Landstad Lutheran Church
Auburn, Farmington Township, Walsh County North Dakota
Auburn, Farmington Township, Walsh County North Dakota
After the early settlers had established homes to shelter them and their families, their first thought was to establish a school and a church. Hans H. Lykken came to Dakota Territory in 1879. His father and mother, Hans and Kari Lykken and their son, Lars, came a year later in 1880. Gulmon Lykken and his wife Ella Mathilda and their son, Henry, came in 1881. These were the nucleus of the Landstad congregation with the Sondelands, Hellands, Uggeruds, Shirleys whose original name was Sjole, the Larsons, Hallens, Mattsons, Swansons, Hoves, Starks and Nelsons. The Landstad Lutheran Conference Church was organized in 1881. In using the name Landstad, they named the church after the man who compiled the hymn book, "Salmebog," long used in the Lutheran Church in America, M. B. Landstad. The first pastor was Rev. J. Lonne; the first baptism was in 1883, Johan Akran; the first wedding was in the same year, Anders Anderson, and Siri Amundson.
The Grafton Lutheran Church was organized in 1878 at the log cabin home of Edward O. Aas. The Landstad Church was organized three years later and from the beginning was regarded as a unit of the Grafton parish with the pastor of the Grafton church serving both congregations. In 1885, the Landstad congregation passed a resolution to dissolve and join Grafton, but in 1887, separate status was resumed as "Landstad" and a new constitution was adopted. Again in 1890, the Landstad congregation joined a new call with Grafton and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas. This was at the time that Rev. J. A. Ofstedal was pastor. He used to travel from Grafton after the morning service to Auburn or St. Thomas by horse and buggy. During winter blizzards, he could be seen going to St. Thomas with horse and sleigh to conduct services. He also went into St. Andrews Township where he held services in a district schoolhouse. Afterwards he would break bread with another pioneer family, the Fennels.
In 1884, the pastor was Rev. F. A. Nykrem. In 1886, Hans Lykken gave to the church a plot of ground on the southwest corner of his homestead to be used as a cemetery. It was consecrated as the Landstad Cemetery. The grave markers read like a roll call of early pioneer names. One year later, in 1887, the Landstad Church had its first funeral, that of Arvid Cornelius Norum.
In 1888, the members of the congregation built a church building in Auburn. In the original plat of Auburn, the church was located on Main Street in the five hundred block. The Robertson Lumber Company of Grafton had a branch yard in Auburn until 1894. The members of the congregation built the church with their own hands. Since the original construction, the church has been remodeled twice. In the same year that the church was built, Landstad had its first confirmation class, the members were Anne Johnson, Sofie Larson, Ida Thorstenson and Gurine Johnson.
It is right to take note that in 1905 a funeral was held in the church for the pioneer progenitor of the Lykken families who came to America from Norway in 1873, Hans Gulman Lykken. His granddaughter, Hazel Lykken Sutterlin, writing of that sad day for the family writes: The funeral, August 2, 1905, was in charge of William Chandler and took place first in the parlor of our home (Hans Lykken's home) and then in the Landstad Church in Auburn. All our grandfather's sons, his daughter, their families, friends, and neighbors. The procession going to and from the church in Auburn was a very long one. There were carnations and many garden flowers that we thought were lovely. Cora made a wreath of white poppies from our garden that we children admired in particular because, we said, our grandfather had liked our flowers. Rev. J. A. Ofstedal, pastor of our church as well as the pastor of the Grafton Lutheran Church and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas, preached the sermon in Norwegian language and Rev. Knudson of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church preached the sermon in the English language. The latter said that "the pioneer's children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren had come to honor his memory and to follow him to the grave." Hymns in both languages were sung, the one in Norwegian was a mournful one, Number 628 on page 545, which began as follows: "Gaa nu hen og grav, min Grav. Jag er troet, Nu vill jeg slumre."
Mrs. Sutterlin writing of her Grandmother Kari's funeral in 1894: "Grandmother's funeral was held first in the home and then in the Landstad Lutheran Church. A long procession of carriages and buggies followed her to the Landstad Cemetery, where she was buried, as she had requested during her last illness, beside the grave of my little sister, Hilda." Hans Gulman and Kari Lykken were the oldest charter members of the Landstad Church.
In 1908, new articles of incorporation were passed and the Confession of the Norwegian Lutheran Church
was adopted. In 1911, memorial services for Rev. Ofstedal were held. Succeeding pastors were Pastors H. J. Glenn, H. O. Shurson, H. A. Helsem, T. H. Megorden, Frederick Kramins, Arlyn Anfinrud. Two student interns also served the church, Rodger Paulson and Omar Kaste. Rev. Ofstedal served the three churches for twenty-two years: Rev. Helsem served for thirty-one years. In the service of the Landstad Church, some outstanding records were established. Louis Sondeland was secretary for 34 years. Eli Lykken was treasurer for 30 years. Oscar Lykken was trustee for 29 years. Mrs. Luther Lykken was the church organist for over 30 years. Mrs. Lykken was the former Alma Oihus, the daughter of Arne and Hannah Oihus, pioneer settlers of the Nash community.
