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SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Palm Sunday explosion rocks small town South Dakota, kills Sunday worshippers
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SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Palm Sunday explosion rocks small town South Dakota, kills Sunday worshippers

This week in South Dakota history: April 11-17

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Dan Gehlsen
Apr 15, 2024
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The Dakota Scout
The Dakota Scout
SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Palm Sunday explosion rocks small town South Dakota, kills Sunday worshippers
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St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Photo: The Daily Republic

The town of Marion suffered a devastating loss 75 years ago this week when six members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church were killed in a Palm Sunday explosion with dozens more injured, according to The Daily Republic.

Four minutes before the 9 a.m. mass service, worshipper Phil Wachendorf noticed a chill in the air and went to check on the church’s recently installed furnace. The explosion occurred when Wachendorf flipped a switch, sending the building's roof upwards and blowing out the west, east and north walls. The roof then collapsed into the structure. Only the church’s steeple, with its belfry and cross, withstood the blast.

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