Rockport Hutterite Bruderhof, of the Schmiedeleut branch, 6 miles southwest of Alexandria, South Dakota. The site was settled first in 1891 by a Lehrerleut group from the Old Elm Spring Bruderhof with the preachers Jakob Wipf and Johann Kleinsasser. This group branched out in 1931 and founded the Hutterville Bruderhof near Magrath. In 1934 they sold Rockport and moved to Alberta, founding the O.K. Bruderhof near Raymond. The present occupants came from the Bon Homme Bruderhof with twelve families and Preacher Joseph Waldner. Daniel S. Wipf was chosen as minister here in 1934; later John J. Waldner was chosen, who is now in the Riverside Colony, Huron, South Dakota. In 1945 they branched out to found Rosedale in South Dakota, and in 1949 Huron, South Dakota. David Wipf was chosen as assistant minister in 1954. The membership of Rockport was 32 in 1958, and the total population 123.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 349. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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