Bethlehem Lutheran Church
403 Washington Street
Noonan, Divide County, North Dakota 58765
403 Washington Street
Noonan, Divide County, North Dakota 58765
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Noonan, North Dakota
1907-1957
Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation of Noonan, North Dakota, was first organized in 1907 by Pastor Ylvisaker as a congregation of 40 souls and reorganized in 1915 while being served by Pastor J. W. Rosholt.
A community church was the congregation's first home until 1919 when the present edifice was built. The cornerstone was laid August 8, 1920, and the church was dedicated October 2, 1921. Fire partly destroyed the building on November 27, 1955; however, a completely new and enlarged interior replaced and beautified the church at this time.
The following pastors have served Bethlehem Congregation: Samuel Peterson, prior to the summer of 1906; Olaf Ylvisaker, 1906-1912; M.B. Bakkerud, 1912-1913; J.W. Rosholt, 1913-1918; A.J. Vaaler, 1918-1919; G.W. Tolo, 1920-1926; K.O. Waage, 1927-1953; E.C. Grefsrud, 1954-.
The present membership is 443 baptized and 277 confirmed. "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house!" Psalm 84:4.
Info from - back of Bethlehem Lutheran Church plate.
Noonan, North Dakota
1907-1957
Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation of Noonan, North Dakota, was first organized in 1907 by Pastor Ylvisaker as a congregation of 40 souls and reorganized in 1915 while being served by Pastor J. W. Rosholt.
A community church was the congregation's first home until 1919 when the present edifice was built. The cornerstone was laid August 8, 1920, and the church was dedicated October 2, 1921. Fire partly destroyed the building on November 27, 1955; however, a completely new and enlarged interior replaced and beautified the church at this time.
The following pastors have served Bethlehem Congregation: Samuel Peterson, prior to the summer of 1906; Olaf Ylvisaker, 1906-1912; M.B. Bakkerud, 1912-1913; J.W. Rosholt, 1913-1918; A.J. Vaaler, 1918-1919; G.W. Tolo, 1920-1926; K.O. Waage, 1927-1953; E.C. Grefsrud, 1954-.
The present membership is 443 baptized and 277 confirmed. "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house!" Psalm 84:4.
Info from - back of Bethlehem Lutheran Church plate.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
The first church service in the city of Noonan was held in 1906 by Reverend Samuel Peterson, who traveled between here and Flaxton to hold these services, in the home of a parishioner, Theodore Thon.
Early in 1907, Pastor Ylvisaker came to Crosby and served Noonan on an itinerant basis, followed by Rev. Rosholt. Rev. Arnt Vaaler was the first resident pastor at Noonan. In the fall of 1919, work was begun on building a church. An epoch in the history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Noonan was reached Sunday, August 8, 1920, when the fine new church edifice (estimated cost $15,000), which had just been completed, was dedicated and the cornerstone laid. Martin Hanson was the first baby to be baptized in the church that day.
Rev. I. D. Ylvisaker, of Fargo, President of the Lutheran organization of North Dakota, was in charge of the ceremonies, which were exceedingly impressive. People from all parts of the counties of Divide and Burke were present and it was estimated that at least 500 were there to help celebrate the occasion. At noon the ladies aid served a very tasty free luncheon and at three o'clock the installation of the new pastor, Rev. G. W. Tolo, took place. This ceremony was also in charge of Rev. Ylvisaker. Rev. Tolo made a very favorable impression with his maiden sermon, and the call at Noonan was to be congratulated on securing the services of this splendid young clergyman. It was a great day for the members of the Bethlehem congregation, one that would be long remembered by all, for it saw the realization of their dreams of years—the opening and dedication of a church home all their own.
Mr. P. C. Knoph was the first organist, as well as the first Sunday School superintendent, followed by A. H. Anderson who served for the next 30 years until he moved away. Mrs. Penna Barden has now been serving in that capacity for a number of years. Betty Wick (Mrs. Elvin Larson) became the church organist and choir director along with her sister Viola. At present, organists are Mrs. Bob Priebe and Mrs. Charles Wissbrod.
Rev. K. O. Waage pastored in Noonan during the depression years, from 1927 until his death in 1953. It was a great day for Bethlehem congregation when, at a special service November 28, 1943, the church debt was wiped out and George Gerde applied the match that burned the mortgage.
In late 1955, a fire broke out and almost destroyed the church. Since the reconstruction, a Sunday School unit north of the church has been added and since that, the parsonage and pastor's study above the Sunday School unit. During Rev. Parkhurst's 9-year pastorate, which ended in 1967, the parish completed a $31,000 building program which included a new $22,000 parsonage and a $9,000 classroom and pastor's study addition.
Presently, Pastor Karen Rossing is serving Bethlehem and Zion congregations.
Info from - Noonan Diamond Jubilee: 1906-1981 (page 22)
The first church service in the city of Noonan was held in 1906 by Reverend Samuel Peterson, who traveled between here and Flaxton to hold these services, in the home of a parishioner, Theodore Thon.
Early in 1907, Pastor Ylvisaker came to Crosby and served Noonan on an itinerant basis, followed by Rev. Rosholt. Rev. Arnt Vaaler was the first resident pastor at Noonan. In the fall of 1919, work was begun on building a church. An epoch in the history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Noonan was reached Sunday, August 8, 1920, when the fine new church edifice (estimated cost $15,000), which had just been completed, was dedicated and the cornerstone laid. Martin Hanson was the first baby to be baptized in the church that day.
Rev. I. D. Ylvisaker, of Fargo, President of the Lutheran organization of North Dakota, was in charge of the ceremonies, which were exceedingly impressive. People from all parts of the counties of Divide and Burke were present and it was estimated that at least 500 were there to help celebrate the occasion. At noon the ladies aid served a very tasty free luncheon and at three o'clock the installation of the new pastor, Rev. G. W. Tolo, took place. This ceremony was also in charge of Rev. Ylvisaker. Rev. Tolo made a very favorable impression with his maiden sermon, and the call at Noonan was to be congratulated on securing the services of this splendid young clergyman. It was a great day for the members of the Bethlehem congregation, one that would be long remembered by all, for it saw the realization of their dreams of years—the opening and dedication of a church home all their own.
Mr. P. C. Knoph was the first organist, as well as the first Sunday School superintendent, followed by A. H. Anderson who served for the next 30 years until he moved away. Mrs. Penna Barden has now been serving in that capacity for a number of years. Betty Wick (Mrs. Elvin Larson) became the church organist and choir director along with her sister Viola. At present, organists are Mrs. Bob Priebe and Mrs. Charles Wissbrod.
Rev. K. O. Waage pastored in Noonan during the depression years, from 1927 until his death in 1953. It was a great day for Bethlehem congregation when, at a special service November 28, 1943, the church debt was wiped out and George Gerde applied the match that burned the mortgage.
In late 1955, a fire broke out and almost destroyed the church. Since the reconstruction, a Sunday School unit north of the church has been added and since that, the parsonage and pastor's study above the Sunday School unit. During Rev. Parkhurst's 9-year pastorate, which ended in 1967, the parish completed a $31,000 building program which included a new $22,000 parsonage and a $9,000 classroom and pastor's study addition.
Presently, Pastor Karen Rossing is serving Bethlehem and Zion congregations.
Info from - Noonan Diamond Jubilee: 1906-1981 (page 22)