CD@?[ $<22C6 2?5 @E96CD] %96 ?6IE J62C[ E96J 42==65 E96:C 7:CDE A2DE@C[ 2?5 E96 J62C 27E6C E92E E96 4@?8C682E:@? D64FC65 EH@ 24C6D @7 5@?2E65 =2?5 7@C 2 46>6E6CJ] uF?6C2=D[ 32AE:D>D 2?5 4@?7:C>2E:@?D H6?E @? H9:=6 >6>36CD H@CD9:A65 :? 72C> 9@FD6D 2?5 D49@@= 9@FD6D] ~?6 >66E:?8 DA@E H2D 2E 2 9@>6 ;FDE 62DE @7 E96 4FCC6?E 49FC49[ D:EF2E65 @? {J?? {2<6 – 2 8@@5 7:D9:?8 =2<6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 4FCC6?E >6>36CD] qJ D@>6 244@F?ED[ 49FC498@6CD 42>6 3J H28@?D[ 3F88:6D 2?5 D=65D[ 2?5 D@>6 H2=<65 FA E@ 7:G6 >:=6D 42CCJ:?8 49:=5C6? 2=@?8] %96C6’D 6G6? 2 DE@CJ @7 2 A2DE@C H9@ D<:65 7C@> p36C566? E@ 4@?5F4E $F?52J D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAmx? `gha[ >6>36CD A2:5 2 DF3D4C:AE:@? 2?5 C2:D65 S`[_e_ E@H2C5 2 49FC49 3F:=5:?8] p 32D6>6?E 7@C $F?52J D49@@= 2?5 D@4:6EJ >66E:?8D H2D 5F8 :? `hae[ 2?5 E96 49FC49 H2D >@G65 @?E@ 2 ?6H 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 FA8C2565 H:E9 2 7FC?246 2?5 6=64EC:4 =:89ED] pC@F?5 E9:D E:>6[ E96J 3682? 92G:?8 D6CG:46D :? t?8=:D9 H:E9 D6C>@?D :? }@CH68:2? 6G6CJ D:I H66<D]k^Am
kAmt:89E J62CD =2E6C[ E92E ?6H 7FC?246 4@DE E96> E96 49FC49 H96? :E 42FD65 2 7:C6 2D 4@?8C682?ED 46=63C2E65 r9C:DE>2D s64] ae[ `hbc] p 9:DE@CJ 4@>A:=65 7@C E96 49FC49’D d_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ 8:G6D 2? 244@F?Eik^Am
kAm“%96 4@?8C682E:@? H2D 82E96C65 7@C r9C:DE>2D D6CG:46D H96? E96 ‘92AAJ r9C:DE>2D’ :? 2 76H >:?FE6D EFC?65 E@ 8C:67] u:C6 3C@<6 @FE 2C@F?5 E96 7FC?246 C@@> 2?5 :? 2 D9@CE E:>6[ EC2G6=:?8 36EH66? E96 H2==D[ D6E E96 C@@7 27:C6] uC@> E96 D>@<6\7:==65 >2:? 7=@@C[ E96 A6HD 2?5 A:2?@ H6C6 3C@F89E @FE] %96 C6DE H6?E FA :? 7=2>6D] x? E92E 3:EE6C 4@=5 9@FC DE@@5 E96 4@?8C682E:@? 2?5 H2E4965 E96:C 562C D2?4EF2CJ C65F465 E@ 2D96D]”k^Am
When a furnace fire started in the original Bergen church, built in 1892, members carried out pews and record books. The salvaged pews are still used in the rural Day County church today.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
kAm%96 7:C6 >256 2 3:8 :>A24E @? >6>36CD] %96J E@=5 @7 E92E 52J 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D] y@9? t] $:856DE25[ H9@ H2D 3@C? EH@ J62CD 27E6C E96 EC2865J[ D2:5 9:D >@> H@F=5 E2=< 23@FE E92E 52J H96? D96 H2E4965 >6? 42CCJ A6HD 2?5 C64@C5D 7C@> E96 3FC?:?8 3F:=5:?8]k^Am
kAmq6EEJ {@F #@956’D 72>:=J 5:5?’E =:G6 72C 7C@> E96 49FC49] w6C 525 C6>6>36CD D66:?8 E96 D>@<6 7C@> E96 7:C6 2E E96:C 72C>A=246[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 72C>:?8 7@F?56CD[ E:>6D H6C6 92C5 27E6C EH@ 4C@A 72:=FC6D[ 3FE H96? E96J >6E EH@ H66<D 27E6C E96 7:C6[ E96J G@E65 E@ C63F:=5] xE H2D C625J 3J }@G] b[ `hbd[ :? E:>6 7@C E96 4@?7:C>2E:@? D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm%96J G@=F?E66C65 E96:C E:>6 2?5 =23@C E@H2C5 E96 ?6H 3F:=5:?8] |6? 925 C233:E 5C:G6D 2?5 E96 H@>6? D6CG65 E96 9F?E6CD 2 =F?49 @7 D2?5H:496D[ 42<6 2?5 4@7766 7@C `_ 46?ED] %96J 2=D@ >256 =F?49 7@C 72C> 2F4E:@?D[ 2F4E:@?65 2 BF:=E 2?5 D@=5 G2?:==2 2E 2 AC@7:E @7 `a 46?ED A6C 3@EE=6]k^Am
kAm%96J H6C6 7CF82= H96? :E 42>6 E@ C6\7FC?:D9:?8 E96 ?6H 49FC49] s2G:5 $:856DE25 7@F?5 4@CC6DA@?56?46 7C@> E96 E:>6 H96? 2 A24<6E @7 A2A6CD DE@C65 :? 9:D 32C? 3=6H 5@H?] ~?6 6I492?86 925 49FC49 =6256CD 9288=:?8 @G6C E96 AC:46 7@C 2 AF=A:E[ <?66=6C[ 9J>? 3@2C5 2?5 2 36==] %96J H6C6 AFC492D65 7C@> 2 49FC49 :? xC6E@?[ x@H2[ 27E6C E2=<:?8 E96> 5@H? 7C@> 2 A2J>6?E @7 Sb__ E@ Saad]k^Am
