Taken from Lebanon Free Lutheran Church, 100th Anniversary 1897-1997

The Lebanon Free Lutheran Church was organized at the home of Andrew Olson, March 16, 1897, by Reverend E.O. Larson.  Hans Blegen of the Antiochia Church assisted.  Others present were:  Iver Knutson, Andrew Olson, Rasmus Yri, Martin Pederson, Andrew Strand, Lars Strand, John Anderson, Ed Straabe, Ole Jacobson, Bernt Hefta, John Erickson, Wilhelm Anderson, John Muri and Narve T. Lein.  Within the next two years, the following joined the congregation: M.K. Mehus, Erik Hjelden, Elias Olson, Bernhard Halvorson, Halvor Pederson, Rasmus Mellem and Ole Hougen.

 At the first meeting the following matters were decided:  (1) That the congregation be named Lebanon, a Lutheran Free Church: (2) That a committee consisting of Ole Jacobson, Wilhelm Anderson, Rasmus Yri and John Erickson be selected for the purpose of selecting a site for the church and cemetery:  (3) That another committee of Rasmus Yri, John Erickson and Narve Lien be elected for the purpose of drawing up a constitution:  (4) That Reverend E.O. Larson be called as Pastor.

 At the next meeting held May 9, 1897, in Normania Township school house #3, the organizing was completed.  A church site and cemetery four miles south of highway two on the Brinsmade county road in Normania Township was offered by Ole Jacobson.  The constitution was adopted, and the election of officers took place as follows:  Trestees:  Ole Jacobson, M.K. Mehus and John Erickson; Deacons:  Rasmus Yri, Narve T. Lien and Lars Strand; Treasurer:  Bernt Hefta; and Secretary, Narve T. Lien.

 The third meeting was held the second day of Pentecost, and at this meeting Ole Jacobson’s offer of a church and cemetery site was gratefully accepted.  During the first two years, meetings were held in homes and school houses.  On February 10, 1899 the ingathering for a church was started, and that same year the church was built.  The laying of the cornerstone took place October 15, 1899, the church was completed and almost paid for in 1900.  After that the ingathering was begun for further needs.  In 1905 the church was dedicated by Reverend A.A. Brunswold.

This church was struck by lightning, August 9, 1937, and burned to the ground.  Plans for another church were made.  In 1938 the first church of Springfield Township, whose congregation had disbanded, was bought and moved to the old church site.  This building was set upon a foundation with a full basement for meetings such as Ladies Aid.  The steeple, side rooms and chancel were added, the exterior and interior was completed.  Insurance money, memorial gifts, donation from confirmands and the willing work by present members made this possible. 

  A record shows that the Ladies Aid was working a few years before the congregation was officially organized.  Records show that Mrs. Ole Jacobson was the first president; Mrs. Bernt Hefta, Vice President; Mrs. M.K. Mehus, Treasurer; and Mrs. Elias Olson, Secretary.

In 1936 the Ladies Aid started writing the records in English.  Prior to that they were written in Norwegian.  In 1945 the church records were recorded in English rather than Norwegian.

On Sunday October 11, 1936 the Ladies Aid served a chicken dinner at the Brinsmade hotel.  Proceeds amounted to $46.90.

On November 6, 1938, the Ladies Aid served a Lutefisk and chicken dinner in the new church basement.  Mrs. Osmond Vinje donated a turkey and numbers were sold which brought in $42.00.  The dinner took in $165.20.

According the records, the Ladies Aid gave testaments to young men going into the service during the fifties.  The Luther League gave them a box of candy. 

A Parochial school was begun in earlier days and continued until 1925.  A Sunday school and Luther League have also been active.

On Easter morning, April 18, 1976, Lebanon began meeting in the newly purchased sanctuary, the former Christian Missionary Alliance Church, located in the city of Leeds.  The cemetery located at the old church site in Normania Township, continues to serve the congregation.

September 1, 1984, the congregation voted to purchase the Rudolph Halvorson house for a parsonage.

Because of flooding the church basement had to be repaired.  As a result the ladies have a new kitchen to work in and the children have new Sunday school rooms.

The Ladies Aid is now called W.M.F. – Women’s Missionary Federation.  The present officers are as follows:  President, Janice Torgerson; Vice President, Gladys Dressen; Secretary, Violet Halvorson; Treasurer, Adeline Klien; Cheer, Wilma Mavis.

