In Touch with prairie Living

By Michael M. Miller

The Lehr Tabernacle near Lehr, ND, celebrates its 100th Centennial with events planned for June 18-20, 2021. The Lehr Tabernacle, also known as Prairie Bible Camp, was featured in an article in North Dakota Horizons, Spring 2017, “Lehr Tabernacle on the Prairie,” written by Ronald Vossler, native of Wishek, ND. “During a half century and beyond, evangelical farm families, mostly Dakota Germans, crowded the Tabernacle, which was built to seat 1,500.

Our Germans from Russia community has lost one of its shining stars, Eugene Weidenbach, Scotland, South Dakota, born December 17, 1920, and died February 27, 2021. Elizabeth Weidenbach Peterson, a granddaughter, wrote for his 100th birthday on December 17, 2020, “Our grandpa is the cornerstone of our family and has taught us about hard work and the importance of family.”

On March 11, 2021, we celebrate the 118th birthday of bandleader Lawrence Welk. He was born March 11, 1903 in a sodhouse near Strasburg, ND, and died on May 17, 1992. The Lawrence Welk Collection was donated to the North Dakota State University Archives, Fargo.

In May 1994, I interviewed Fern (Renner) Welk, wife of Lawrence Welk, during the grand opening of the Lawrence Welk Champagne Theater in Branson, MO. Included in this column are highlights from that interview. 

In Touch with Prairie Living, January 2021 is now available online here.

In Touch with Prairie Living, December 2020 is now available. 

In Touch with Prairie Living, November 2020, is now available.