Memorial Day Swedish Pilgrimage

My mother's father grew up in Malmo, Nebraska. Every Memorial Day, she and my aunt drive up to decorate the graves of the Bredenberg family at Bethesda Cemetary. It's full of Swedes.



My grandfather's parents. Evalina ran away from Sweden to Nebraska when she was 17. She worked for the lawyer who defended Chief Standing Bear in Omaha. Simon came from Säfsnäs, Dalarna, Sweden.


This is my mom's favorite gravestone. Nora Alebana Bredenberg was born on the ship on the way to America.


After decorating the graves, it is customary to take a spin through Malmo. Peering into the Bank.


This is the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church, which my grandfather's family attended.