Finley Lutheran Church
102 Lincoln Ave
Finley, Steele County, North Dakota 58230
102 Lincoln Ave
Finley, Steele County, North Dakota 58230
The history of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in this part of Steele County dates back to the early 1880’s. The Sheyenne Valley Congregation was organized in 1881 and Ostervold in 1883.
Finley was founded when the Great Northern Railway was extended from Hope to Aneta in 1896. The area was then a part of Ostervold territory of the church. The pastor serving the church at that time was Rev. P. A. Thoreson, a “sturdy and well-beloved pioneer pastor of Griggs County”. Rev. Thoreson made regular visits from the fall of 1894 to the spring of 1903, driving across from his home at Hannaford. He also served the Beaver Creek congregation, 14 1/2 miles northwest of Finley. For the last four years of that period.
Church records show that Rev. Thoreson conducted services in Finley prior to 1900. Rev. Thoreson resigned his Steele County congregations in 1903 to devote his full time to his Griggs County congregations, and Rev. Vigleik E. Boe was called to succeed him as pastor of Ostervold and Beaver Creek churches.
Lutherans of Scandinavian decent living at Finley but not holding membership in another church, decided to organize in Finley. The first meeting was held at the Finley Schoolhouse. V. E. Boe was elected chairman at the meeting and H. C. Bergum secretary. Motion to organize was made by H. C. Bergum and seconded by Alf Windness. In meetings August 12 and September 9, 1903, the organization was completed. Voting members organizing the congregation were Andrew T. Strandness, Alf Windness, Henry C. Bergum, Axel J. Blom, Knudt Furos, Sven J. Peterson, Olai Strand, Peter Ellison, Andrew Leraas; V. E. Boe, pastor. The chartered membership including men, women and children numbered 11 voting members, 18 confirmed and 31 souls. This included the pastor and his family of three. The A. G. Nelson family were the first to join after organization, in March 1904.
First officers of the congregation were: Deacons, A. T. Strandness, Alf Windness, and A. J. Blom. Trustees, Ole Leraas, H. C. Bergum. Secretary, A. T. Strandness. Rev. V. E. Boe was called as pastor.
In the spring of 1904, the congregation was incorporated under laws of North Dakota and received membership into the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
During the winter, services were held in the schoolhouse, in the spring of 1904 in the Lutheran Free Church, and from the summer of 1904 until the fall of 1908 in the Methodist Church. The present church was built in 1908 and first services were held for Christmas of that year. Builder of the church was August Solberg, and lots were furnished by the Dwight Farm Land Company. The cornerstone was laid on July 15, 1909, by Prof. C. M. Weswig of the United Church Seminary of St. Paul, and the church dedication was held July 10, 1910, by Rev. T. H. Dahl, president of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The bell was hung in the church belfry in October 1914.
Sunday School was begun in the fall of 1903 and revived in 1906 with 25 pupils and four teachers with Miss Marie Tollefson in charge. Vacation school started in 1905.
The Ladies Aid Society was organized November 3, 1903. Charter members were Mrs. K. Furos, Mrs. J. Leraas, Mrs. S. J. Peterson, Mrs. A. T. Strandness, Mrs. Alf Windness and Mrs. V. E. Boe. The first object was to raise money to build the church. The aid helped to build the church, furnish it and buy the bell. During the first 25 years, the Ladies Aid raised $10,522.79 for church work.
The Young Peoples Society was organized in 1909, changing to the Luther League in 1918. A Men's club was organized in 1910 reorganizing as the Lutheran Brotherhood in 1918. The church has had a choir since the first year of its organization.
Since 1909 the charge has consisted of Ostervold, Sheyenne Valley and Finley. The parsonage was built in 1910.
As of 1972, membership of the congregation was 350 confirmed and 460 baptized. Mr. S. J. (Anna) Peterson was the only charter member still living at that time. She resides at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville.
Pastors who served the congregation:
V. E. Boe from 1903-1909
E. C. Tollefson from 1909-1916
J. Tanner (Interim) 1916-1917
V. E. Boe 1917-1941
E. T. Fyrand 1941-1948
O. A. Jordahl 1948-1966
Ernest Stadum 1966-1988
Dave Krueger 1988-1992
Warren Heggem (Interim) 1993-1993
Thad A. Neilsen 1993-1995
Darrel R. Olson 1996-2007
Kristen Schwan (Interim) 2007-2008
John W. Lee (Interim) 2008-2009
Denise L. Parrello 2009-
[Sources: Finley 75th Diamond Jubilee 1897 - 1972, s.l., s.n, unknown pub. date; Bismarck Daily Tribune. (Bismarck, ND), 14 Oct. 1914; Finley Evangelical Lutheran Church website; Compiled and transcribed by Fred Coleman]
Finley was founded when the Great Northern Railway was extended from Hope to Aneta in 1896. The area was then a part of Ostervold territory of the church. The pastor serving the church at that time was Rev. P. A. Thoreson, a “sturdy and well-beloved pioneer pastor of Griggs County”. Rev. Thoreson made regular visits from the fall of 1894 to the spring of 1903, driving across from his home at Hannaford. He also served the Beaver Creek congregation, 14 1/2 miles northwest of Finley. For the last four years of that period.
