Big Coulee Lutheran Church
48°10'43.0"N 99°10'46.1"W
67th North Street
Pelican Township, Ramsey County, North Dakota 58351
48°10'43.0"N 99°10'46.1"W
67th North Street
Pelican Township, Ramsey County, North Dakota 58351
When the early settlers came to make their homes in this new land, they soon sought to have a church home also. Pastors visited the early communities and services were held in the homes or in a schoolhouse.
The first record of a religious service in the Big Coulee area was in November of 1883 at which time Gilbert Gilbertson was baptized. During 1884 a "Norsk Evangelisk Luthers" congregation was organized by Rev. O.H. Aaberg. Various pastors served Big Coulee together with Chain Lakes, St. Johns, Ibsen Lake, Churchs Ferry and several others.
In 1885, in order to earn money for a church building, a Ladies' Aid was organized. They quilted quilts, sewed and knitted for their bazaars and had basket socials etc. Lunch price was ten cents. Walking a few miles to a meeting was not unusual.
The first full time pastor was Rev. O.T. Lee, who served Big Coulee along with other congregations from 1887 to 1889. During his stay, Big Coulee was divided into Big Coulee West and Big Coulee East. Rev. H.A. Blegen served from 1890 to 1894. Rev. E.O. Larson was there from 1894 to 1898 after which Rev. E. Lovland worked until his death in 1901.
Pastor J.J. Strandness was installed by Rev. E.T. Quam in 1901. After agreement was finally reached about the location of a place to build a church, it was decided to accept Lauritz Jacobson's donation of three acres of land in the northeast corner of section seven and a gift of $100. Here was built the church and cemetery.
The lumber, $1,695.00 worth, was purchased from the Solberg Lumber Company at Churchs Ferry. Ole Overland and E.B. Semb were the carpenters. The church was completed in 1903 and a stable was built the following year. The Corner Stone was laid in 1905 and after furnishing the church, it was dedicated during a three day conference convention in July of 1908. Since there was no basement, they brought to the church grounds a large tent or a thresher 's cook car whenever it was necessary to serve meals for a crowd. Rev. Strandness was pastor until 1911.
In late 1911 Pastor K.O. Raftshol was installed in a parish which included Antiochia, Brinsmade, Norway and Big Coulee. For ten years he also served at Harlow.
Sander Tollefson, son of charter member Tollef Tollefson Sr., was ordained to the Christian Ministry and served his entire life time.
In 1914, the four congregations presented Pastor Raftshol a new model T Ford car.
Open-air services were sometimes held at the Knut Nestegard woods. Following a picnic lunch at noon, the Luther League sponsored a program with a speech by Governor R.A. Nestos on June 17, 1923.
On April 8, 1934 during a severe electrical storm, lightning struck the steeple and the Big Coulee church burned. The old church was used for the last time when the Ladies' Aid met in the Sunday School room April 5, 1934 at 6 p.m.
After several meetings the decision was reached to build a new church. Materials and labor for the new church totaled $5623 .30 and of that total $1370 was contributed by the Ladies' Aid. Fred Rognlie, who drew the plans and was the contractor, John Paulson, the mason, and Andrew Nestegard, who built the chancel furniture, were each paid for their work. All the rest of the labor was donated by the members. The chancel furniture is painted white and trimmed with gold. Thanksgiving Day of 1934 the first service was held in the new basement. The building was completed the following year.
Rev. K.O. Raftshol tendered his resignation to the parish in 1935, however, Norway congregation did not accept his resignation, so the parish was split. Raftshol's farewell sermon was preached September 8, 1935, after nearly 24 years of faithful service to Big Coulee.
The pulpit was supplied for a time by Rev. R.C. Storsteen until a new parish alignment was formulated with Cando and Pastor O.R. Swenson.
The church was dedicated, and the corner stone laid by District President Dr. David Stoeve during the Lake Region E.L.C. Circuit Convention in October of 1939. Rev. Swenson's farewell sermon was given October 29, that year.
Rev. E.J. Nesset served from 1940 to 1944. In June 1945, Rev. E.J. Haanstad was installed and stayed until October of 1948. The new baptismal font was used for the first time that summer when Roberta Ronning was baptized.
Rev. R.E. Bey served from 1949 until 1953. As the rural population dwindled, it became more difficult to keep so many small churches supplied with pastors. In August of 1953 Rev. David Campbell was installed as pastor of the newly formed Brinsmade parish. He served until September 1957, when student Luther Daleske
came to serve his year of internship. Rev. C.L. Carlson served 1958 to 1961. Rev. M.J. Nielson filled in the first half of 1962, then Rev. David Berg arrived and worked until February of 1964.
Several different parish arrangements were tried through the years. In the fall of 1964 Rev. Galen Ose came to a newly aligned six-point parish, Big Coulee, Zion, Knox, Antiochia, North Prairie and Brinsmade, which he served until the fall of 1966. The proposal to unite with Antiochia and Zion as one congregation was defeated. Pastor Ose gave his farewell address, and all work was terminated in Big Coulee Lutheran Church. The building still stands in 1982.
