My Grandmother, Ida Marie Sanquist, was confirmed in the Mission Covenant Church at Red Oak, Iowa in 1908 (age 15). She is pictured with her class (bottom row, last on right).
My Mother was born at the Swedish Mission Hospital on October 8, 1917. To learn more about my Swedish roots follow this link: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=18npB_7TZYh-2_QZrRH-hlDUtFNtGHOiEnSjSI34leFo&hl=en&pli=1#
Congregational and Covenant leaders in 1889 including J. A. Hultman (standing 3rd from left), my step-uncle and founder of First Covenant in Omaha. Click here to learn more about J. A. Hultman: http://sites.google.com/site/pylodet/writings
Calvary Baptist in Arcadia, Nebraska. First church was made of sod. For more historical information visit this site: http://www.walnutel.net/~greenwll/iowa01.html
The sanctuary of Calvary Baptist.
The Evangelical Covenant Church in Aurora, Nebraska was built in the early 1970's.
The Aurora church acquired this pipe organ in about 2000.
A window from the former church is in the narthex.
A picture of their former church home also hangs in the narthex.
Aurora Covenant parsonage.
The Evangelical Free church in Aurora, Nebraska.
At one time there were over 30 Swedish Methodist churches in Nebraska. Salem church near Axtell remains but is no longer United Methodist.
An early sketch of the Salem church from Liljegren's History of Swedish Methodism.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell (from Sandahl's Nebraska Conference History of the Augustana Synod).
Bethany Lutheran Church, three miles southeast of Axtell, Nebraska. Their first church was sod built in 1878. This building, erected in 1885, remains.
In 1884 a Scandanavian Lutheran Church was organized & built a church about four miles north of Boelus, Nebraska. This church held services in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English. There are a few graves remaining on this acreage.
Adullam Lutheran is north of Bertrand, Nebraska. This is their second building, built in 1910. Their first building was the first Immanuel church which was moved when Immanuel built in town. This second church burned Christmas Day 1926.
Second and present Adullam building, built in 1928.
There was a Swedish settlement on the outskirts of Bertrand called Westlanda. Their first building was a remodeled schoolhouse 3 miles north of town. In 1887 they built a church in town. The congregation was also known as Immanuel.
From the Westlanda/Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bertrand, Nebraska.
Westlanda's sanctuary prior to addition of painting.
The present Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska.
Svea Dal Evangelical Covenant in Lincoln County, NE (RFD Brady).
Svea Dal parsonage.
In 1894 Rosedale Lutheran Church was organized 4 miles north of Bristow in Boyd County. A small church and parsonage were built near this cemetery.
In 1920 the Rosedale Church, now known as Trinity, built a new structure in the town of Bristow.
One of two large windows in the Trinity sanctuary.
The sanctuary of Trinity Ev. Lutheran in Bristow, Nebraska.
2009 view of Trinity's front entrance.
The chancel of Rosedale Ev. Covenant church.
Rosedale Evangelical Covenant Church, northeast of Bristow in Boyd County, Nebraska.
The bell tower was removed and rebuilt southeast of church.
Rosedale parsonage.
Messiah Lutheran Church. It was located seven miles northeast of Anoka in Boyd County, Nebraska.
Trinity Lutheran Church was located in the village of Anoka in Boyd County, Nebraska.
In 1925 the Augustana Synod planted Grace Lutheran in Central City, Nebraska. This is their first building.
Grace ELCA in 2010.
The Evangelical Covenant Church in Ceresco. Replaced by new building in 1974.
The Evangelical Covenant Church, Ceresco, Nebraska in 2010.
The worship center of Ceresco's Evangelical Covenant church utilizes windows from their former building.
Ceresco Covenant congregation poses for their Centennial.
Above window greets worshippers at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran in Ceresco, Nebraska.
An early photo of Immanuel ELCA in Ceresco.
Immanuel's congregation in 1921.
A few years ago Immanuel added a fellowship hall with classrooms.
Immanuel's newly redecorated chancel in 2010.
