HISTORY OF KENNEBEC UMC
1906 - 1994
The Christian
tradition come to Lyman County long before the town of Kennebec, as early as
1893, the earliest settlers met for worship in a log cabin near the old
Kuckelburg place.
In 1905, the town of Kennebec began to take
shape and carpenters, businessmen and farmers came to build, work, and to
seek
a new life in the newly settled West River country.
They came with a sturdy
spirit, strong backs and an enduring faith in God. In
1906, the fledgling Methodist congregation moved to town, and their meeting
places were upstairs over a bank building and later
in the train depot. Rev. Stahl was the first Methodist
minister to live in Kennebec. In 1907, under the leadership of Rev. Stahl, the
18-member congregation solicited funds and began work
to build a permanent church building. The church was completed that year by the
faithful effort of many families.
The fellowship room was added in 1931 during the pastorate of
Rev. Hatfield. From 1893 to 1944, twenty-one ministers have filled the pulpit.
In 1944 Rev. R.B. Bonney began his ministry here and served for 12 years, until
1956. During his last year of service a
new parsonage was built and the Bonnys moved into the Reliance parsonage,
serving both Kennebec and Reliance churches. In 1956,
Rev. Roger Thomas, a family of six boys and
one girl, were the
first to occupy the new parsonage.
The west end of the social room was
partitioned off for a kitchen and Rev. Thomas did the work. John
Jacoway, Don Hadrick and Roger Tanquist, students from DWU, supplied the pulpit
from 1958 until 1962 then Rev. William Kaye came and
served until 1966. From 1966 to 1970 Rev. Wally Walton served.
It was during his tenure that a combination garage and church office was
built by the high school
shop class.
In 1968, the Methodist Churches
in the United States merged with the Evangelical United Brethren. and from this
time on it became known as the UMC.
Rev. Joel Harris followed Rev. Walton in 1970 and served until 1973.
While here, the front entry and ramp were added. The congregation was served
from June, 1973 by interim pastors until October,
1973, when, at the suggestion of District Superintendent Preston Brown, Presho,
was added to the Kennebec-Reliance Parish. Rev. David Mack served this
combined parish until 1975, residing in Presho. Rev. John Jacoway, who had been
a former student pastor, was appointed in 1975 and served until 1982. He
also lived in Presho.
The Intern Program was started under Rev.
Jacoway in 1977. This program gave seminary students one year experience before
they completed their training, and they lived in the Kennebec parsonage. Our
first intern, Eric Grinager, returned in 1982, having graduated from seminary
and serving as Associate Pastor in the Yankton
Methodist Church, before coming here. On July, 1986,
Bob Brown from Clark, South Dakota, was appointed Pastor. He served until 1990
when the Intern Program ended and Rev. Karl
and Jo Watkins were appointed. Rev. Jim Towler was appointed in 1992 and served
until June, 1994, when Rev. Wayne Tieszen
began to serve this parish.
In 1993, the church was completely remodeled. Both the
sanctuary and social rooms were insulated, ceilings lowered, new lighting, new
electrical wiring, central air conditioner and paneling were installed.
Carpeting was laid in both rooms and a new wooden cross built for the altar. The
exterior was painted and new railing built for both entrances.
The spirit of pioneer Christian families still lives among the people
as we look ahead with faith and hope in the coming years.
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Lee and Jean Anderson and Wylie |
Charlie and Gloria Bowar |
Rod and Donna Bowar family |
Phillip Caslin |
Viva Copeland |
Gene and Esther Gerard |
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Jim and Karen Gilman |
Ruth Gilman |
Wendell and Ardene Gilman |
Gladys Hanscom |
Bob and Doris Hills |
Gary and Laurel Houchin |
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Deanna Houchin |
Doris Huston |
Judson Huston |
Koepnick, Irene |
Harold and Mary Kreager |
Don and Sandra Manger |
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Richard and Jean Mertens family |
Lyle and Gay Moore |
Eva Miller |
Ethel Riggs |
Leola Schoenfelder |
Lois Schoenfelder |
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Paul and Anna Mae Streitz |
Carl and Lee Ila Sundall |
Laura Tagtow |
Dorothy Wagner |
Ken and Marilyn Walling family |
Kenneth and Deloris Wells |
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Delores Whitney |
Nellie Abrahamson | Skip and Mary Lloyd family | Halverson, Cliff and Pat family | Johnstone, Delores | Chris and Pam Long family |