Information - Ramsey County North Dakota Volume II
The first record of a religious service in the Big Coulee area was in November of 1883 at which time Gilbert Gilbertson was baptized. During 1884 a "Norsk Evangelisk Luthers" congregation was organized by Rev. O.H. Aaberg. Various pastors served Big Coulee together with Chain Lakes, St. Johns, Ibsen Lake, Churchs Ferry and several others.
In 1885, in order to earn money for a church building, a Ladies' Aid was organized. They quilted quilts, sewed and knitted for their bazaars and had basket socials etc. Lunch price was ten cents. Walking a few miles to a meeting was not unusual.
The first full time pastor was Rev. O.T. Lee, who served Big Coulee along with other congregations from 1887 to 1889. During his stay, Big Coulee was divided into Big Coulee West and Big Coulee East. Rev. H.A. Blegen served from 1890 to 1894. Rev. E.O. Larson was there from 1894 to 1898 after which Rev. E. Lovland worked until his death in 1901.
Pastor J.J. Strandness was installed by Rev. E.T. Quam in 1901. After agreement was finally reached about the location of a place to build a church, it was decided to accept Lauritz Jacobson's donation of three acres of land in the northeast corner of section seven and a gift of $100. Here was built the church and cemetery.
The lumber, $1,695.00 worth, was purchased from the Solberg Lumber Company at Churchs Ferry. Ole Overland and E.B. Semb were the carpenters. The church was completed in 1903 and a stable was built the following year. The Corner Stone was laid in 1905 and after furnishing the church, it was dedicated during a three day conference convention in July of 1908. Since there was no basement, they brought to the church grounds a large tent or a thresher 's cook car whenever it was necessary to serve meals for a crowd. Rev. Strandness was pastor until 1911.
In late 1911 Pastor K.O. Raftshol was installed in a parish which included Antiochia, Brinsmade, Norway and Big Coulee. For ten years he also served at Harlow.
Sander Tollefson, son of charter member Tollef Tollefson Sr., was ordained to the Christian Ministry and served his entire life time.
In 1914, the four congregations presented Pastor Raftshol a new model T Ford car.
Open-air services were sometimes held at the Knut Nestegard woods. Following a picnic lunch at noon, the Luther League sponsored a program with a speech by Governor R.A. Nestos on June 17, 1923.
On April 8, 1934 during a severe electrical storm, lightning struck the steeple and the Big Coulee church burned. The old church was used for the last time when the Ladies' Aid met in the Sunday School room April 5, 1934 at 6 p.m.
After several meetings the decision was reached to build a new church. Materials and labor for the new church totaled $5623 .30 and of that total $1370 was contributed by the Ladies' Aid. Fred Rognlie, who drew the plans and was the contractor, John Paulson, the mason, and Andrew Nestegard, who built the chancel furniture, were each paid for their work. All the rest of the labor was donated by the members. The chancel furniture is painted white and trimmed with gold. Thanksgiving Day of 1934 the first service was held in the new basement. The building was completed the following year.
Rev. K.O. Raftshol tendered his resignation to the parish in 1935, however, Norway congregation did not accept his resignation, so the parish was split. Raftshol's farewell sermon was preached September 8, 1935, after nearly 24 years of faithful service to Big Coulee.
The pulpit was supplied for a time by Rev. R.C. Storsteen until a new parish alignment was formulated with Cando and Pastor O.R. Swenson.
The church was dedicated, and the corner stone laid by District President Dr. David Stoeve during the Lake Region E.L.C. Circuit Convention in October of 1939. Rev. Swenson's farewell sermon was given October 29, that year.
Rev. E.J. Nesset served from 1940 to 1944. In June 1945, Rev. E.J. Haanstad was installed and stayed until October of 1948. The new baptismal font was used for the first time that summer when Roberta Ronning was baptized.
Rev. R.E. Bey served from 1949 until 1953. As the rural population dwindled, it became more difficult to keep so many small churches supplied with pastors. In August of 1953 Rev. David Campbell was installed as pastor of the newly formed Brinsmade parish. He served until September 1957, when student Luther Daleske
came to serve his year of internship. Rev. C.L. Carlson served 1958 to 1961. Rev. M.J. Nielson filled in the first half of 1962, then Rev. David Berg arrived and worked until February of 1964.
Several different parish arrangements were tried through the years. In the fall of 1964 Rev. Galen Ose came to a newly aligned six-point parish, Big Coulee, Zion, Knox, Antiochia, North Prairie and Brinsmade, which he served until the fall of 1966. The proposal to unite with Antiochia and Zion as one congregation was defeated. Pastor Ose gave his farewell address, and all work was terminated in Big Coulee Lutheran Church. The building still stands in 1982.
Information - Ramsey County North Dakota Volume II