Immanuel has several classic art glass windows.
On June 4, 2008, the village of Ceresco and it's three churches were hit by a tornado. Fortunately all three churches had contracted with a very capable insurance agent!
A profound reminder.
The Berea Ev. Lutheran Church, 14 miles northeast of Chappell, Nebraska.
The Berea Church, perhaps on dedication day in 1922.
Berea's first building erected in 1888.
Siloa Lutheran was southeast of the Berea church in Deuel County. The two congregations merged in 1918.
The Wescott Baptist Church in Comstock, Custer County, Nebraska. Originally they were a Mission Covenant congregation.
Pastor O. L. Stromberg served a Swedish M.E. Church near Concord from 1895-98. He returned in 1900 to marry a local girl named Mabel Paulson.
The sanctuary of the Evangelical Free Church in Concord, Nebraska.
Concord Ev. Free complex.
Concordia Lutheran Church in Concord, Nebraska was organized in 1885.
Good Shepherd window at Concordia.
The pulpit at Concordia.
A sanctuary view from the balcony.
The original building was constructed in 1890 with at least three additions since.
Former Bethlehem Covenant building near Davey (RFD Waverly) in Lancaster County, Nebraska.
Local folks call the road past the church "Swede Boulevard."
The interior of Bethlehem Covenant Church, built in the late 1970's.
Bethlehem Evangelical Covenant Church.
The entrance to Bethlehem's Cemetery.
Bethlehem Covenant Parsonage.
According to E. Brown's history of Lancaster County, the Swedish Methodists had a church on 98th Street & Davey Road. Their building survives as this converted dwelling.
Postcard photo of Swedish Lutheran Church in Edgar, Nebraska.
The former home of Sinai Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska.
Sinai's church today is just south of Midland Lutheran College.
A few years ago they built an addition on their north side.
Sinai's sanctuary has also been remodeled in recent years.
The Altar and pulpit at Sinai.
Windows in the north entry area at Sinai.
The first church home for Fridhem Lutheran at Funk, Nebraska was made of sod.
Fridhem congregants gather for photo about 1890.
Fridhem built this frame church in 1891.
In 1910 the church building and parsonage were moved into the village of Funk.
An early picture of Augustana Lutheran church and parsonage in Genoa. This church and Calvary Swede Home are very similar and built about the same time (1912).
The window above main entry at Augustana Ev. Lutheran in Genoa, Nebraska.
Sanctuary of Augustana Lutheran from the balcony.
One of Augustana's many windows.
Augustana window depicting Jesus and the children.
Mark 10:14: Let the children come to me.
Window portraying Jesus at prayer.
The altar of Augustana church.
Augustana Church exterior view.
There was a Swedish Methodist Church in West Hill north of Genoa. The church above was a daughter congregation located in the town of Genoa.
This historical marker sits in the West Hill cemetery north of Genoa, Nebraska. It tells the history of the mostly Swedish community by the same name.
West Hill Swedish Methodist Church near Genoa.
Historical information about the West Hill church.
There must have been a Covenant church in Gothenburg at one time. Svea Dal continues in rural Brady nearby.
The Tallin Church in Custer County (RFD Gothenburg, Nebraska).
Tallin Church sanctuary
a window from the Tallin Church, rural Gothenburg, Nebraska
Former home of Tallin Church.
New Hope Evangelical Free Church, Custer County, Nebraska (RFD Gothenburg).
New Hope parsonage.
First Baptist, B.G.C., in Gothenburg, NE.
First Baptist sanctuary.
Gothenburg Ev. Free Church.
Swedes came to Greeley in the 1890's and Concordia Lutheran was organized in 1892. This little church was built in 1897. Another church, Immanuel, was organized in Howard County in 1901. Both have been gone many years.
This Swedish Cemetery is northeast of Greeley, Nebraska.
Emanuel Lutheran was organized in Hartington, Nebraska in 1894. According to Sandahl, there were also two Norwegian and one German Lutheran congregation in this community. Today Trinity ELCA remains.
