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Benson County North Dakota Genealogy

South Viking Township North Dakota
151 North, Range 69 West

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History of Viking Lutheran Church

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.

Viking, North Dakota

The church was in close proximity to the Viking, North Dakota 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. The Viking Lutheran Church has compiled a history book for their centennial celebration in 1987.  It not only covers the church history but also the surrounding area of farms and people who lived here.

Viking, North Dakota 1910

Cemetery

Viking Cemetery  To reach this cemetery from Maddock, ND traveling south on State Highway #30 for 8 miles and then 1 mile east onto a gravel road. Viking Cemetery is located at the intersection of 31st Street and 51st Ave, on the south side of the road, behind the church. This cemetery and church were established in 1887 during the pioneer settlement of this area of North Dakota. It is owned and well maintained by the Viking Lutheran Church.

Early Township Schools

There were four schools established through out the township.  They include the Peerless School, Bondeli School, Quarve #2 or Aanderud School and the Bergsgaard School.  The Bergsgaard School is listed as school #6 in district 9.

Quarve School #2 also known as the Aanderud School built in 1890 by M.A. Wisness Technically this was a school however it was also used as Viking Church until 1903

Bergsgaard School #6

For the term of 1904 – 1905 at the Bergsgaard School the souvenir booklet states the teacher to be Arthur E. Lindesmith and the school board members as M. A. Wisness, John Maddock, H. C. Westby and G. H. Grondahl.  Pupils were Johnie (John) Gilbertson, Harry Gilbertson, Ida Gilbertson, Albert Nelson, Bennie (Benjamin) Nelson, Natalia Nelson, Carl Nelson, Ellen Nelson, Nellie Nelson, Alvin Liudahl, Henry Liudahl, Alma Liudahl, and Lawrence Bergsgaard.

For the term of 1905 – 1906 in the Bergsgaard School the teacher was Even Christianson and pupils given the souvenir booklet at the end of the term were as follows: Mabel Bergsgaard, Lawrence Bergsgaard, John Gilbertson, Clarence Gilbertson, Amos Gilbertson, Harry Gilbertson, Ida Gilbertson, Alvin Liudahl, Henry Liudahl, Alma Liudahl, Mabel Langlie, Palmer Langlie, Joseph Langlie, Albert Nelson, Benjamin Nelson, Carl Nelson, Natalia Nelson, Ellen Nelson, Nellie Nelson, and Alma Nelson.

The school year of 1907 in the souvenir booklet declares the teacher to be Elnora M. Ward and the pupils are as follows: Mabel Bergsgaard, Lawrence Bergsgaard, John Gilbertson, Clarence Gilbertson, Amos Gilbertson, Ida Gilbertson, Harry Gilbertson, Roy Hanson, Cornelius Hanson, Myrtle Hanson, Ella Hanson, Palmer Langlie, Joseph Langlie, Mabel Langlie, Martin Milde, Albert Nelson, Bennie Nelson, Signie Nelson, Nellie Nelson, Natalia Nelson, Carl Nelson, Ellen Nelson, Alma Nelson and Thinka Liudahl.

The school souvenir booklet for 1909 lists the teacher as Agnes Larson.  The pupils are Agnes Bergsgaard, Alph Bergsgaard, Mabel Bergsgaard, Lawrence Bergsgaard, Albert Nelson, Carl Nelson, Ellen Nelson, Benjamin Nelson, Christina Nelson, Natalia Nelson, Signie Nelson, William Nelson, Alma Nelson, Hjalmer Nelson, Nellie Nelson, Amos Gilbertson, Harry Gilbertson, Ida Gilbertson, John Gilbertson, Joseph Langlie, Mabel Langlie, and Palmer Langlie.

The school year of 1911 in the Bergsgaard School shows the teacher to be Oscar P. Lovstuen.  Pupils include: Alma Liudahl, Teddy (Theodore) Liudahl, Amos Gilbertson, Carl Nelson, Alma Nelson, Hjalmer Nelson, Ellen Nelson, Bennie Nelson, William Nelson, Nellie Nelson, Signie Nelson, Christina Nelson, Lawrence Bergsgaard, Mabel Bergsgaard, Agnes Bergsgaard, Alph Bergsgaard, Mabel Gilbertson, Ida Gilbertson, Harry Gilbertson, and Marie Bergrud.

• Andrew Martenson Nelson and Johanna Anderson Nelson were the parents of Ellen, Nellie, Alma, Hjalmer, Jennie, Olga and Alvin Nelson.

• Ole Bergsgaard and Annie Hvinden Bergsgaard were the parents of Lawrence, Mabel, Agnes and Alph Bergsgaard.

• Knute Liudahl and Inger Marie Tyrebakken Liudahl were the parents of Thinka Liudahl.

• Helmer Gilbertson and Olava Tranby Gilbertson were the parents of John, Oscar, Clarence, Mabel (Mrs. Gust Carlson) and Ida Gilbertson.

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