K. G. William Dahl
Encyclopedia
K. G. William Dahl was a Lutheran pastor, author and social advocate.
, Skåne in Sweden
. Both Dahl's father and grandfather had been Lutheran ministers of the Church of Sweden parish. His brother was the composer Viking Dahl
. K. G. William Dahl immigrated to America from Sweden in 1902. He attended Augustana College and Seminary
in Rock Island, Illinois
. His home in Osby, Skåne had been near that of Augustana College
founder Tuve Hasselquist
. Dahl was ordained into the ministry of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
in 1907.
in Omaha, Nebraska where he then served as associate minister under Dr. Lindberg. He subsequently served rural parishes in Roberts County, South Dakota
, including the Walla Lutheran Church in New Effington. Dahl also served the nearby Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
.
In 1912, Dahl wrote Hedens Barn, a book written in his native Swedish language
. This book has a setting in rural Roberts County, South Dakota and tells of life among the early pioneer homesteaders. The book is a study of people struggling against the elements to make a new life on the prairie.
Dahl moved on to Axtell, Nebraska
in 1912 as the local Lutheran minister. Within the year, he called a meeting to organize the Bethphage Mission Association to develop the institution he envisioned. A charitable institution for the care and treatment of epileptics, it was operated by Swedish
Lutherans.
Bethphage Mission reflected a unique architectural style hearkening to Pastor Dahl's native Skåne in Sweden. Bethphage Mission soon became known as the "miracle of the prairie" for its dedication to helping people with disabilities grow toward independence.
In 2003, Mosaic an affiliate of Lutheran Services in America
, was formed through the consolidation of Bethphage Mission with Martin Luther Homes. A heritage of supporting and advocating for people with disabilities continues to the present day through Mosiac at Bethphage Village.
Background
K. G. William Dahl was born in OsbyOsby
Osby is a locality and the seat of Osby Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 6,947 inhabitants in 2005.Well known people born in Osby include Swedish ice hockey goalkeeper Magnus Åkerlund and their famous goalkeeper, the tremendous Awet Fesshaie....
, Skåne in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Both Dahl's father and grandfather had been Lutheran ministers of the Church of Sweden parish. His brother was the composer Viking Dahl
Viking Dahl
Viking Dahl, , was a Swedish composer, active also as a painter and an author. He was brother to K. G. William Dahl....
. K. G. William Dahl immigrated to America from Sweden in 1902. He attended Augustana College and Seminary
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
. His home in Osby, Skåne had been near that of Augustana College
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
founder Tuve Hasselquist
Tuve Hasselquist
Tuve Nils Hasselquist was a Swedish American Lutheran minister and church leader.-Biography:Hasselquist was born in Hasselröd, Osby Municipality in Skåne County, Sweden....
. Dahl was ordained into the ministry of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church was a Lutheran church body in the United States that was one of the churches that merged into the Lutheran Church in America in 1962...
in 1907.
Career
Dahl was initially assigned to Immanuel HospitalImmanuel Medical Center
Immanuel Medical Center is a part of the Alegent Health System located in Omaha, Nebraska.-History:In 1879, the Rev. Erik Alfred Fogelstrom came to Nebraska to serve the Swedish population in Omaha as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church. On October 8, 1887, Pastor Foglestrom and others organized...
in Omaha, Nebraska where he then served as associate minister under Dr. Lindberg. He subsequently served rural parishes in Roberts County, South Dakota
Roberts County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,016 people, 3,683 households, and 2,618 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile . There were 4,734 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, including the Walla Lutheran Church in New Effington. Dahl also served the nearby Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
Lake Traverse Indian Reservation
The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Sisseton–Wahpeton Oyate, a branch of the Sioux group of Native Americans. The reservation is located in parts of five counties in extreme northeastern South Dakota and parts of two counties in southeastern North Dakota, USA...
.
In 1912, Dahl wrote Hedens Barn, a book written in his native Swedish language
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
. This book has a setting in rural Roberts County, South Dakota and tells of life among the early pioneer homesteaders. The book is a study of people struggling against the elements to make a new life on the prairie.
Dahl moved on to Axtell, Nebraska
Axtell, Nebraska
Axtell is a village in Kearney County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Kearney, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 696 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in 1912 as the local Lutheran minister. Within the year, he called a meeting to organize the Bethphage Mission Association to develop the institution he envisioned. A charitable institution for the care and treatment of epileptics, it was operated by Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Lutherans.
Bethphage Mission reflected a unique architectural style hearkening to Pastor Dahl's native Skåne in Sweden. Bethphage Mission soon became known as the "miracle of the prairie" for its dedication to helping people with disabilities grow toward independence.
In 2003, Mosaic an affiliate of Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is a not-for-profit corporation that coordinates the work of nearly 300 independent Lutheran health and human service organizations affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or recognized by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. It is headquartered in...
, was formed through the consolidation of Bethphage Mission with Martin Luther Homes. A heritage of supporting and advocating for people with disabilities continues to the present day through Mosiac at Bethphage Village.
Selected works
- Hedens Barn (Rock Island, IL: Augustana Book Concern. 1912. translated by Emeroy Johnson)