In 1942, the church building was remodeled, redecorated and a service of consecration was conducted.
In 1947, women were granted the right to vote in the congregation. In 1955, the congregation joined St.
John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas in a new call. In 1956 on November 18, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church was observed.
Over the years, the trustees of the church were Matthias Fredrickson, Charles Stark, Carl Norum, Syvert Lykken, Gudmund Lykken, Elling Evanson, Andrew Hove, Andrew Helland, H. H. Lykken, Albert
Johnson, Charles Johnson, Ed Mattson, Olaf Helland, Andrew Stark, Oscar Swanson, Lars (Lewis) Lykken, Oscar Lykken, Ludvig Helland, Linder Swanson, Otto Haug.
The Ladies' Aid of the Landstad Church was organized in 1886 at the home of Mrs. Ole Larson who became the first president. The charter members of the Aid were, in addition to Mrs. Larson, Mrs. Hans Gulmon Lykken, Mrs. Hans H. Lykken, Mrs. Gilman Lykken, Mrs. Lars Lykken, Mrs. Ole Gilman and Mrs. Albert Johnson. During the following year others joined the Aid: Mrs. Andrew Hove, Mrs. Elling Evanson, Mrs. Anders Helland, Mrs. Andrew Todahlen and Mrs. Theodore Nelson.
The Ladies' Aid met at the homes of the members on Thursday afternoon. A charge of ten and fifteen cents covered the dues. Norwegian devotions, mission studies, handwork and social activities made up the program. A substantial lunch made up of sandwiches, both white and dark bread, both white and dark cakes and coffee was the highlight of the afternoon. The Ladies' Aid provided furnishings for the church, the pulpit, baptismal font, carpets, altar hangings, the altar painting, and the organ. The subject of the altar painting was "The Ascension." The painting and the altar were purchased from a Minneapolis firm and were shipped to Grafton where Lars Lykken collected the freight and hauled it to Auburn with a team and wagon. The men of the congregation then worked together to install them. As a memorial to the pioneer mothers and fathers, the cross was placed on the altar and later the candelabra were added.
Bowing to the changing times, the Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn closed its doors in 1966 and its communicants joined the larger congregations in Grafton and St. Thomas. After standing silent and empty
for a few years, the building was given to the Walsh County Historical Society with the hope that its identity and its history would be preserved for the time to come. As an epilogue to its long history of service to the Lutheran communicants, the church was given a brief resurgence of living when John Klapp and Dee Ann Smith had their wedding ceremony performed within its walls during the Christmas season of 1974.
Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak.
Information – Walsh Heritage A Story Of Walsh County And Its Pioneers Volume One (Pages 44-45)
The Grafton Lutheran Church was organized in 1878 at the log cabin home of Edward O. Aas. The Landstad Church was organized three years later and from the beginning was regarded as a unit of the Grafton parish with the pastor of the Grafton church serving both congregations. In 1885, the Landstad congregation passed a resolution to dissolve and join Grafton, but in 1887, separate status was resumed as "Landstad" and a new constitution was adopted. Again in 1890, the Landstad congregation joined a new call with Grafton and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas. This was at the time that Rev. J. A. Ofstedal was pastor. He used to travel from Grafton after the morning service to Auburn or St. Thomas by horse and buggy. During winter blizzards, he could be seen going to St. Thomas with horse and sleigh to conduct services. He also went into St. Andrews Township where he held services in a district schoolhouse. Afterwards he would break bread with another pioneer family, the Fennels.
In 1884, the pastor was Rev. F. A. Nykrem. In 1886, Hans Lykken gave to the church a plot of ground on the southwest corner of his homestead to be used as a cemetery. It was consecrated as the Landstad Cemetery. The grave markers read like a roll call of early pioneer names. One year later, in 1887, the Landstad Church had its first funeral, that of Arvid Cornelius Norum.
In 1888, the members of the congregation built a church building in Auburn. In the original plat of Auburn, the church was located on Main Street in the five hundred block. The Robertson Lumber Company of Grafton had a branch yard in Auburn until 1894. The members of the congregation built the church with their own hands. Since the original construction, the church has been remodeled twice. In the same year that the church was built, Landstad had its first confirmation class, the members were Anne Johnson, Sofie Larson, Ida Thorstenson and Gurine Johnson.