The past 100 years the Lebanon ladies have served numerous dinners, anniversaries, weddings, and funerals.  Since 1982, Lebanon and North Prairie (church) has worked together  on some of these occasions.  Congratulations to North Prairie, as they also celebrate their centennial this year.

An elderly lady who is a past president of 15 years, once said, “it is an honor to serve as an officer of the church.”  May the future years find us trusting in Jesus Christ, our Lord, wanting to glorify his name as individuals and as a congregation.

Pastors that have served Lebanon are as follows:  Reverend E.O. Larson, A.J. Vartdal, H.O. Helseth, G. Norberg, P. Steen, H.C. Casperson, A.L. Larson, John B. Dahlen, John Raimo, Arnold Ankler, student John Reith, student Wayne Pederson, Eugene Enderlien, Tim Skramstad, Leroy Flickenger, Craig Wentsel, and Bret Hilgeman, who temporarily filled in until Reverend Mark Antal could come.  Mark is presently serving as our pastor.

Present officers of the church are as follows:  President, John Sogge; Secretary, Jana Darling; Treasurer, Adeline Klein.  Deacons:  Harold Halvorson, Norma Alexander and Ted Yri.  Trustees:  Darwin Halvorson, Gerald Halvorson, and Janice Torgerson.  Head Usher: Russell Anderson. Sunday School Superintendent: Ruth Antal. There have been 316 baptisms, 233 confirmed, 59 couples married, and 159 funerals.

(NOTE:  After Mark Antal, Clarence Stanley served as pastor.  Presently Brenda Burns is pastor.  2/2009)

St. Petri-Broe Township

NE¼ Section l  Broe Township
Rural York, North Dakota

History taken from the 1899-1999 Centennial Anniversary History Book

This is a history of the St. Petri Church and its congregation. The following has been compiled from the records dating back to 1896. Before the church was organized, people would attend services at private residences when a pastor was in the area and available. The first pastor invited to visit this community was Rev. E.T. Quam who drove up from Sheyenne, North Dakota once a month to conduct services in these modest homes. The very first service was held in the sod house of Anthon Thompson on April 17, 1898, at which time Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thompson's son, Herman was baptized.

The first minutes translated from Norwegian read: "Following services at the Lars Tollefson home near Sheep Lake, Benson County, North Dakota on October 29, 1899, the following persons: Christen Solberg, Mathias Nybo, Willie Peterson, Lars Tollefson, Lars Sandven, Gustav Pederson, Peder Hilde, Maruis Lunde, Ole Wensryg, Iiver Kinneberg, and Robert Thompson expressed a desire to organize a Lutheran congregation. Rev. E. Lovland was elected president and M.K. Nybo the secretary. A name for the congregation was to be chosen at the next meeting which was to be held at the Lars Sandven home on the 30th of November."

In the discussion regarding the choice of a name, Marius Lunde, who served as "Klokker" the first year, spoke in favor of a Biblical name. He suggested the name "St. Petri" by referring to Peter's confession to Christ in Matthew 16-18. "When Christ asked Peter, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God." Replying, Jesus said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church." St. Petri, therefore, was the name chosen by the charter members for this congregation. The first trustees to be elected were Christ Solberg, Lars Tollefson and Torval Torgerson. The treasurer elected was Lars Sandven who served in this capacity until his death in 1921. The congregation also voted to adopt the constitution of the United Lutheran Church. Whereas, on the 24th of March, 1900, the congregation became affiliated with the United Lutheran Church. The first delegated to attend the annual meeting in Minneapolis were M.K. Nybo and Christ Solberg.

The meeting on April 5, 1900 was called especially for the purpose of deciding upon the church site. John Svensby who had joined the congregation at the second meeting on November 30, 1899, had made an offer of land. Mr. Svensby owned 40 acres in SE 1/4 of Sec 32 and 40 acres in the SW 1/4 of Sec 33 all in R69WT155N, this land is currently owned by the Harold Berven family and the Kittle Groff family respectively. John Lundgren joined the congregation on March 24, 1900, and had also made an offer of land. He offered his land at the NE 1/4 Sec 1 R70WT154N. At this meeting it was decided that these two offers should be voted on. Twenty two voted for Svensby site and twenty-eight for the Lundgren site. John Lundgren's offer of three acres of land was chosen for the church site and graveyard. After the vote, 13 members gave up their membership to St. Petri. At the annual meeting in December the congregation expressed their thanks to Mr. Lundgren for the gift of the land. Ironically, Mr. Lundgren was the first person buried in the new cemetery.

