Pastor Paul Krause may only be in his sixth year of serving the rural congregation at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Estelline, South Dakota, but he’s found plenty of personal connections in that time.
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The original church was extended by 16 feet at the back of the building after a tornado hit in 1947.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
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Tall pine trees frame the driveway to the church. The lawn was the site of many games of softball and horseshoes in earlier decades.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
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The Zion cemetery sits across the street from the church with the Hidewood rolling on behind it.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
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Furniture was added to Zion Lutheran in the 1920s. For the first few decades pews were planks placed over nail kegs.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo
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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 .
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