Blinsmon Township near Trent in Moody County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Sioux Valley Baptist Church

1888

February 16, 2026

1. Sioux Valley Baptist Church Marker

Inscription.
"The word of the Lord shall stand forever" Isaiah 40:8

This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 43° 52.256′ N, 96° 38.701′ W. Marker is near Trent, South Dakota, in Moody County. It is in Blinsmon Township. It is on 478th Avenue north of 242A Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dell Rapids SD 57022, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River

and in Greater Sioux Falls.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the

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Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tribute to Pioneers Nels and Carrie Norgaard (approx. 0.6 miles away); 1938 National Corn Husking Contest (approx. 2.9 miles away); Dell Rapids (approx. 4½ miles away); Railroad Caboose (approx. 4½ miles away); To Gina Smith Campbell (approx. 4½ miles away); Mill Wheel (approx. 5 miles away); The Lone Tree (approx. 8.6 miles away); Saint Olaf Roller Mill and Power Dam (approx. 8.7 miles away).

Also see . . . South Dakota SP First Scandinavian Baptist Church | National Archives Catalog. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (2000).

From the Statement of Significance:

"The First Scandinavian Baptist Church is ... a well-preserved example of simplified vernacular gothic architectural style and represents the first generation church construction in the eastern portion of the state.

"Although Danes are scattered over South Dakota, to the extent that almost every county in the state may count several of them among its inhabitants, there are only two areas in the state with a
February 16, 2026

2. Sioux Valley Baptist Church & Marker
large Danish population. Most of the state's Danish population is located in the southeastern portion of the state, including Moody County. Due to the rich bottomlands in this region, it was the scene of the earliest Danish settlement in the Dakota Territory in the early 1870's. The first Danes came to Moody County, South Dakota, from the Aalborg/Jutland area of Denmark in 1872.

"The Danes settled in the Sioux River Valley in Blinsom Township, located between the towns of Dell Rapids and Trent. One of the first Danes to settle in the area was Nels J. Norgaard who emigrated from Denmark in 1872. He established his homestead and after he completed his home, other Danish families began to arrive. As there was no place to practice their Baptist faith, they gathered in homes and dugouts until the church was constructed in 1888."

(Submitted on March 17, 2026.)

Additional keywords. First Scandinavian Baptist Church

Sioux Valley Baptist Church, from the southeast image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2026

3. Sioux Valley Baptist Church, from the southeast

Sioux Valley Baptist Church, from the northwest image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2026

4. Sioux Valley Baptist Church, from the northwest

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2026. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 17, 2026.