Bethel Cemetery, Leinan, Saskatchewan, Canada (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025 Week 40 theme: "Cemetery")

This cemetery near my childhood home is the one that comes to mind in connection with this week's theme.

Bethel Church and  Cemetery - photo courtesy Ray Martinson on Findagrave.com

 

The land for the cemetery was donated in 1909 by local farmer Sigvald Jorgenson. The area was just opening up to homesteaders and before long, it became apparent that a cemetery would be needed in the community. The cemetery was alone on the prairies until Bethel Church was built adjacent to it in 1926-27. This followed years of planning, fundraising and work by the community; there had been much discussion of various other locations for the church to be built, but in the end it made sense to place it adjacent to the cemetery. 

Bethel Cemetery is located at SW22-18-14 W3M in southern Saskatchewan. I spent the first 10 years of my life just south of there on the farm at SE15-18-14-W3M. This was a short walk to the Bethel Church for Sunday School and Church services, though it was always done by car if my parents went.

Many activities occurred in the church: weddings, baptisms, funerals, Fowl Suppers, Christmas Pageants, bridal showers, and various meetings. The children all tagged along but escaped to play in and around the parked cars -- and, of course, in the graveyard. We would make a point of not stepping on any of the concrete and stone grave coverings, probably more out of superstitious fear than of respect for the dead. 

Findagrave.com website lists Bethel as cemetery id 2495060 and indicates that it has 101 memorials listed for people buried there. Surnames reflect the predominant Norwegian background of the congregation and include: Anderson, Bardahl, Berg, Bow, Brown, Bye, Doverspike, Eidem, Fladaasgen, Gilbertson, Grand, Hanvold, Hjermanrude, Johnsgaard, Johnson, Jorgenson, Kantrud, Koziol, Kvale, Kvello, Martinson, McCauley, Miller, Moen, Nygaard, Olson, Robertson, Rude, Rustad, Saaler, Sjoberg, Tangen, Tollefson and Wengel.

Bethel Church Congregation unknown year - probably 1940s

Although the church itself has not been used in decades and has fallen into a sad state of decline, the cemetery remains available. It was here before the church and is surviving long after. 

Despite the Bardahl homestead being on the adjacent farm, my Dad Ken is the only Bardahl who has been buried here. 

Ken Bardahl grave marker at Bethel Cemetery - photo by Ray Martinson of Findagrave.com

Some Resources:

• Anderson, Raynard, History of Bethel Church 1919-1954, privately printed, date unknown