Maria Lutheran, Hershey, was organized in 1906. They met in a rural school for many years and completed their church in town in 1926.
Bethel Ev. Lutheran was organized 3 miles east of Holdrege in 1879. Their first building was sod with the above church built closer to town in 1884.
Bethel erected this brick church which was dedicated on April 8, 1923.
The Swedish Methodists had an attractive building in Holdrege.
As did the Mission Covenant group.
Westmark Evangelical Free, north of Holdrege, Nebraska.
Dedication of Prairie Home Cemetery in Phelps County, associated with Swedish M.E. Church nearby.
The First Baptist Church, Baptist General Conference, at Hordville, Nebraska
The Fridhem Lutheran congregation was organized in Hordville, Hamilton County, Nebraska on October 15, 1880. This photograph is of a painting of their church which was completed in 1909.
The sanctuary of Fridhem Lutheran.
Fridhem's altar with painting of Christ's ascension.
The pulpit at Fridhem church.
This organ, no longer in use, sits in the balcony at Fridhem.
Art glass windows at Fridhem contain the anchor, a symbol for hope.
This design is part of the Fridhem windows also.
Former home of First Lutheran in Kearney.
First Ev. Covenant Church of Lincoln.
First Covenant main entrance.
First Covenant's welcoming sign.
Lincoln's First Evangelical Free church.
Another view of First Free.
The sanctuary of First Evangelical Free Church in Lincoln
Former home of First Ev. Free on N. 56th Street in Lincoln.
First Lutheran in Lincoln was organized in 1870. This was their second church at 17 & A Streets.
The present home of First Lutheran on South 70th Street.
The sanctuary of First Lutheran.
A closer look at First Lutheran's altar.
This window from a former building is now in First Lutheran's narthex.
Moses Hill Covenant Church is northeast of Loomis in Phelps County, Nebraska.
At a 1891 meeting the Mission Friends approved what is today North Park College and Seminary.
Edensburg Lutheran in Malmo, Nebraska was organized in 1870.
This building was erected in 1914.
The choir loft window at Edensburg church.
The chancel at Edensburg.
Pulpit and font at Edensburg.
Larger view of Edensburg sanctuary.
Front entrance to Edensburg Lutheran.
In 1876 a Swedish Mission church was organized in Malmo, Nebraska.
The church discontinued services in the 1980's and this building remains as a private residence.
The Mamre Evangelical Free Church, rural Marquette, Hamilton County.
The interior of Mamre Church.
Alma Lutheran church in Mead, Nebraska from the balcony, before 2008 redecoration.
Recent improvements to Alma's sanctuary.
The pulpit and font at Alma.
One of many art glass windows in Alma's sanctuary.
The window above Alma's new narthex area.
Sanctuary ceiling at Alma has interesting art work.
A view toward the balcony at Alma Ev. Lutheran in Mead.
Alma Lutheran parsonage.
Alma Lutheran, Mead, on frosty January morning.
Following images are from the Evangelical Covenant Church in Mead, Nebraska.
This panel of windows enlightens the worship center at Mead Covenant.
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Mead, Nebraska.
Former home of Mead Covenant now apartments.
Nazareth Lutheran Church in Minden was organized in 1906. Later merged with another Lutheran congregation in Minden.
The interior of Looking Glass United Methodist Church, south of Newman Grove in Platte County, Nebraska.
One of the windows in Looking Glass' sanctuary.
The Looking Glass church is the only remaining former Swedish Methodist congregation in Nebraska.
Looking Glass cemetery.
The Rosehill Evangelical Free Church is located ten miles northwest of Newman Grove in Madison County, Nebraska.
The interior of Rosehill church.
"One of these hours the Lord is coming."
A picture from an anniversary celebration at Rosehill.
An early picture of Zion Lutheran church and parsonage in Newman Grove, Nebraska.
An early photograph of Zion's sanctuary.
A more recent photo of Zion. There are three ELCA congregations in Newman Grove and two more within ten miles.
