NORWAY LUTHERAN CHURCH HISTORY
(Written in 1934)

NORWAY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ENTERPRISE TOWNSHIP

ROBERTS COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

In commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Norway Lutheran

Church of Enterprise Township, we pause to give thanks to our

Creator for blessings that He has bestowed upon us. With His divine

guidance the pioneer men and women were given courage and

inspiration to work for a Christian Community in which to live.

This short history is written in order that our children may

have a record of the deeds of their parents, the hardships and

difficulties they encountered in a new settlement.

On April 15th, 1892, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Indian reservation

was opened for settlement. People came from far and near and filed

on 160 acres of land for the purpose of establishing homes for

themselves and families. They set to work building shanties of sod

or lumber and as soon as possible began breaking up the virgin soil.

Many of the pioneers who settled in Enterprise and adjoining

townships were of Norwegian descent or had recently come from across

the seas, from their homes in Norway. They were of the Lutheran

Faith and soon the subject of religious services was discussed. A

few services were held, whenever a visiting minister could be

obtained.

Theo. A. Gunnarson, an ordained minister, had taken a homestead

in Norway Township, when the reservation opened. Prior to that time

he had served his first congregation at Grobe, Spink County, South

Dakota, holding that charge for four years. Being the only minister

for miles around he soon took up the hard task of organizing

congregations. There was no money to build churches the first

years, therefore, he met with the people at their homes. Rev.

Gunnarson was called to this community to hold services.

The first recorded meeting was held on February 25th, 1894, at

the home of John Barsnes, now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Olson.

There were five meetings held before the congregation was organized.

Four of these were held in the town of Bossko, a little village

containing a few buildings consisting of a store or two, a post

office, and a blacksmith shop.

On the 5th day of July, 1894, a meeting was called in Bossko for

the purpose of organizing a congregation. Rev. Theo. A. Gunnarson

was chosen to act as Chairman and John Hanson as secretary. The

meeting opened with the singing of hymn No. 484, and a prayer by the

pastor. The following members decided unanimously to organize a

Lutheran congregation: Ole H. Lee, Elias Olson, Erik Groning, Bjorn

C. Berg, L. Apelquist, C. J. Westby, and John Hanson. A

constitution was proposed and read by Rev. Gunnarson, and adopted by

the members. They decided to call their congregation the "Norway

Evangelical Lutheran Church" and a letter of call was sent to Rev.

Theo. A. Gunnarson to serve as their pastor. The officers chosen at

this first meeting were: Secretary, John Hanson; Deacons, B. C.

Berg, C. J. Westby, Erick Froning; Trustees, Ole H. Lee, L.

Apelquist and B. C. Berg. A committee was appointed to find a

suitable place for a burial ground. It was further decided that the

yearly meetings should be held the first part of November of each

year.

At a later date on October 25th, 1894, another meeting was held.

At this time several new members, with their families, joined,

namely: Andrew Tweit, John Barsnes, Tom Olson, Peter O. Loe, Nels

Marken, J. C. Johnson, Rulof Hofstad, Olaf O. Moe, B. H. Benson, Ole

Thompson and Hans Aasen. At this meeting it was decided that the

cemetery should be located on the southwest corner of Peter Loe's

land, between Sections 8 and 17. The records show that there were

twelve meetings held in 1894. These were held in Bossco with the

exception of two, one at J. Barsnes and one at the home of Ole Lee.

The children baptized the first year of the congregation were

Theodore Torgerson, Mathilda Lee, Arthur Anderson, Della Van Winkle,

and Annie Johnson. The first confirmation class was held on July

5th, 1896, in Bossco. The confimants were Peter O. Moe, Alfred

Benson, and Karoline Olson. Mr. and Mrs. Peter O. Loe were the

first couple married in the year 1894.

Other new members came into the congregation: Chas. Olson and

family, Jacob Sundahl and family were added in 1896. Later on other

members joined, namely: Olaf Olson, C. O. Sonstegard, Hans

Krogstad, John Torgerson, and Anton Jacobson, with their families.

About this time the problem of religious teaching was brought up

at the yearly meetings and a committee was appointed each year to

arrange for a parochial school to be held during the summer for a

month or more. This was financed by the contributions from the

members and others who were interested in the school.

In the spring of 1897, a new school house was built in District

No. 2, Enterprise Township, usually referred to as the Sonstegard

School, the building being located on the Carl Sonstegard land.

Services were held in this school house from that year until the

church was built.

At a meeting on February 3rd, 1898, the constitution of the

United Church was adopted, also the by-laws. At this meeting it was

decided that a new place be found for a cemetery, and it was moved

to its present location on the Southeast corner of Section 5. This

land of two acres was donated by Charles Olson.

As the years went by there was much discussion about building a

church in the community. This was quite a momentous question as

money was still scarce, but the men and women felt the need of a

church in their midst.