It is right to take note that in 1905 a funeral was held in the church for the pioneer progenitor of the Lykken families who came to America from Norway in 1873, Hans Gulman Lykken. His granddaughter, Hazel Lykken Sutterlin, writing of that sad day for the family writes: The funeral, August 2, 1905, was in charge of William Chandler and took place first in the parlor of our home (Hans Lykken's home) and then in the Landstad Church in Auburn. All our grandfather's sons, his daughter, their families, friends, and neighbors. The procession going to and from the church in Auburn was a very long one. There were carnations and many garden flowers that we thought were lovely. Cora made a wreath of white poppies from our garden that we children admired in particular because, we said, our grandfather had liked our flowers. Rev. J. A. Ofstedal, pastor of our church as well as the pastor of the Grafton Lutheran Church and St. John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas, preached the sermon in Norwegian language and Rev. Knudson of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church preached the sermon in the English language. The latter said that "the pioneer's children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren had come to honor his memory and to follow him to the grave." Hymns in both languages were sung, the one in Norwegian was a mournful one, Number 628 on page 545, which began as follows: "Gaa nu hen og grav, min Grav. Jag er troet, Nu vill jeg slumre."
Mrs. Sutterlin writing of her Grandmother Kari's funeral in 1894: "Grandmother's funeral was held first in the home and then in the Landstad Lutheran Church. A long procession of carriages and buggies followed her to the Landstad Cemetery, where she was buried, as she had requested during her last illness, beside the grave of my little sister, Hilda." Hans Gulman and Kari Lykken were the oldest charter members of the Landstad Church.
In 1908, new articles of incorporation were passed and the Confession of the Norwegian Lutheran Church
was adopted. In 1911, memorial services for Rev. Ofstedal were held. Succeeding pastors were Pastors H. J. Glenn, H. O. Shurson, H. A. Helsem, T. H. Megorden, Frederick Kramins, Arlyn Anfinrud. Two student interns also served the church, Rodger Paulson and Omar Kaste. Rev. Ofstedal served the three churches for twenty-two years: Rev. Helsem served for thirty-one years. In the service of the Landstad Church, some outstanding records were established. Louis Sondeland was secretary for 34 years. Eli Lykken was treasurer for 30 years. Oscar Lykken was trustee for 29 years. Mrs. Luther Lykken was the church organist for over 30 years. Mrs. Lykken was the former Alma Oihus, the daughter of Arne and Hannah Oihus, pioneer settlers of the Nash community.
In 1942, the church building was remodeled, redecorated and a service of consecration was conducted.
In 1947, women were granted the right to vote in the congregation. In 1955, the congregation joined St.
John's Lutheran Church in St. Thomas in a new call. In 1956 on November 18, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the church was observed.
Over the years, the trustees of the church were Matthias Fredrickson, Charles Stark, Carl Norum, Syvert Lykken, Gudmund Lykken, Elling Evanson, Andrew Hove, Andrew Helland, H. H. Lykken, Albert
Johnson, Charles Johnson, Ed Mattson, Olaf Helland, Andrew Stark, Oscar Swanson, Lars (Lewis) Lykken, Oscar Lykken, Ludvig Helland, Linder Swanson, Otto Haug.
The Ladies' Aid of the Landstad Church was organized in 1886 at the home of Mrs. Ole Larson who became the first president. The charter members of the Aid were, in addition to Mrs. Larson, Mrs. Hans Gulmon Lykken, Mrs. Hans H. Lykken, Mrs. Gilman Lykken, Mrs. Lars Lykken, Mrs. Ole Gilman and Mrs. Albert Johnson. During the following year others joined the Aid: Mrs. Andrew Hove, Mrs. Elling Evanson, Mrs. Anders Helland, Mrs. Andrew Todahlen and Mrs. Theodore Nelson.
The Ladies' Aid met at the homes of the members on Thursday afternoon. A charge of ten and fifteen cents covered the dues. Norwegian devotions, mission studies, handwork and social activities made up the program. A substantial lunch made up of sandwiches, both white and dark bread, both white and dark cakes and coffee was the highlight of the afternoon. The Ladies' Aid provided furnishings for the church, the pulpit, baptismal font, carpets, altar hangings, the altar painting, and the organ. The subject of the altar painting was "The Ascension." The painting and the altar were purchased from a Minneapolis firm and were shipped to Grafton where Lars Lykken collected the freight and hauled it to Auburn with a team and wagon. The men of the congregation then worked together to install them. As a memorial to the pioneer mothers and fathers, the cross was placed on the altar and later the candelabra were added.
Bowing to the changing times, the Landstad Lutheran Church in Auburn closed its doors in 1966 and its communicants joined the larger congregations in Grafton and St. Thomas. After standing silent and empty
for a few years, the building was given to the Walsh County Historical Society with the hope that its identity and its history would be preserved for the time to come. As an epilogue to its long history of service to the Lutheran communicants, the church was given a brief resurgence of living when John Klapp and Dee Ann Smith had their wedding ceremony performed within its walls during the Christmas season of 1974.
Submitted by Kenneth Colter, 252 W. 12th St., Grafton, N. Dak.
Information – Walsh Heritage A Story Of Walsh County And Its Pioneers Volume One (Pages 44-45)
Landstad Lutheran Cemetery