AS I MEANDERED THE GROUNDS of the historic Valley Grove churches during a recent Country Social, I happened upon a grandfather teaching his grandsons the old-fashioned game of marbles. I stood, watched, and photographed while the trio positioned and flicked marbles across a tabletop. Years ago, this game would have been played on the ground, in the dirt.
But this seemingly mattered not to the boys playing under the guidance of Rene Koester of the Valley Grove Preservation Society, who admitted he’d forgotten some of the rules. If his students cared, they didn’t express it. They were simply having fun playing a simple game.
I loved seeing the interaction, the connecting of today’s generation to the past, to a time when kids played mostly outside. A time before video games. A time when life was much different.
The Valley Grove Country Social proves a wonderful way to connect to the past and to place. On this 50-acre parcel of land in rural Nerstrand, people gather each September to celebrate the two aged Norwegian churches that sit atop a hill overlooking the countryside. They also come here to celebrate the Norwegian immigrants who built the 1862 stone and 1894 clapboard churches. They come, too, to celebrate and honor a rich Norwegian history and heritage.
Many times I’ve attended this Country Social, which this year included a cemetery tour, book discussion, music, blacksmithing and rope-making demonstrations, music under the oaks, horse-drawn wagon rides, treats inside the old stone church and old-fashioned games for the kids. Plus lots of wandering and visiting among tombstones in the adjacent cemetery.
In all of Rice County, there is perhaps no place I’ve found more peaceful. I’ve come to Valley Grove in all seasons. Sat upon the wooden church steps and eaten a picnic lunch. Tromped through snow. Walked more times than I remember among the tombstones. I’ve listened to music and speakers and those rooted in this land.
I have no personal connection to Valley Grove. I’m not even Norwegian. I’m German. But this matters not to the lutefisk, lefse, krumkake-loving Norwegians. Or to me. I’ve found in this place welcoming individuals, who just happen to be of Norwegian heritage.
If the Norwegians and the Germans here in southern Minnesota didn’t always get along—and I expect some didn’t—then no traces of those differences remain. At least not here, not on a Sunday afternoon in September at Valley Grove. This gives me hope. Perhaps the commonalities we share will some day overcome our differences and we will welcome and embrace one another no matter our countries of origin.
Perhaps we ought to visit a place like Valley Grove. Learn a new-old game. Pick up a clutch of marbles. Feel the smooth or pitted orb of a marble in our hand. Bend low to the earth. And touch the dirt.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
oh how do I love Krumkake ❤️ that tapestry is beautiful. I have fond memories of playing with marbles with my Dad but I took his marbles and used them in a play kitchen.
You would have enjoyed this Country Social. And, yes, the tapestries are beautiful, the krumkake delicious.
We’ve been to several weddings and funerals at Valley Grove. It’s not far from our house and we plan to be buried there someday.
Valley Grove is such a beautiful place to be buried. Dear friends of ours have also chosen plots in VG. You live in a beautiful area.
Loving your post today and the top-of-mind words for me is the simpler life 🙂 I grew up with grandparents that were Norwegian, German, Dutch, and I think English. If I had the time I would love to delve more to know more about the family’s ancestry. The where, the who, the places, the history, etc. just interests me and wants me to know more. I can say I tried marbles and jacks and did not understand it along with chess and a good majority of card games. I was not a child that sat still for long unless I had a great book in my hand. I do mindfully walk almost 2 miles a day so who knows maybe some of those games would make more sense to me now as an adult. I know I crave the simpler life at times – just taking my time in the morning or making time for myself in the evenings, putting away the screens and just sitting outside watching the best nature show ever, no alarms and no schedules, just doing nothing if I choose, etc. Here’s to simple and becoming one with ourselves to reset, recharge, reconnect – Take Care 🙂
I so appreciate your comment and sharing the simple things you love. P.S. I LOVED playing jacks as a kid. Thanks for bringing back a memory I haven’t thought of in years.
Well, it is cleaning house I am a doing. Do you detect a bit of Irish there? I have some friends who claim to be 100% Norwegian! I am (part) Norwegian, but also I had a German ancestor (G Grandfather – who happened to marry a Norwegian girl) Rather than Lutheran or some other religion – he was Catholic. Catholic Pole to be exact! Seems Poland was at that time part of Germany (around 1870). It is a good thing that we celebrate and try to understand or gain understanding our heritage and our often connected past. Irish by an Irish Great Grandfather who moved from Canada to the Dakotas. Now, my Southern (Paternal) side yields much deeper American roots, As in I am a descendant of a Scot-Irish guy who took part in the Battles of King’s Mountain, Cowpens and Guildford Court House as well as another who served in the Pennsylvania Line! I looked at a story about a cousin family who fled the Whiskey Rebellion and today resides in Canada. Nuff about my history, pass that Krumkake – I am hungry for some sweets! Maybe I should wait after the Snitzel!
Gunny, I love how you embrace your heritage, as varied as it is. I hope you get some krumkake soon.
This is always a fun event to attend. I’m sorry we missed it this year. Thanks for the recap.
I know you share my love of Valley Grove, and even more so since you are Norwegian. 🙂
that is absolutely precious to see him playing marbles with the boys, old school style.
I loved that I happened upon this at the country social and documented this. What a moment!
that’s a rare thing to see these days