David Sigdestad pages through letters from the 1930s he found in his barn. Some of the correspondence was about rebuilding the church after it was destroyed by a fire.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
kAm%@52J’D >6>36CD 2C6 DE:== :? 2H6 E92E E96 4FCC6?E 3F:=5:?8 H2D DA2C65 7C@> 2 E@C?25@ E92E E@C6 E9C@F89 E96 ?6:893@C9@@5 :? `hhe] y@9? t] $:856DE25 AC@F5=J 5:DA=2JD E96 A9@E@D 96 E@@<k^Am
kAm%96J 2C6 DE:== >2<:?8 2? 677@CE E@ <66A E96 7FC?246 :? E:A\E@A D92A6] s2G:5 2?5 y@9? $:856DE25 AFC492D65 2 ?6H AC@A2?6 7FC?246 =2DE DAC:?8] s2G:5 >2CG6=65 2E 9@H BF:6E 2?5 677:4:6?E :E :D]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 5C62>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 7@F?56CD’ }@CH68:2? 96C:E286 :D DE:== AC6D6?E] t249 72==[ E96 49FC49 9@DED 2 <=F3 5:??6C[ D6CG:?8 }@CH68:2? A@E2E@ 5F>A=:?8D 3@:=65 :? 92> ;F:46] y@9? t] $:856DE25 8C@HD E96 A@E2E@6D 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 86ED E@86E96C E@ A66= E96>] %96 6?E:C6 4@?8C682E:@? A:E496D :? E@ D6CG6 a__ 5:?6CD] %96 5:??6C :D 244@>A2?:65 3J 2 A:6 2?5 BF:=E 2F4E:@? E92E C2:D6 >@?6J 7@C =@42= 42FD6D 2?5 7@C E96 J@FE9 4@?G6?E:@? EC:A]k^Am
kAm$@>6 EC25:E:@?D[ =:<6 =FE67:D< DFAA6CD[ 92G6 72565] q6EEJ {@F C6>6>36CD E96 >6? 2?5 H@>6? D:EE:?8 @? D6A2C2E6 D:56D @7 E96 2:D=6 5FC:?8 $F?52J H@CD9:A] w6C D:DE6C[ p=:46 $:>@?D@?[ H2D E96 7:CDE E@ 3C62< E92E DE2?52C5 H96? D96 3642>6 2 ?6H >@> :? `hc_] $96 :?D:DE65 96C 9FD32?5 D:E 3J 96C E@ 96=A 42C6 7@C E96:C ?6H 52F89E6C]k^Am
kAm“%96J 8@E =@@<D[” q6EEJ {@F #@956 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ q6C86? {FE96C2? 92D gd 6?C@==65 >6>36CD[ 23@FE b_ @7 H9@> 2EE6?5 @? 2 C68F=2C 32D:D]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 A6@A=6 H:== 96=A H:E9 2?JE9:?8 J@F 2D< E96> E@[” z2C6? y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 D>2== 49FC49 92D 2 565:42E65 8C@FA @7 42C6E2<6CD H9@ G@=F?E66C E96:C E:>6 2?5 >@?6J E@ 49FC49 FA<66A 2?5 H9@ 3C:?8 7@@5 2?5 DFAA=:6D 7@C 82E96C:?8D] %96J 86?6C2==J E2<6 @? @?6 3:8 AC@;64E 2 J62C] #6A=24:?8 42CA6E[ 255:?8 2 DE66= C@@7[ A=24:?8 =:89E65 4C@DD6D @? E96 36== E@H6C 2?5 E96 7FC?246 H6C6 C646?E FA8C256D]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 2== D@CE @7 AC@F5 @7 @=5 q6C86?[” s2G:5 $:856DE25 D2:5]k^Am
kAm*@F?86C 72>:=:6D >2J ?@E 36 3:8 @? ;@:?:?8 E96 BF:=E:?8 8C@FAD @C H@>6?’D 8C@FAD[ q6EEJ6 {@F #@956 ?@E65[ 3FE E96J’C6 24E:G6 :? @E96C E9:?8D]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E96 <6J :D H96? J@F 92G6 E96 J@F?8 A6@A=6[ J@F DE6A @G6C 2?5 =6E E96> E2<6 @G6C[” s2G:5 $:856DE25 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6’D 92AAJ E@ D66 2 DEC@?8 4@C6 8C@FA @7 23@FE 2 5@K6? {FE96C2? {628F6 >6>36CD 4@>:?8 FA 2D E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? :? E96 49FC49] %96C6 2C6 E9C66 :? $F?52J D49@@=[ 2?5 23@FE D:I ?6H 323:6D :? E96 4@?8C682E:@?]k^Am
kAm|6>36CD 4@>6 7C@> 2== 2C@F?5] $@>6 H9@ 92G6 >@G65 E@ 3:8 4:E:6D H2E49 D6CG:46D DEC62>65 =:G6 @?=:?6] $@>6 C6E2:? >6>36CD9:A 2E 2?@E96C 49FC49 3FE 4@>6 E@ q6C86? 3642FD6 :E’D 4@?G6?:6?E]k^Am
kAm“(6 42? D:?8 ‘p== pC6 (6=4@>6’ 2?5 >62? :E[” s2G:5 $:856DE25 D2:5]k^Am
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 .
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
