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Immanuel
Lutheran Church History Golden Anniversary 1908-1958 The following account was written on the occasion of the church's Golden Anniversary. The Immanuel church stands on a hill five miles south and one half mile east of Ambrose. In the early 1900's this area was all prairies. People came here to homestead. These pioneers lived in simple sod houses or other lowly homes. With a team of oxen or horses they broke up small patches of land. They created a productive farming community in spite of the rocks and hills. These people were also the pioneers of our church. We owe them much. Ours is a richer heritage because of these sturdy, sincere, and God-fearing pioneers of our church. We are certainly thankful for the faithful struggles of the homesteaders who helped lay the foundations for the work which has been so richly blessed by our Lord, and carried on down through the years. We have to go back beyond the day the congregation was organized in order to get the full story of our church and congregation. The Lutheran Free Church had Rasmus Hjelmeland take up church work out here near Ambrose as early as 1903. He worked here for three years and established a congregation. In the meantime he decided to leave the Free Church and take up work with the United Church. Some of his members also changed over. But this did not stop the work of the Lutheran Free Church. There were only two families left of this congregation and from this nucleus along with Lutheran Free Church minded people that moved into the south and west feeling the need to gather about God's word held many blessed meetings in the homes out over the community. The first report we have was from August 9, 1908, which we can also call the congregation’s birthday. This meeting was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Okland and here they organized a congregation. It was to be called Immanuels, Skandinavian, Evangelistic Church. At this meeting a constitution was written up. The people signed up as members that day were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Okland, Mikkel Hesthammers, Rasmus Aalunds, S. K. Unhjems, O. N. Christensons, L. O. Andersons, Hans Haugland, and John Hjelmeland, The following first officers were elected:
Pastor Tangvold had been working in this community for two years. He came here in 1906 from Sherwood, North Dakota. It was not until 1908 that they sent a call letter to him. He accepted and became the first official pastor and was to receive a salary of $75.00 a year. At a meeting later that fall the Hellands joined the congregation and Mr. Helland became the congregation’s first treasurer. As the years went on new members were added and the need for a house of worship was felt more than ever. In 1910 Pastor Tangvold moved farther west and Pastor E. L. Erickson came to carry on the work. The people were now beginning to look around for a piece of land on which to build a church and to have for a burial ground for their departed loved ones. In 1911, R. S. Aalund offered a couple acres of land, but as this was not conveniently located for most of the members it was graciously rejected for a more central location. Then the Oklands offered a couple of acres of land and it was accepted with thanks. The location was in the NW corner of NE ¼ of Sec. 12 in Twin Butte township. In March of 1912 a business meeting was held and plans were made to build a church and fence the church yard. The structure was to be 26' x 36' with a tower footing 10' x 10'. L. O. Anderson, Thomas Okland, and R. S. Aalund were appointed to serve on the building committee. The church was built in the summer of 1912 by Rasmus Cleveland, a contractor. The total cost of the material and labor was $1,091. In the summer of 1913, Pastor Erickson took his confirmation class of four girls from the Colgan community over to Immanuel's new church to have them confirmed, as Colgan did not have a church yet. On December 31, 1913, the first wedding to be solemnized in Immanuels church took place. Hannah Johnson became the bride of Martin Clausen. A decorated apple box was used for the altar. In December 1916, the first Christmas festival was held in the church. The committee for this festival was Andrew Holmquist, Julius Lystad, Rasmus Gunderson, George Leland, Nels Eggen, and Enevold Strand. Every year following for many years at the annual meeting a Christmas tree festival committee was selected. In the fall of 1917 plans were made to build a chancel on the west end of the church and put cement walls and floor in the basement. Enoch Anderson and Christ Sortland built this shortly before Christ left for the armed services where he lost his life in World War I. To prove the children were not neglected, plans were made to have one month of parochial school for both the east and west districts. At this time it was called Norwegian school. Everyone got his or her religious instruction in the Norwegian language. Later on it gradually changed over to the English as it was easier for the children to learn and understand.
