Swedona Evangelical Covenant Church

Swedona Evangelical Covenant Church. . A group of emigrants from Sweden gathered in Lockport, Illinois, in the mid-1870s and dispatched N.J. Ronlund to inspect potential farmland near the Swedona settlement in Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory. Upon receiving his favorable report, 33 people left Illinois and traveled together for several weeks in a covered wagon train. After arriving in Swedona, each family claimed a homestead and built a sod house or carved out a hillside dugout home., The families took turns hosting weekly religious services in their new homes; however, the group yearned to have its own church. On April 9, 1877, Pastor John E. Wretlof presided and helped organize the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church of Swedona., Now in its second century of Christian service, the congregation has worshiped in three church buildings. In 1879 a sod church was built one mile east of this site. Two years later a 28- by 32-foot wooden frame church was built 100 feet west on land donated by C.F. Hanson. The present building dates from 1913., Lives fulfilled, or lost in a blizzard, may be found resting in peace in the church cemetery.