Swedes came to Norman in Kearney County in the late 1870's. The Falun Lutheran Church was organized about 1879. This building was 2 1/2 miles southwest of town, later moved into Norman.
An early view of the Oakland Evangelical Free church.
This cornerstone sits at front entrance of new Free church in Oakland.
Present Evangelical Free Church in Oakland, Nebraska.
First Baptist, Baptist General Conference, in Oakland, Nebraska
The worship center at Oakland First Baptist.
Larger view of First Baptist sanctuary.
First Baptist sanctuary looking toward balcony.
One of many windows in First Baptist.
An earlier home of First Baptist church in Oakland.
Early picture of First Covenant, Oakland.
Former First Covenant Church in Oakland, now Swedish Heritage Center.
The interior of the Swedish Heritage Center.
Imposing and beautiful window in former sanctuary of First Covenant Church, Oakland, Nebraska.
The sanctuary chandelier.
Early 20th century postcard showing the First Lutheran Church of Oakland, Nebraska.
Present view of First Lutheran.
Decalog is symbolized in this window. The sunrise is a consistent theme at First Lutheran.
The window above main entrance in First Lutheran.
First Lutheran altar.
Pipe organ and choir loft in First Lutheran.
Salem Evangelical Covenant church, southwest of Oakland, Nebraska.
Salem Covenant's sanctuary.
Newer windows in Salem's sanctuary.
These windows were moved from the First Covenant church and are in Salem's fellowship hall.
The West Side Swedish Methodist Church was organized in 1877 and located northwest of Oakland.
They built a church in 1880 and added a parsonage a year later.
The Oakland West Side parsonage.
Dr. Leonard Stromberg served the West Side church from 1912 until his death in 1941. He was born in Sweden in 1871 and came to America in 1895. He wrote almost 50 novels as well as many other articles.
In 1921 they enlarged the church, added a basement, and installed a Delco plant to light both church and parsonage.
My father, Woodrow Leypoldt, graduated from the Drew University School of Theology and was appointed to West Side in 1945. He is pictured with my mother, Dorothy, and older sister Janice Marie.
This article appeared in the Nebraska Farmer magazine in 1947. Readable copy is found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x_Fffb1vkjMlegF4oQET-RSLFxtsK_L6VatEM3wtM4U/edit?hl=en_US
An aerial view of the West Side property (taken from 1957 anniversary booklet).
A Christmas card with the West Side sanctuary.
In August of 1997 the West Side church disbanded and sold their personal property at auction.
After the church sale several of the West Side windows were moved to the Cuming County historical park in nearby West Point.
This former German Lutheran building is now home to West Side's windows.
The former West Side parsonage as it looks in 2009
This marker stands today near the church where I was baptized on February 1, 1948.
The English Lutheran church in Oakland.
This is the original Covenant church in Oakland. It was also used by the Free church and the English Lutheran congregation.
A Swedish Mission Church was located at 23rd and Davenport in Omaha. In 1927 it was renamed First Covenant Church.
First Covenant is now located near 90th and Dodge in Omaha.
Another view of First Covenant.
First Covenant west entrance.
Augustana Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska, 36th and Lafayette.
The balcony window in Augustana church.
The cross with nave in background.
A view from the balcony.
Chancel area of Bethel Ev. Lutheran, 45th & Poppleton in Omaha. First church was built on this site in 1916.
Baptismal alcove in Bethel's sanctuary.
2009 view of Bethel Ev. Lutheran, 45 & Poppleton, Omaha.
This sketch of a proposed new Bethel building was in Sandahl's book. It looks a lot like the present day Augustana ediface.
Immanuel Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, the mother congregation of Nebraska, began in 1868. This church, at 19th & Cass Streets, was completed in 1888. It's been gone a long time.
Salem Lutheran was on South 23rd Street in Omaha.
From Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on North 30th Street in Omaha.
Trinity's chancel was redecorated and improvements were made to pipe organ about five years ago.
