They Endured. They Persevered.

Loretta Sorensen — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

My maternal grandparents, Paul and Loretta Muller, farmed in South Dakota during the difficult years of the Dirty Thirties. They raised nine children through a time marked by drought, dust storms, crop failures, and uncertainty.

My mother shared some of their stories with me, but I wish now that I had asked more questions. So much of what they experienced disappeared with their passing. What remains are glimpses of a family that somehow kept going when life gave them plenty of reasons to give up.

There were times when there was barely enough food to put on the table. Yet there were nine children to feed, work that still had to be done, and another morning waiting when the sun came up.

I find myself thinking more about their lives as I grow older. They possessed a kind of persistence that wasn't dramatic or celebrated. They simply did what needed to be done—day after day, season after season.

I admire that tremendously.

Their story reminds me that courage doesn't always look heroic. Sometimes it looks like planting another crop after the last one failed, stretching a meal to feed nine hungry children, and getting up tomorrow to try again.

They endured. They persevered. And because they did, generations that came after them were given the opportunity to flourish.

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AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING/YANKTON’S MEAD MUSEUM

Loretta Sorensen — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Author Loretta Sorensen to Host Book Signing and Presentation for These Dakota Dreams at Mead Museum

Yankton, SD – September 29, 2025 – The Mead Museum has announced a special book signing event for These Dakota Dreams, a captivating novel by author Loretta Sorensen, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. This event offers a unique opportunity for readers to meet the author, dive into the historical inspiration behind the book, and enjoy an engaging presentation.

Sorensen is a widely recognized author and publisher whose work in her debut novel vividly captures the cultural and historical essence of the Dakota region. These Dakota Dreams, the first in her Dakota Dreams series, has received five-star ratings for its compelling narrative and historical depth.

The event schedule is as follows:

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Book signing session for These Dakota Dreams.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: A PowerPoint presentation by Loretta Sorensen on the historic Great 1881 Flood, a key event that shaped the novel’s narrative.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Final book signing session.

These Dakota Dreams engages readers with its rich storytelling and deep ties to the Dakota region’s history. The book is based on both Yankton’s rich historic past and lifelong experience of Sorensen and her husband in raising and farming with their Belgian teams. Her presentation on the Great 1881 Flood will offer insights into the brutal winter that inspired Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “The Long Winter,” and touch on Sorensen’s process for blending her storytelling skills with historical research.

The event will take place at the Mead Museum, located at 82 Mikkelson Drive, Yankton, SD 57078. Copies of These Dakota Dreams will be available for purchase on-site. This is a free event, open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

For more information, please contact Loretta Sorensen at 605-660-0378, or the Mead Museum at 605-665-3898.

The Mead Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and culture of the Dakota region through engaging exhibits and community events.

Media Contact:

Loretta Sorensen

605-660-0378

Mead Museum: 605-665-3898

82 Mikkelson Drive, Yankton, SD 57078

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Loretta Sorensen | Updates

They Endured. They Persevered.

AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING/YANKTON’S MEAD MUSEUM