Built in 1867 (22 years before South Dakota became a state), St Paul's in the little town of Elk Point was the first Norwegian Lutheran church in Dakota Territory.
That beautiful South Dakota sky and a historic church in a place where my friend Nils had generations of relatives. I'm grateful I could be there for his funeral, despite how sad & wrenching it was and is. Most of all grateful to be there with old friends, all of whom go back to 7th grade and one who was in my second-grade class. We all marvel & rejoice that we've stayed connected all this time. It was worth traveling 20 our of 40 hours to be there & be home the next night.