At every annual meeting for many years committees were appointed to
attend to the matters pertaining to parochial school, such as hiring of
teachers and raising money to carry on the work. A lot of us can
remember them having a program on the closing day of the school month
and the big ice cream socials. Sometimes these doings were held at the
Leland school house, sometimes at the church, or in somebody’s grove.
They would build a stand and sell homemade ice cream and lemonade. The
women were busy mixing the ice cream and the men would take their turns
at turning the freezers. The recreation consisted of horse shoe,
croquet, and baseball. Some of the parochial school teachers I can
recall over the years are:
In 1919 a special meeting was called and plans were made to buy chancel fixtures. Mrs. Thomas Okland offered to buy the altar picture, frame and table in memory of her husband Thomas Okland, if the congregation would buy the rest. A painting of "Jesus on the Cross” was bought as was the altar table, altar ring, pulpit stand, and baptismal font. On November 15, 1919, the corner stone was laid at Immanuel Church. O. Swenson was pastor at this time. Pastor E. E. Gynild, President and founder of the Lutheran Free Church officiated at the ceremonies and was guest speaker. English services had been held occasionally but it wasn't until 1922 that they decided to have an English service every fourth Sunday, giving way to the younger generation. We note a few years later it was changed to the opposite, one Norwegian service every fourth Sunday. It has been all English since 1939. In 1920 all the parishes went together and bought Pastor Swenson a new Ford touring car. In 1924 they did the same for Pastor Haukeness, and in 1948 a new Chevrolet sedan was bought for Pastor Anderson. In 1927 a small house was purchased in Fortuna for a parsonage. Prior to this the pastors had been living in Ambrose. In 1944 the parishes appointed committees to gather in funds to buy a nicer and larger house. The A. G. Anderson house in Fortuna was purchased and the Luthard family was the first to occupy it. Our congregation helps maintain one fourth of the expenses of the upkeep. It was in 1929 that the congregation decided to take up an offering at every church service. In 1935 they decided to try the envelope system of offering which they stuck by for a few years. Then in 1939 they went back to the offering at each service and they still abide by this. Now the minister gets a straight salary and the special festival offerings go into the church treasury. During the 1930's when the depression was on and crop failures were frequent and most people were very hard up, very little was done to the church proper. They did manage however, to have the interior of the church painted in 1936. Some of the members moved away during this time. Those that remained carried on the best they could, always trusting in God for guidance.
For almost forty years the foot pedal organ was used in the church and
it wasn't until 1947 that a piano was purchased. Some of the people who
have been instrumental in playing for services down through the years
are:
At times down through the years our church has been active in prayer services, Bible studies and choir. L. J. Paulson was Choir Director and Julius Lystad the organist. Some of the first choir members we can recall are:
In 1948 the foundation and basement were badly in need of repair, so a contractor was hired to do the work. Cement blocks were used for a new foundation and basement walls. A cement floor was also poured in the basement. In 1949 electricity had
become a reality to most of the members. So in 1950 the church was wired for
electricity. The lights replaced the lamps and gas lanterns. An electric range
replaced the old cook stove and kerosene burners in the kitchen. The coal
furnace was equipped with a fan and ducts. But this was not very satisfactory,
so in 1956 an oil furnace was purchased and at last our heating problem was
solved. This is quite a change from the big coal heater that stood in the front
of the church and was used to heat it, the first few years after it was built
before a hot air furnace was installed in the basement.
As we remember past blessings, let us look to the future and rededicate our lives and our all to Christ and His services. Above history obtained from the
Golden Anniversary Pamphlet:
The following undated document, written in Norwegian and currently kept in the Ambrose Lutheran Church safe, documents the early history of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Randi Knutson provided the translation from Norwegian.
Hans K. Haugland
Some deacons elected: Some trustees elected: Secretary:
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