Blanchard Lutheran Church
108 2nd Ave SE
Blanchard, Traill County, North Dakota 58009
108 2nd Ave SE
Blanchard, Traill County, North Dakota 58009
Their final service on May 22, 2011, and it was demolished in 2011.
Zion Lutheran Church in Oriska burned to the ground that same year, and the Blanchard Lutheran congregation donated their church furnishings, including the handmade pulpit and cross and their organ, to the church as it rebuilt. Knowing parts of the building were living on made the decision to close Blanchard Lutheran easier.
Zion Lutheran Church in Oriska burned to the ground that same year, and the Blanchard Lutheran congregation donated their church furnishings, including the handmade pulpit and cross and their organ, to the church as it rebuilt. Knowing parts of the building were living on made the decision to close Blanchard Lutheran easier.

Rev. O. J. Malkewick of Galesburg, a very sincere worker for the Lord, became interested in the Lutheran people of Blanchard who had no church services. He announced a service to be held Sunday, Sept. 6, 1908.
In October of 1908 Rev. Malkewick discussed the organization of a Ladies Aid. The ladies: Mrs. Presbo, Mrs. Louis Stockmoe, Mrs. Andrew Peterson, Mrs. Sunby, Mrs. Ole Grimstvedt, Annie Seim, Mrs. A. Olson, Mrs. Digre, Mrs. J. Olson, Mrs. Arnt Melting, Mrs. John Reinan and Mrs. Annie Peterson, along with other members pledged membership and drafted a constitution, selecting the name "Hauge Norske Evangelical Lutheran Kvinde Forening." The first meetings in the homes were conducted in Norwegian. The hymn books purchased contained both Norwegian and English. Rev. Malkewick attended all the meetings, making the trip with horses from his home in Galesburg.
With the growing interest in the church, came a desire for a building. The bid of $301 for the schoolhouse was accepted and Mr. Gale Hunter donated the lot where the church now stands. Organizing a congregation was dropped because of the several denominations, so the Ladies Aid incorporated so they might hold property. A charter was signed July 14, 1914.
The building was remodeled, and through the years has been enlarged and improved many times. A beautiful altar picture, "The Good Shepherd" was painted and given by John and Martin Anderson. A stove was purchased from the Roseville congregation, and they presented Blanchard with a pulpit. An altar was made and donated by Mr. H.J. Olson. The Young People's Society bought the little pump organ.
After Rev. Malkewick left, Rev. Sveen of Portland conducted services. Later Rev. Hanson and in 1931 Rev. Gullixson of Mayville served the Blanchard Congregation.
A reorganization aid meeting was held in 1929. Mrs. W.E. Holland, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Mrs. J.D. Cormack, Mrs. Ivar Seim, Mrs. C.B. Froke, Mrs. John Reinan, Mrs. Clarence Reinan and Mrs. Harry Stigen revised and adopted the former constitution. For some years the church was called Evangelical Lutheran, but now we are members of the American Lutheran Church, having merged with other denominations.
The price of the delicious suppers went from 15c to 35c, then to 50c and up to $1.00 as the years went on. Now we prefer a free-will offering.
Rev. Tjornhom of Hillsboro served the congregation from 1935 to 1941 when Pastor C.F. Savereide of Hillsboro was called. When Pastor Savereide retired in 1976 Pastor Jim Hanson from Valley City was called to lead the Blanchard flock.
LeVerne Mattson, with the help of the men of the church, remodeled the entire kitchen and at a later date built a whole new altar. The latter was dedicated in I960. There have been many improvements in the following years with our expert men doing the bulk of the work.
The Ladies Aid continued to take care of the church business - buying everything with the help of donations - until the building was deeded over to the congregation in 1950. The American Lutheran Church Women still continue to help the congregation with financial support, but concentrate now on donations to Foreign Missions, church schools, Red Willow Bible Camp, rest homes, Sunday School, Parochial School, Indian Missions, etc. We also give of our time and friendship to those close to us; and so the work of Blanchard Lutheran goes on. - Merilla Brasel
[Source: Hillsboro, North Dakota: The First Hundred Years; Transcribed by Fred Coleman]
In October of 1908 Rev. Malkewick discussed the organization of a Ladies Aid. The ladies: Mrs. Presbo, Mrs. Louis Stockmoe, Mrs. Andrew Peterson, Mrs. Sunby, Mrs. Ole Grimstvedt, Annie Seim, Mrs. A. Olson, Mrs. Digre, Mrs. J. Olson, Mrs. Arnt Melting, Mrs. John Reinan and Mrs. Annie Peterson, along with other members pledged membership and drafted a constitution, selecting the name "Hauge Norske Evangelical Lutheran Kvinde Forening." The first meetings in the homes were conducted in Norwegian. The hymn books purchased contained both Norwegian and English. Rev. Malkewick attended all the meetings, making the trip with horses from his home in Galesburg.
With the growing interest in the church, came a desire for a building. The bid of $301 for the schoolhouse was accepted and Mr. Gale Hunter donated the lot where the church now stands. Organizing a congregation was dropped because of the several denominations, so the Ladies Aid incorporated so they might hold property. A charter was signed July 14, 1914.
The building was remodeled, and through the years has been enlarged and improved many times. A beautiful altar picture, "The Good Shepherd" was painted and given by John and Martin Anderson. A stove was purchased from the Roseville congregation, and they presented Blanchard with a pulpit. An altar was made and donated by Mr. H.J. Olson. The Young People's Society bought the little pump organ.
After Rev. Malkewick left, Rev. Sveen of Portland conducted services. Later Rev. Hanson and in 1931 Rev. Gullixson of Mayville served the Blanchard Congregation.
A reorganization aid meeting was held in 1929. Mrs. W.E. Holland, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Mrs. J.D. Cormack, Mrs. Ivar Seim, Mrs. C.B. Froke, Mrs. John Reinan, Mrs. Clarence Reinan and Mrs. Harry Stigen revised and adopted the former constitution. For some years the church was called Evangelical Lutheran, but now we are members of the American Lutheran Church, having merged with other denominations.
The price of the delicious suppers went from 15c to 35c, then to 50c and up to $1.00 as the years went on. Now we prefer a free-will offering.
Rev. Tjornhom of Hillsboro served the congregation from 1935 to 1941 when Pastor C.F. Savereide of Hillsboro was called. When Pastor Savereide retired in 1976 Pastor Jim Hanson from Valley City was called to lead the Blanchard flock.
LeVerne Mattson, with the help of the men of the church, remodeled the entire kitchen and at a later date built a whole new altar. The latter was dedicated in I960. There have been many improvements in the following years with our expert men doing the bulk of the work.
The Ladies Aid continued to take care of the church business - buying everything with the help of donations - until the building was deeded over to the congregation in 1950. The American Lutheran Church Women still continue to help the congregation with financial support, but concentrate now on donations to Foreign Missions, church schools, Red Willow Bible Camp, rest homes, Sunday School, Parochial School, Indian Missions, etc. We also give of our time and friendship to those close to us; and so the work of Blanchard Lutheran goes on. - Merilla Brasel
[Source: Hillsboro, North Dakota: The First Hundred Years; Transcribed by Fred Coleman]