Church records show that Rev. Thoreson conducted services in Finley prior to 1900. Rev. Thoreson resigned his Steele County congregations in 1903 to devote his full time to his Griggs County congregations, and Rev. Vigleik E. Boe was called to succeed him as pastor of Ostervold and Beaver Creek churches.
Lutherans of Scandinavian decent living at Finley but not holding membership in another church, decided to organize in Finley. The first meeting was held at the Finley Schoolhouse. V. E. Boe was elected chairman at the meeting and H. C. Bergum secretary. Motion to organize was made by H. C. Bergum and seconded by Alf Windness. In meetings August 12 and September 9, 1903, the organization was completed. Voting members organizing the congregation were Andrew T. Strandness, Alf Windness, Henry C. Bergum, Axel J. Blom, Knudt Furos, Sven J. Peterson, Olai Strand, Peter Ellison, Andrew Leraas; V. E. Boe, pastor. The chartered membership including men, women and children numbered 11 voting members, 18 confirmed and 31 souls. This included the pastor and his family of three. The A. G. Nelson family were the first to join after organization, in March 1904.
First officers of the congregation were: Deacons, A. T. Strandness, Alf Windness, and A. J. Blom. Trustees, Ole Leraas, H. C. Bergum. Secretary, A. T. Strandness. Rev. V. E. Boe was called as pastor.
In the spring of 1904, the congregation was incorporated under laws of North Dakota and received membership into the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
During the winter, services were held in the schoolhouse, in the spring of 1904 in the Lutheran Free Church, and from the summer of 1904 until the fall of 1908 in the Methodist Church. The present church was built in 1908 and first services were held for Christmas of that year. Builder of the church was August Solberg, and lots were furnished by the Dwight Farm Land Company. The cornerstone was laid on July 15, 1909, by Prof. C. M. Weswig of the United Church Seminary of St. Paul, and the church dedication was held July 10, 1910, by Rev. T. H. Dahl, president of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The bell was hung in the church belfry in October 1914.
Sunday School was begun in the fall of 1903 and revived in 1906 with 25 pupils and four teachers with Miss Marie Tollefson in charge. Vacation school started in 1905.
The Ladies Aid Society was organized November 3, 1903. Charter members were Mrs. K. Furos, Mrs. J. Leraas, Mrs. S. J. Peterson, Mrs. A. T. Strandness, Mrs. Alf Windness and Mrs. V. E. Boe. The first object was to raise money to build the church. The aid helped to build the church, furnish it and buy the bell. During the first 25 years, the Ladies Aid raised $10,522.79 for church work.
The Young Peoples Society was organized in 1909, changing to the Luther League in 1918. A Men's club was organized in 1910 reorganizing as the Lutheran Brotherhood in 1918. The church has had a choir since the first year of its organization.
Since 1909 the charge has consisted of Ostervold, Sheyenne Valley and Finley. The parsonage was built in 1910.
As of 1972, membership of the congregation was 350 confirmed and 460 baptized. Mr. S. J. (Anna) Peterson was the only charter member still living at that time. She resides at the Luther Memorial Home in Mayville.
Pastors who served the congregation:
V. E. Boe from 1903-1909
E. C. Tollefson from 1909-1916
J. Tanner (Interim) 1916-1917
V. E. Boe 1917-1941
E. T. Fyrand 1941-1948
O. A. Jordahl 1948-1966
Ernest Stadum 1966-1988
Dave Krueger 1988-1992
Warren Heggem (Interim) 1993-1993
Thad A. Neilsen 1993-1995
Darrel R. Olson 1996-2007
Kristen Schwan (Interim) 2007-2008
John W. Lee (Interim) 2008-2009
Denise L. Parrello 2009-
[Sources: Finley 75th Diamond Jubilee 1897 - 1972, s.l., s.n, unknown pub. date; Bismarck Daily Tribune. (Bismarck, ND), 14 Oct. 1914; Finley Evangelical Lutheran Church website; Compiled and transcribed by Fred Coleman]