On November 24th, 1900, a committee was appointed to take up a

subscription toward a building fund. The committee consisted of the

following members: H. O. Johnson, Olaf Olson, Hans Krogstand, Ole

Odegaard, and Bartineus Trelsdad. On a Sunday, the 17th day of

February, 1901, the members met at the cemetery grounds to select a

location for the church building. At a previous meeting held

February 11th, 1901, a building committee had been appointed. They

were Jacob Sundahl, Nils Iverson and H. O. Johnson. The dimensions

of the church was to be 28 x 40, and 14 feet high, with belfry and

steeple. However, there was some discussion about the size of the

building, but eventually the first decision prevailed.

Stone was hauled and the foundation constructed in 1902. The

church was built in the spring of 1903, the contract being let to

Andrew Beito of Effington. We have no written record of the first

services held in the new church, but from hearsay we understand that

the first services were held on May 3rd, 1903. The church stands on

a beautiful location: on the crest of a hill that slopes gently to

the south and west, overlooking a valley that extends to the Coteau

Hills. The structure with its steeple may be seen from miles away,

ever as a symbol of peace and good-will to all mankind.

Improvements were made on the inside of the church in the next

few years. In 1908 an organ was installed. Mr. Chas. Olson was the

first organist and served as such for fifteen years. Miss Laura

Krogstad was organist for two years and Miss Elvera Olson and Miss

Hazel Peterson each four years consecutively.

In 1910 a bell was purchased. On a calm Sunday morning,

September 2nd of that year, the stillness of the air was broken by

the peals of the bell in the church. Mr. Hans Krogstad had the

honor of ringing the bell the first time.

In July, 1910, the corner stone of the church was laid, with

impressive ceremonies. Many people came from far and near for that

occassion. During the years 1913-14 pews were bought, also other

furnishings for the church were installed. Mr. Knudt Sanderson did

much of the skilled work. He made the Altar Ring and presented the

church with the Pulpit, which was made and carved by his own hands,

and given as a surprise to the congregation. Mr. Sanderson was also

the precentor (Klokker) and served in that capacity from 1906 until

about 1920.

A Ladies Aid was organized about the year 1896. Their records

show that they have been a substantial mainstay to the congregation.

A W. P. Society was organized in 1913. This Society was very

active and helped in many ways to build up the church. They had a

good choir, with Mr. Chas. Olson as their leader. Many enjoyable

programs were given by them, and it was an inspriation to both young

and old.

Plans were made to dedicate the church as it was now quite

complete. The dedication services were held November 12th, 1916.

Rev. Aasgaard who was Professor of Concordia College in Moorhead,

Minnesota, at the time, conducted the services. Many people were in

attendance at this occassion.

Many years had now passed by. Many changes had taken place.

Roads were being built and automobiles were used as a means of

travel. The English language had come more into use, and it became

evident that the services should be in the English Language, at

least part of the time. Rev. Gunnarson saw the need of this change.

On June 20th, 1920, he gave his farewell sermon, after serving this

congregation for more than twenty-six years. For many years he

served in the capcity of circuit president. Rev. Gunnarson was a

man of more than ordinary health and strength, but having endured

many stormy days and cold nights on the road, in open rigs, his

health was not as good as formerly. He passed away on the 5th day

of May, 1930, at the age of seventy-four years. His work as a

minister and a man will go down in memory for many years to come.

In 1920 the trustees of this church were instructed to consult

with Rev. O. G. Austin of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Sisseton,

in regards to taking charge of Norway Congregation in addition to

his work at Sisseton. A call was then extended to him and he took

charge immediately. Rev. Austin did much to strengthen the

congregation. Many new members were taken into the church during

the two years that he was pastor here. Rev. Austin resigned on May

22nd, 1922. It then became necessary for the two congregations to

call a new minister.

A letter of call was sent to Rev. L. E. Evans of LaCrosse,

Wisconsin. He has now been pastor of the congregation for many

years. Rev. and Mrs. Evans are well liked by everyone. Rev. Evans

has charge of three congregations. Besides this congregation, he is

the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Sisseton, South Dakota, and

the Lutheran Church of Claire City, South Dakota. There have been

in this Norway Lutheran Church of Enterprise Township 211 baptized,

110 confirmed, and 25 couples married. There have been 135 enrolled

as members in the congregation.

The present officers of the congregation are as follows:

Secretary, Elmer Krogstad; Treasuer, Anton Jacobson; Deacons: P. E.

Larson, Knudt Sunderson, and Oscar Loe; Trustees: Chas Olson, Chris

Peterson, and John Farmen.

Forty years have passed since the first charter members

organized this congregation. We pay tribute to them, and to the men

and women who so closely followed. Their work was really the harder

task, that of perpetuating and keeping alive the good work that was

begun. We thank our Heavenly Father for this precious heritage.

40th Anniversary

Sept. 30, 1934

This page Created 01/12/06

Return to Churches and Cemeteries

Return to Roberts County Main Page