Near Garretson in Minnehaha County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Norway Lutheran Church

October 8, 2022

1. Norway Lutheran Church Marker (Side one)

Inscription. Norway Lutheran Church was established by Norwegian-American pioneers on March 23, 1874 in Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory. They met in sod houses, schools and a lean-to until the building was completed. Land, where the church could be seen and the bells could be heard for miles, was donated by Thor and Johan Hermanson. It was dedicated on May 18, 1890. The Ladies Aid funded the basement in 1912.

Services were conducted in Norwegian for 56 years. By December of 1930 all services were in English. The church served families until 1965 when it closed and members of the congregation joined other local churches.

The church building was destroyed by fire in 1971. Only the bell and the cemetery remain as a testament to the faith of our pioneer ancestors. Mange Takk!

Erected 2014 by the Minnehaha County Historical Society and by descendants of the "1873 Eleven Covered Wagon Train".

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1874.

Location. 43° 43.914′ N, 96° 35.387′ W. Marker is near Garretson, South Dakota, in Minnehaha County. Marker can be reached from 252nd Street east of 481st Avenue, on the right when traveling east

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. Located in Norway Lutheran Cemetery in rural Garretson. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Garretson SD 57030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Eleven Original Pioneer Families (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Norway Lutheran Church (a few steps from this marker); St. Paulus Lutheran (approx. 2 miles away); Garretson (approx. 4.4 miles away); Festival of Progress (approx. 4½ miles away); Village of Palisades (approx. 4½ miles away); Palisades State Park (approx. 4.6 miles away); 1908 Palisades Bridge (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Garretson.

More about this marker. The English translation for "Mange Takk!" (Norwegian) is "Many thanks!"

Norway Lutheran Church Marker (Side two) image. Click for full size.

October 8, 2022

2. Norway Lutheran Church Marker (Side two)

Norway Lutheran Church Marker in Norway Lutheran Cemetery image. Click for full size.

October 8, 2022

3. Norway Lutheran Church Marker in Norway Lutheran Cemetery

Norway Lutheran Church Marker, from the west image. Click for full size.

October 8, 2022

4. Norway Lutheran Church Marker, from the west

Norway Lutheran Church Bell image. Click for full size.

October 8, 2022

5. Norway Lutheran Church Bell

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2022. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 21, 2022.