South Dakota
South Dakota And Germany: A 30-year Bond Of Culture And History
South Dakota is separated from Central Europe by about 4,000 miles. On the outside, it seems the two have little to nothing in common, but longstanding partnerships known as “sister cities” have forged a deep bond between the Mount Rushmore State and the country of Germany.
It makes sense as approximately 34% of South Dakotans identify with German heritage. But these connections go far beyond just family trees.
From the Black Hills to the banks of the Big Sioux River, here are the four South Dakota communities that have found their ‘twins’ across the Atlantic Ocean.
Credit: Canva
Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Sister City: Potsdam, Germany
Credit: Canva
Sioux Falls and Potsdam have been ‘Sister Cities’ since 1990. That year stands out as it was just one year prior when the Berlin Wall fell, uniting East and West Germany after nearly 45 years of being apart. Potsdam is located in the former East Germany and has a similar population to that of Sioux Falls, at around 184,000 residents. It’s famous for its Sanssouci Palace and for being the spot of the legendary ‘Potsdam Conference’ of 1945, in which the allied powers of the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union decided on Post-WW2 order.
Other sister cities include Rapid City and Apolda, Germany. This partnership began in 1994 and contrasts the ‘City of Bells’ (Apolda) with the ‘City of Presidents’ (Rapid City). Both towns have a great respect for public art and historic landmarks.
There are also the sister cities of Vermillion and Ratingen. Established in 1969, this is by far the oldest partnership of all the cities on the list. The two have traded students in an exchange program for decades and have also shown their friendship in other ways. In Ratingen, the Vermillionring and the South Dakota Bridge were built to honor the partnership. In Vermillion, Ratingen Square was inaugurated back in 2010.
Finally, much like Sioux Falls and Potsdam, the cities of Brookings and Schwanewede began their partnership back in 1990. The two have one big thing in common, too, as they’re both college towns. It has since become a very active exchange, particularly focusing on student programs and cultural visits that highlight their shared agricultural and university-town identities.
Even more surprising, Potsdam isn’t Sioux Falls only sister city. The other is found in Northern Ireland, and you can read all about it in this article.
10 Smallest Towns in South Dakota
Barbara (Vance) Alfange, 93, died on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Greenfield, Massachusetts. She was born in Pierre, South Dakota, on October 8, 1932, the daughter of Lanky (Earl) and Pat (Velma Whitney) Vance. Her parents were avid nature lovers, with her mother, Pat, known for her sprawling flower gardens and a yard of plentiful birds. Thus, started Barbara’s own love affair with nature, especially bird watching.
After graduating from Pierre High School, she continued her education at the University of Colorado, where she met her husband of 64 years, Dean Alfange. In 1967, Barbara and Dean moved from Lehigh, Pennsylvania, to Leverett, Massachusetts, where Barbara worked for Smith College and ran a rare book business, specializing in literature by women, and Dean was professor of constitutional law and civil liberties and Dean of Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Acting Provost at the University of Massachusetts.
Barbara was a member of the Leverett Conservation Commission, committee chairman for Leverett Bicentennial Celebration, a devoted volunteer at the Greenfield Food Pantry, a trustee of the Leverett Library, and founder of the Friends of the Leverett Library. She was a longtime and instrumental advisory board member of Paris Press, suggesting literary works by women for the press to acquire, proof reading, and assisting with the press’s archives. In addition, she served as a program coordinator for Round the World Women, which connected international women, students, and non-students with volunteers from the greater Amherst community.
Along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins, she leaves many lifetime friends who will miss her dearly. She will be remembered for her wit, her passion for jazz, the visual arts, Scrabble, and democracy (supporting the recent No Kings rallies by holding up her handmade sign at the entrance to the Arbors).
There will be a celebration of Barbara’s life in May 2026 to be announced at a later date.
Donations in her honor may be made out to the Montague Reporter, 177 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, the Leverett Library, or the Greenfield Food Pantry.
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Roughly 15 miles west of Aberdeen sits a unique business in the small community of Mina. South Dakota Baskets Unlimited, however, was first established nearly four decades ago in Hub City.
Kris Scherr purchased the business on New Year’s Day 2023 and moved the shop location from Aberdeen to Mina, a town of less than 1,000 people.
She had owned a small gift shop in Mina when she was informed that Baskets Unlimited was for sale. Within three days, Scheer said she purchased the business and merged it into her current gift shop. And in the past two years, she turned it all into a “South Dakota Made” gift shop.
Products can be purchased individually, or baskets can be custom designed while a customer waits. Scherr has a storefront in Mina but does not keep normal set hours. Most sales are online, but when needed, she says customers can call her directly, and she will open the shop for them.
“The gift baskets are filled with some of our state’s finest products and novelties and can be shipped nationwide,” Scherr told the Aberdeen News. “Since I have purchased the business, I have doubled the sales from the previous years. I sell corporate gift baskets during the holidays and ship in a timely manner. My biggest challenge is the shipping time, but over the last few days I have managed to learn a few different ways of getting the product to customers within three or four days.”
Scherr has smoked pheasant, smoked turkey, buffalo, elk and beef salami as well as cheeses and sweets. She also sells snacks, like candy, jams, fruit syrups, honey and kuchens. There’s also coffee, bagels and hand-crafted soaps.
Baskets are loaded with lots of South Dakota made goodies. There are two breakfast baskets, the Dakota Family Breakfast and the Dakota Family Brunch. In addition, there is a Taste of South Dakota, The Granddaddy Gift Box and Game Day Party Box. But don’t forget Dakota USA and Dakota Gourmet.
Other gift ideas she has for sale include Terry Redlin pieces and Rosemary Millette mugs, plates, coasters and stained glass.
While Scherr is the lone employee at her shop, she says she relies on friends to help her through the busy times of the holidays.
“I live right across the street from my business, so I am very open to going to my shop at any time for someone to shop,” she added. “I totally enjoy this business and am willing to work with individuals and corporate establishments.”
South Dakota Baskets Unlimited can be reached by phone at 605-281-0670. The store is located at 227 S. Sunset Drive in Mina, South Dakota.
“I enjoy putting together each unique basket and also finding new South Dakota-made products to incorporate into my business,” Scherr said.
South Dakota
South Dakota Board of Regents approves 2.4% tuition increase at most public universities for 2026-27; South Dakota Mines students to see 5% increase
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