The chapel at Trinity Lutheran.
An outdoor view of Trinity ELCA.
Zion Lutheran, Omaha, was organized in 1902 at N. 26th & Charles Street. This building was completed in 1910 and stood at 36th and Lafayette (where Augustana is today).
Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Ong, built in 1922. It's been closed for many years.
An early photo of St. Paul's Lutheran church and parsonage in Osceola, Nebraska.
St. Paul Lutheran in Osceola from the north.
Saint Paul's with it's educational wing.
The Evangelical Covenant Church in Pender, Nebraska.
The Monroe Evangelical Free church in Hamilton County (RFD Phillips, NE)
Gymnasium addition at Monroe Ev. Free.
Monroe Cemetery occupies southwest corner of church property.
The Polk Baptist Church, Baptist General Conference.
Evangelical Free Church in Polk, Nebraska.
Swede Plain Swedish Methodist church and parsonage near Polk in Polk County, Nebraska.
The Swede Plain church was organized in 1876 and continued for 100 years. It was located north of Polk.
After discontinuing services in the 1970's, the Swede Plain church was donated to the Covenant Cedars Bible Camp north of Hordville.
The interior of the former church, now Chapel at Covenant Cedars.
This marker stands at the former front entrance of the Swede Plain building.
Swede Plain cemetery about 1/2 mile west of church site in Polk County.
Found on internet and labeled "Potter Swedish." Possibly Lutheran?
Immanuel Lutheran in the village of Ragan, Nebraska. Long since closed.
Salem Ev. Lutheran in rural Platte County, Nebraska (RFD Saint Edward).
Salem Ev. Lutheran is located half-way between Newman Grove and Saint Edward in Platte County. It is a few miles from Looking Glass.
The pulpit at Salem church.
The afternoon sun helps make an impressive image.
A view from ground level.
Salem pastors helped organize three other Lutheran churches in the area.
A balcony window at Salem Lutheran.
This marker denotes the location of the Fairdale United Methodist church, 12 miles northwest of Saint Paul in Howard County, Nebraska.
This church was one of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal congregations in Nebraska. They were served by my father in 1948-50.
Church property included a parsonage with resident pastor for many years.
The community maintains this cemetery today known as Fairdale Sunrise.
Saron Lutheran in Saronville was organized in 1872. There was also a Swedish Methodist Church in town. Both have been closed for many years.
Saron Church as it appears in 2011.
This building, which cost $20,000, still stands but has been closed for more than 40 years.
The interior of the former Saron Lutheran church, from an eBay listing.
There was a Swedish Methodist Church in Shickley, Nebraska from 1887 to 1925, when most of it's families transferred to the English congregation.
Stockholm Lutheran Church is located a few miles west of Shickley in Fillmore County
This church was severely vandalized several years ago when thieves stole all their pews!
Stockholm church is surrounded by a large well-kept cemetery
the sanctuary of Stromsburg Baptist Church, B.G.C., in Stromsburg, Nebraska
Stromsburg Baptists completed an addition in 2005.
original church entrance
An early photo of Stromsburg Baptist (note misspelling).
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Stromsburg, Nebraska
This painting of the former Stromsburg Evangelical Covenant church hangs in their narthex.
A window from the former building is in the narthex.
The altar/communion table in Stromsburg Ev. Covenant.
The steeple of the former Stromsburg Covenant Church now occupies a spot in one of the city's parks.
The Stromsburg Evangelical Free Church.
The worship center at Stromsburg Ev. Free.
A newly installed window at the Stromsburg Evangelical Free Church.
Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stromsburg, Nebraska.
Salem church was organized in 1888 and built their first church the next year.
The sanctuary of Salem church.
The altar and chancel of Salem Ev. Lutheran in Stromsburg.
Salem's pipe organ.
These windows are in the chancel at Salem.
Additional chancel windows.
The nave windows at Salem tell the progressive story of God's revelation to humankind.
The Swedish Methodist church and parsonage in Stromsburg, Nebraska.
