Category: editor-notebook

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Our Joyful Weaver

Just hours after we wrote this came the sad news that Grete died at a hospice in Rapid City. She’ll be missed for many reasons — but mostly for her cheerful smile and her love for all things South Dakota. Our condolences to Chuck and all her family and friends.

By Bernie Hunhoff

Grete Bodogaard and her husband, filmmaker Chuck Nauman, have been hanging out in the little Yankton County town of Volin for a number of years.

Many of us who live here in southeast South Dakota felt quite blessed to have such a gentle soul in our commuity. Grete and Chuck didn’t participte a great deal in community activities, but they were apt to show up now and then. And you might catch them at Mac’s Pub, which was across the street from the old Volin Bank where they lived and worked.

I looked for them on several trips to Volin this summer and fall, but to no avail. After asking around, I was told they had returned to the Black Hills because of Grete’s health. She is serioiusly ill. Our thoughts and prayers go to her and her family.

When in Rapid City last weekend, I attended a forum at the Dahl Arts Center on Seventh Street downtown and felt fortunate to happen upon an exhibit of Grete’s creations titled “Celebration of Works.”

Grete was born in Norway, and learned some of her techniques in the old country. She came to the United States in 1969, and she quickly spun her way into our hearts and into our art culture. She is not only one of South Dakota’s greatest and most accomplished artists, but also considered one of the master weavers of our time.

“As I travel on my journey around the sun I have learned to spin fibers, dye yarns and weave my thoughts and ideas,” she says in an introduction to the exhibit. “Weaving is my other language, my expression of joy and frustrations.”

Her contributions to South Dakota have brought only joy, and we thank her for that.

The exhibit will be up through Jan. 31, 2015.

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Winner! Whereizzit in South Dakota?

Let’s see if we can stump you with a quick Whereizzit contest! Trent Preszler took this photo somewhere in South Dakota. Here’s a hint: the shed is somehow connected to a local food-growing program.

To win, be the first person to correctly identify the location or name the small town that is nearby. You’ll win a free gift subscription which you can keep for yourself or award to anyone you wish! Good luck.

Looks like you need a few extra clues!
Clue #1: Let’s cut the state in half. This scene was found West River.
Clue #2: Ok, let’s try quarters. Focus your efforts north of I-90.
Clue #3: It’s on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.

We have a winner! Three, actually — Gary Wilson of Volga, his daughter Jessica, and their atlas guessed La Plant. Trent Preszler took this photo on Highway 212 at the Sam D. Horse Community Center, where they’re working on a food and garden project called “La Plant Grows Its Own Food.” Good luck in the next growing season, Dewey County gardeners, and thanks to all who participated in our contest!

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Whereizzit in South Dakota? Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in our November Whereizzit in South Dakota contest! Apparently there are more trumpeting angels in South Dakota than we realized, but this particular one resides in Epiphany.

We drew William Morfeld’s name at random from the list of correct guesses, so he will be receiving an assortment of South Dakota Magazine products in the mail soon.

Watch for a new Whereizzit contest in our January/February issue!

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The Black Hills in Watercolor

Our new Black Hills map prints are here! You probably recognize watercolor artist Mike Reagan’s work — his map of South Dakota appears on the Table of Contents page of each issue of South Dakota Magazine. Now he has created a companion map of the Black Hills that evokes the character and spirit of the land through delicate watercolors. We’re proud to offer his work as an unframed 16″ x 20″ art print for just $24.95 plus shipping and handling. Click here if you’d like to buy the new Black Hills map print for your home or office, or order a set of both Reagan prints for just $45.95.

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Russia’s Gift to the Dakotas?

I can only imagine what Nick Gale will be referring to when he delivers his paper, “Russia’s Gift to the Dakotas,” at the 22nd annual West River History Conference set for Oct. 16-18 in Rapid City.

