Immanuel Lutheran Church
4328 46th St NE
(Isabel is a ghost town located in the township of Isabel)
Esmond, Benson County, North Dakota 58332
4328 46th St NE
(Isabel is a ghost town located in the township of Isabel)
Esmond, Benson County, North Dakota 58332
July 19, 1899, a small group met at the Anton Foss farm to organize a Lutheran congregation. Services were conducted by Rev. Rosholt and Rev. Oksendahl who became the pastor and served for two years. Charter members were Andrew Bergsrud, Ole Bergsrud, Tollef Lider, Anton Toso, Conrad Toso, Jens Toso and C. Wibe.
March 27, 1901, services at the Nelius Liudahl home were conducted by Rev. Frost. Another congregation was formed, which was called "Den Scandinaviske Evangliske Lutherske Freenigheds Menighed Av Benson County, N.D." including members of both Trinity of Esmond and Immanuel. It was at this service that Hartvig Toso was baptized. On November 11, 1901, the two congregations became one, but decided to each have its own cemetery, one to serve Esmond, and one for Immanuel.
April 7, 1902, a letter of call was sent to Rev. Karl Figenbaum of Boston, Mass. at a salary of $300.00 per year, plus the three festival offerings on Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. He was ordained in Hicks Hall in Esmond on June 29, 1902.
In June of 1906, at a meeting in the Esmond Congregational Church, it was decided to become two different organizations, and to be served by one pastor. The treasury, containing $92.82 was equally divided. The members of Immanuel at this time were as follows: Andrew Bergsrud and family, Ole Bergsrud, Ole Diset, Syvert Exe and family, Elling Karlsbraaten and family, Mikkel Lkebo and family, Julius Lund and family, Martin Lynner, Nelius Liudahl and family. Willie Olson and family, John Stadig, P.O. Stenhjem and family, Conrad Toso and family, Iver Toso and family, Jens Toso and family, Otto Toso, Mrs. Hans Toso, A.E. Woyen and family.
Each voting member was to pay $10.00 annually for the pastor's salary. The trustees also gathered two sacks of oats from members having oats; the rest gave one dollar to buy hay for the pastor's horses each year.
In 1910 the church was built. The complete cost was $3,583. The church was dedicated the same year. The first Christmas tree festival was held in 1910.
Grant Hagen was the first baby baptized in the new church. The first wedding in the church joined Hanna Toso to Hjalmer Sundby; this was in October 1913. The first funeral at Immanuel was Hans Toso, in March 1902.
Reverend H.M. Aanestad of Carpio, N. Dak., accepted a call, and served faithfully for more than 32 years.
Janitors through the years have been Julius Hagen from 1910 to 1940. Edwin Karlsbraaten from 1940 to 1967. The present janitor is Alvin Toso.
The present parsonage at Esmond was built in 1914.
Up to 1922 the parochial school was taught in Norse, but after that date both English and Norse was to be taught.
Immanuel Lutheran congregation, through the years, has helped sponsor the following missionaries:
1963-1972 - Missionary Joseph Weiss and family. He graduated from the seminary in May 1963, and they left for New Guinea in October of that year, returning in May 1972.
1972-1974 - David Tuff family in New Guinea. 1974 - Marion Hanson, missionary to Japan; support for her starts this year.
Information - Esmond Diamond Jubilee, 1901-1976 (page 488)
March 27, 1901, services at the Nelius Liudahl home were conducted by Rev. Frost. Another congregation was formed, which was called "Den Scandinaviske Evangliske Lutherske Freenigheds Menighed Av Benson County, N.D." including members of both Trinity of Esmond and Immanuel. It was at this service that Hartvig Toso was baptized. On November 11, 1901, the two congregations became one, but decided to each have its own cemetery, one to serve Esmond, and one for Immanuel.
April 7, 1902, a letter of call was sent to Rev. Karl Figenbaum of Boston, Mass. at a salary of $300.00 per year, plus the three festival offerings on Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. He was ordained in Hicks Hall in Esmond on June 29, 1902.
In June of 1906, at a meeting in the Esmond Congregational Church, it was decided to become two different organizations, and to be served by one pastor. The treasury, containing $92.82 was equally divided. The members of Immanuel at this time were as follows: Andrew Bergsrud and family, Ole Bergsrud, Ole Diset, Syvert Exe and family, Elling Karlsbraaten and family, Mikkel Lkebo and family, Julius Lund and family, Martin Lynner, Nelius Liudahl and family. Willie Olson and family, John Stadig, P.O. Stenhjem and family, Conrad Toso and family, Iver Toso and family, Jens Toso and family, Otto Toso, Mrs. Hans Toso, A.E. Woyen and family.
Each voting member was to pay $10.00 annually for the pastor's salary. The trustees also gathered two sacks of oats from members having oats; the rest gave one dollar to buy hay for the pastor's horses each year.
In 1910 the church was built. The complete cost was $3,583. The church was dedicated the same year. The first Christmas tree festival was held in 1910.
Grant Hagen was the first baby baptized in the new church. The first wedding in the church joined Hanna Toso to Hjalmer Sundby; this was in October 1913. The first funeral at Immanuel was Hans Toso, in March 1902.
Reverend H.M. Aanestad of Carpio, N. Dak., accepted a call, and served faithfully for more than 32 years.
Janitors through the years have been Julius Hagen from 1910 to 1940. Edwin Karlsbraaten from 1940 to 1967. The present janitor is Alvin Toso.
The present parsonage at Esmond was built in 1914.
Up to 1922 the parochial school was taught in Norse, but after that date both English and Norse was to be taught.
Immanuel Lutheran congregation, through the years, has helped sponsor the following missionaries:
1963-1972 - Missionary Joseph Weiss and family. He graduated from the seminary in May 1963, and they left for New Guinea in October of that year, returning in May 1972.
1972-1974 - David Tuff family in New Guinea. 1974 - Marion Hanson, missionary to Japan; support for her starts this year.
Information - Esmond Diamond Jubilee, 1901-1976 (page 488)