Danebod celebrates its 125th anniversary

A legacy of the early European settlement of southwest Minnesota celebrates its 125th anniversary this weekend.

The Danebod Lutheran Church was started by Danish immigrants in the community of Tyler in Lincoln County. Church member Ricke Bly says the open-to-the-public celebration begins Saturday morning.

"We will begin with coffee," says Bly. "It's a real Danish tradition. You always have to make time for coffee."

Other scheduled events include outdoor games, singing, dancing and a timeline show of the church's history.

Bly says besides the church the Danebod campus in Tyler includes a folk school, a museum and other historic buildings. Church founders believed in life-long education and started the folk school to promote that goal.

The school still operates today. Bly says there are several educational camps at the school during the summer for children and adults.

The church itself is built in the shape of a cross and is on the National Historic Register.

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