I would guess that it will refer to the Germans-from-Russia emigration to the Dakotas. But I could be mistaken. That’s the great thing about the West River History Conference. It sets the record straight on all sorts of topics that we don’t spend enough time thinking about.

About three dozen people will also make presentations, and the titles are intriguing. Christin Paige-Diers of Sturgis will speak of the “History of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.” Gary Enright of Custer will talk on Timber Lake history. Gene Gade will reflect on the buffalo jumps and Carol Evan Saunders will remember Valentine McGillycuddy.

I’ve only been to a few of the 22 conferences. I won’t make this year’s because of too many conflicts back home. But if I could be anywhere in the world on Oct. 16-18, I’d choose the Hilton Garden Inn in Rapid City for the history conference.

It’s quite an event for anyone who enjoys life in South Dakota.

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Our Forgotten First Lady

Here at South Dakota Magazine, we’ve always felt at affinity for Amanda Pennington. She helped her husband, John, built the big brick house that has been our publishing headquarters since 1987. She cooked here, raised children here. Gazed out the same windows that we do.

She was sad here, we know that. And she was sickly. But we hope she also had good times.

She and her husband John lost two of their five children in Alabama. They headed to Dakota Territory when he was named territorial governor in 1874. The Penningtons started a new life in Yankton, raising their three surviving children while John became immersed in controversial issues like gold in the Black Hills, development of the railroads and establishing counties and cities.

They built a big brick house and several smaller houses at 3rd and Pearl in downtown Yankton. When John left the governorship, he also constructed a commercial structure on Third Street and started a weekly newspaper.

But Amanda grew ill and died in the winter of 1884. She was just 47.”She conversed freely with her husband and children up to within a few hours of her death, expressing willingness to go and her unswerving confidence in blessed immortality,” according to the obituary in the Yankton Press & Dakotian. “The few intimate friends present were deeply moved by her perfect resignation and her expressions of hope for the life to come.”

A final wish was that she be buried beside the two little children who’d preceded her in death. The family had bought six plots in the Yankton Cemetery, and she was buried there. But no marker was put up, probably because her husband intended to respect his wife’s wishes and eventually return the body to Alabama.

John Pennington remained in Yankton for seven more years before returning to the South. He was buried in Oxford Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Oxford, Alabama upon his death in 1901.

Mrs. Pennington, first lady of the Dakota Territory, remains in the Yankton Cemetery in an unmarked grave. But that will change on Wednesday (Sept. 10) when local citizens plan to unveil a new gravestone designed and donated by Luken Memorials of Yankton.

Rt. Rev. John Tarrant, the Episcopal Bishop of South Dakota, will preside at a dedication service, assisted by Father Jim Pearson, pastor of the very same Episcopal Church in Yankton that was attended by the Penningtons and in which her funeral was held 130 years ago.

The public is invited to attend the brief service at the gravesite in Yankton Cemetery. It starts at 3 p.m. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to the Pennington house for refreshments and a short discussion with local historians about the Pennington family.

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Our New Publishers

Katie Hunhoff (top left) and Heidi Marsh are the new publishers of South Dakota Magazine in Yankton. Bernie and Myrna Hunhoff (above) started the magazine nearly 30 years ago.

Forty years ago, I landed a writing job with the Watertown Public Opinion. Just in time, as it turned out, because our son Chris was born a few months later.

Well, I’ve been writing and poking about in South Dakota ever since — along with raising Chris and his sister Katie, some political tomfoolery and so on. Myrna has been a pretty and nice partner every step of the way.

After a few years of writing for the Watertown and Madison newspapers, we started a weekly newspaper. And then, 30 years ago, we started this magazine with the simple idea that South Dakota’s stories deserved telling.

I’m at that awkward time where I’m old enough to know that I probably can’t do this forever, and yet I’m good for a few more years.

