McPherson County Cemeteries Book Published

"McPherson County Cemeteries Book Published." Northwest Blade, 20 July 2005, 1.

Selma Job Lapp, Keenan L. Stoecker and Duane E. Stabler

From the first day of birth to death of the body, death is a fact of life. A 472-page book has been compiled listing the known facts of the deaths of thousands of McPherson County residents. The book—entitled “Researchers Guide to McPherson County, South Dakota, Cemeteries”—was released last week at the Germans from Russia Convention held at Pierre.

Through the diligent work of Selma Lapp, Eureka, and Keenan Stoecker, Leola, and edited and compiled by Duane E. Stabler, the book was published by NDSU Libraries.

The book is available at the Eureka Pioneer Museum of McPherson County in Eureka or through NDSU Libraries, P.O. Box 5599, Fargo, N.D. 58105-5599.

The book is loose leaf plastic bound. The project began about six years ago for distribution at the 2005 Germans from Russia convention in Pierre. Included in the book are all known cemeteries and private burial plots in the county. There may be additional sites on or near farmsteads which they were not aware of. Also included is a historical overview of the county written by former Eurekan Bruce Mehlhaff, photo postcards from a collection owned by Stabler, the names and locations of cemeteries, their data of individuals who are buried, and maps to the cemetery or gravesites.

McPherson County was a key destination for many immigrants from South Russia. They homesteaded, built churches and towns, lived and often died on the land that became their home. Many of the immigrants came through Eureka, and then looked elsewhere for the homestead where more land was available.

For those researching for ancestors, the book is a guide to where those ancestors were buried...but not forgotten.