The Swedish Methodists in Stromsburg merged with the English church in the 1920's. Their windows indicate the influence of Swedish families.
The United Methodist Church in Stromsburg, 2009.
The Elim Evangelical Lutheran Church (RFD, Hooper, Nebraska).
Luther's rose in Elim church.
Elim sanctuary.
Elim has a well-maintained cemetery next to church.
The Calvary Lutheran Church of Swede Home (RFD Stromsburg, Nebraska).
Dr. C. F. Sandahl was raised in this church and wrote the history of the Nebraska Conference of the Augustana Synod.
One of the gorgeous windows of Calvary church...
Jesus at prayer
Jesus blesses the children
Calvary's present building was erected in 1914.
A view from the cemetery. Compare this church to Augustana Ev. Lutheran at Genoa.
Swedeburg Covenant Church, a few miles south of Wahoo, Nebraska.
One of two large windows in Swedeburg Covenant sanctuary.
Second window at Swedeburg.
Swedeburg Covenant worship center reveals modern adaptations.
Swedeburg parsonage.
The Mission or Covenant church at Swedeburg established a cemetery nearby known as Fridhem.
Fridhem Cemetery in Saunders County, Nebraska.
In 1913 Grace Lutheran of Swedeburg built two churches: the one above and another in Ceresco, which later separated to become Immanuel.
A window in the sanctuary of Grace Ev. Lutheran Church of Swedeburg, Saunders County, Nebraska.
Grace Lutheran at Swedeburg with Swedish "Helig! Helig! Helig!" inscription and painting showing Jesus at prayer. Painting was done by Olaf Grafstrom.
The sanctuary of Grace Lutheran was redecorated in 2009.
A "rock of ages" painting is also in the sanctuary.
The window above main entrance to Grace.
Grace Lutheran is surrounded by a well-kept cemetery.
Swedes made it to Loup County, as evidenced by the Free church in Taylor.
St. Mark's Ev. Lutheran in Valley, Nebraska was a part of the Augustana Synod.
St. Mark's is raffeling this wonderfull quilt.
The sanctuary of St. Mark's
The Ekedahl Lutheran Church was located near Valparaiso in Saunders County. Organized in 1895 and discontinued in the early 1930's.
An early photo of Bethlehem Lutheran in Wahoo.
Bethlehem church added a two-story education wing.
More recently Bethlehem constructed a fellowship hall and classrooms on their west side.
The entry window at Bethlehem.
Another window in Bethlehem's sanctuary.
This is a recent improvement with statue of Jesus relocated where balcony opening had been.
A sanctuary view from balcony.
The altar at Bethlehem.
Wahoo was the home of Luther College which made the Bethlehem congregation a special place among the Swedish Lutherans in Nebraska.
Painting depicting Christ's ascension is in the narthex area of Wakefield Covenant Church.
These panels are from the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield, Nebraska.
The main entry of the Wakefield church on a spring day.
The sanctuary of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield, Nebraska
Wakefield Covenant parsonage.
From the sanctuary of Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in Wakefield, Nebraska.
Luther's portrait in balcony at Salem church.
Chancel at Salem.
A painting depicts Salem's two church builldings.
Salem's steeple from parking lot.
An interesting view of Salem church at mid-morning in May.
Wausa Ev. Covenant with completed elevator addition.
A pair of windows in Wausa Covenant sanctuary.
Wausa Covenant sanctuary.
The parsonage of Wausa Ev. Covenant.
In 1885 a Lutheran missionary found seven families in Wausa. Within 20 years they grew enough to build a new church with a towering steeple.
In 2009 Thabor Lutheran completed a fellowship hall addition.
Thabor's sanctuary from balcony.
One of two large windows in Thabor's sanctuary.
Symbols from second window.
Dr. Luther and the Rose.
Thabor's lovely parsonage sits across from church.
Bethesda Lutheran was located six miles northwest of York. The church was built in 1880. Long since closed.
First Baptist in Weston, Nebraska (B.G.C.).
