Prayers on the Prairie: Where friends become family

Janelle Atyeo
Mar 29, 2020
Mar 29, 2020 Updated Feb 4, 2026

Friedensberg sunset — Friedensberg Bible Church Pastor Dennis Webber steps outside the church to view the sunset on a February evening.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Last Christmas, Merlin Boese shared something special with the children in his church, the Friedensberg Bible Church south of Avon, South Dakota.

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Friedensberg Boese — Merlin Boese, whose forefathers were amongst the church founders, displays a picture of Jesus he got for Christmas from his Sunday school teacher in 1929.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Church orchestra — Orchestra members from the Friedensberg of rural Avon, S.D., pose for a photo in 1940.
Submitted photo

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Wayne Walters and his children make their way into the Friedensberg Bible Church as the sun sets on a February evening.
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.