On March 19, 1901, at the meeting at Christ Solberg's home, a committee consisting of M.K. Nybo, Lars Sandven, and Lars Tollefson were elected to meet with the representative of the other congregations of this charge to extend a call to a pastor to fill the vacancy caused by Rev. Lovland's death. Rev. J.J. Strandness accepted the call and served this charge until 1903.

Plan for the church building began as early as August 30, 1902. Lars Tollefson, M.K. Nybo and Christ Solberg were named to a committee to accept subscriptions for the building fund. Erick Dokken and Ingebrigt Seim were to calculate a cost estimate for the new building. On December 9th, further plans were made and a committee consisting on Anthon Thompson, John Moe, and Anton Nilson were appointed to collect the budget.

Several meetings pertaining to the building of the church were held during the spring and summer of 1903 with Erick Dokken as chairman. At this time, the congregation also considered an affiliation with the Knox and Sand Lake churches and calling another pastor to fill this vacant charge. Rev. H. Hjertaas accepted this call during the latter part of the summer and served these congregations until 1905. At the annual meeting in December, J.R. Eide was elected "klokker" and served in that capacity for nearly forty years.

At the February 1903 meeting, a building committee consisting of E.O. Dokken, R.L. Opheim, M.K. Nybo, Lars Tollefson, and Anthon Thompson were elected by the congregation. Ingebrigt Seim was chosen to draw the plans for the church. The congregation members provided and hauled stones for the foundation and all the lumber for the church. There is no reference to the completion date of the church building except that two business meetings were conducted on June 13th and July 19th, 1903 at the St. Petri Church. The worship services were conducted in the Norwegian language.

The first baptism service conducted at the new church was held on July 19, 1903 when Theodore Thompson, Roald Nybo, and Mabel Berven were baptized. However the first baptism recorded in the pastoral book is that of Clarence Tollefson who was baptized on July 24, 1899. The first communion service was held November 30, 1899. The communicants were Mr. and Mrs. Lars Sandven, Mr. and Mrs. M.K. Nybo, and Mr. and Mrs. Christ Solberg. The first funeral service was conducted December 5, 1903 for Mrs. Lars Sandven with Rev. J.J. Strandness officiating. The first confirmation class of St. Petri consisted of Casper and Lewis Nybo and Abraham Haaheim. They met with Rev. Hjertaas at Knox during the winter of 1905 and on April 16th confirmation services were conducted for them at Knox Lutheran church. On January 8, 1907 Rev. Strandness officiated the first confirmation services at St. Petri. Members of this class were Eileen Nybo (Mrs. Han Halvorson), Clara Broe (Mrs. C.J. Simpson), Eivend Solberg and August Hagen. The first wedding held at the church was on December 26, 1911 when Mr. and Mrs. John and Marie Lysne were married.

Pastoral Acts

History of Viking Lutheran Church

South Viking Township North Dakota
151 North, Range 69 West
Rural Maddock, ND

The central part of the township revolved around establishing a church congregation in 1887 called Viking Church.  The current church building was built in 1903 and is registered on the national historic places.

Click link for the early Viking Lutheran Church history. The charter members of the Viking Church who signed the declaration to call a pastor were Timan Quarve, Haaken Moen, Paul Moen, August Aanderud, Martin Arne, Martin Arnston, Ole Bloom, Rasmus Wisnes, Knute Liudahl, Andrew Gilbertson and Gulbrand Elken.  The young congregation met at first in homes, then in the Quarve School #2 or also known as the Aanderud School serving the congregation for worship purposes from 1891 to 1903.  After ratifying the constitution of the church the following members became the actual chartered members of Viking Church.  Rasmus Wisnes, Gulbrand Elken, Abraham Faleide, Bernt Grondahl, Haakon Moen, Knute Liudahl, Tosten Lommen, Even Lamen, Ole Bloom, Erick Hagen, Martin Arnston, Olaf Hakanson, Martin Arne, Ivar Larson, August Aanderud, Paul Moen, Rasmus Stenerodden, Albert Liudahl, Timan Quarve, Ellef Ruud, Ole Wisness and Andrew Gilbertson.  Click link for a list of Viking Lutheran confirmands and photos from 1887 to 1935.

The church was in close proximity to the Viking, ND settlement.  The cemetery is located to the south of the building and is enclosed by a fence.  Click link for a listing of burials from an actual reading of the tombstones and the church records.  Much has been lost because the sexton records of burials conducted in the cemetery from the beginning in 1887 to the 1940’s has been lost.  Click link for obituaries.

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