I do believe that South Dakota Magazine needs a new generation of leadership and we have it in Katie Hunhoff and Heidi Marsh. Those young ladies became friends 25 years ago as horse-crazy kids in Yankton County’s 4-H program. They’ve been working together here at the magazine for several years (Katie for 12 and Heidi for 6). Now they’re creating a partnership to be your new publishers.

They’re smart and enthusiastic, and they understand something important that I learned through the years: South Dakota Magazine really belongs to you and the other 180,000 readers. Still, somebody needs to see that the postage is paid and the stories have good pictures, and Heidi and Katie are taking on that responsibility. I’m sure their family style of leadership will better serve our readers than the corporate alternatives that are swallowing up most of today’s media.

They are also blessed with a wonderful and talented staff of 10 here at the magazine that cares deeply about South Dakota. We’ve all come to learn that the magazine helps readers establish a sense of place, and to more greatly appreciate and enjoy life in South Dakota. That makes our hard work feel very worthwhile.

Katie and Heidi assure me that they’ll let me do some writing, which is all I wanted to do when I started working for the Watertown paper in 1974. So I’ll see you along a South Dakota road.

Meanwhile, if you have a complaint about a story or photo, call Katie or Heidi. Unless it’s something I wrote. Then please don’t tell the bosses. They seem nice enough, but at my age I don’t want to give them any reason to take away my keys.

— Bernie Hunhoff

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Rolling Onward

Travelers were arriving in Yankton by train, horse and steamboat 125 years ago when South Dakota gained statehood.

Steamboats and passenger trains are long gone, but visitors will be coming with horses next week in the old Missouri River city, where a quasquicentennial wagon train will begin on Thursday (Sept. 4). The public is welcome to join the wagoneers for a celebration of statehood on Wednesday afternoon and evening (Sept. 3). Headquarters for the festivities is the rodeo grounds, a half-mile west of the intersection of Highways 50 and 81 on the far northside of Yankton.

From noon to 5 p.m., tours will be offered of a museum-in-progress — the restoration of the historic Mead Building as a new home for Yankton’s old Territorial Museum. Wagon rides will be provided from the rodeo grounds to the nearby museum (pulled by an old tractor, not a horse.) A chicken dinner will be served from 5-7 p.m., with proceeds going to the museum project. Tickets may be obtained in advance at the Territorial Museum. Tickets may also be purchased at the event on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A program of music and history also begins at 5 p.m., hosted by Terry Crandall. The agenda includes singer Mike McDonald, a re-enactment of the first governor by actor John Timm, songs by the Beadle School first-graders, more music by country singers Rachel Wood and Ashley Schweitzer, a speech by wagonmaster Gerald Kessler and remarks by Governor Dennis Daugaard.

A concert and dance will ensue from 7 to 10 p.m., featuring the country/folk songs of Poker Alice. All the activities except the meal are free. No beer or alcohol will be served at the program or dance, so bring the kids and grandkids. This is an opportunity for them to get a sense of the spirit of challenge and adventure that has marked the history of their home state.

Everyone is encouraged to dress in western wear, contemporary or historic. Commemorative t-shirts are available at the Chamber of Commerce for $12. They will also be sold at the event on Wednesday. The t-shirt slogan reads,”Happy Trails to You, Until We Meet Again in Yankton.”

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Who Owns Them?

The border between the two Dakotas is unique in the nation because it is divided by hundreds of granite markers, erected shortly after the two states were welcomed into the Union.

Charles Bates headed a hard-working crew that installed the markers in 1891. They were erected every half-mile along the 360-mile border. Many have stood the test of time, but a number have been lost to vandals, thieves and the Dust Bowl. Those still visible have sunk to about half of their original height.

A smalltown museum curator in northern South Dakota contacted us today, wondering how they might obtain one of the markers for exhibit. But there’s the question of who to contact. Who owns them? Who can give permission for such a task? We’re going to try to get them an answer, and we’ll keep you posted.

We know there are other museums with the stones on display, and in fact the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre has one by its flagpole outdoors. Someone apparently dropped it off.