Little Forks Lutheran Church
47°33'21.5"N 97°30'15.2"W
Portland, Steele County, North Dakota
From Highway North Dakota 200 take Steele County 10 north 1.9 miles to Steele County 19.
Turn right (east) and go .4 miles to cemetery on right.
47°33'21.5"N 97°30'15.2"W
Portland, Steele County, North Dakota
From Highway North Dakota 200 take Steele County 10 north 1.9 miles to Steele County 19.
Turn right (east) and go .4 miles to cemetery on right.
The Little Forks Congregation was organized by Pastor Bernhard L. Hageboe, Dec. 28, 1877, at the Fingal Enger home. Present were Erick Nyhus, Torgrim Olson Fecher, Johan Olson, Ellef P. Nyhus, Sevat Swenson, Kolbjoen Olson Livedalen, Amund Amundson, Bernt Johnson, Gunder H. Stavens, Helge Nelson and Fingal Enger.
A constitution was adopted and officers elected; president, Pastor Hageboe; secretary, Helge Nelson; treasurer, Ellef P. Nyhus; Trustees, Sevat Swenson, Gunder Stavens and Fingal Enger; deacons, Holbjen Livedalen and Torgrim Fecher; advisor, Ellef P. Nyhus.
First confirmants in 1880 were Nils Anderson Heslien, Helge Amundson, Ole Olson Haagenson, Carl Olson, Nils Olaus Olson, Anders Anderson Heslien, Halvor Christofferson, Ragnild Amundson, Sigrid Anderson and Ingeborg Nilson. First baptism, recorded May 26, 1878, was that of Johanna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boe. First marriage, July 28, 1878, that of Erick Pedersen Nyhus and Anna Olson. First death, that of Ingeborg Helgeson Nilson, July 23, 1881.
Services were held in the homes of members and in schoolhouses until in 1885 when the first church was erected on a two-acre plot of land in Enger township, donated by Anders Heslien for a cemetery in 1881. Daniel Bjerke and Peter Wold built the 50' by 33' by 20' high structure. This church was destroyed by a cyclone, July 27, 1900, and the present Little Forks church was built on the same site the following year. Midland was the carpenter. In this church stands the same altar built by Osten Pladson for the first church, being only slightly damaged in the cyclone. The pulpit was built by A. Norby. The altar painting, depicting the crucifixion, was painted by Mrs. Johanna Raygland, at one time a resident of Cummings, N. Dak.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1884. In 1891 the bell, still in use, and the first organ were donated by this organization which today has 50 active members and 8 honorary members.
In 190:3 the Young People’s Society - the present Luther League - was organized. Three types of lighting systems for the church were provided by this organization - first the kerosene chandeliers, next gas lights and then the present electric lights. In 1910 the young people purchased a new organ which in turn was replaced with a Hammond electric organ in 1951.
Various improvements have been made on the church buildings from time to time. In 1914 the chapel was extended. In 1939 the church was redecorated, and improvements made on the chapel, in 1950, an automatic oil burning furnace was installed. In 1952 more improvements were made, the church redecorated, and a new church carpet installed. The carpet was donated by the Ladies Aid. In 1957 the sacristy was enlarged, and more Sunday School room and a new entrance added to the chapel.
The congregation today has a membership of 296 and its Sunday School an enrollment of 50.
Pastors who have served the congregation are Pastor Hageboe 1877 - 1880; M. J. Waage 1880 - 1887; B. Tollefson 1887 - 1905; A. J. Eikeland 1905 - 1940: K. C. Grundahl 1940 - 1946; A. E. Setness 1946 - 54 and C. J. Field, present pastor, came in 1954.
[Source: Hatton Diamond Jubilee 1884 - 1959, s.l., s.n, unknown pub. date; Transcribed by Fred Coleman]
A constitution was adopted and officers elected; president, Pastor Hageboe; secretary, Helge Nelson; treasurer, Ellef P. Nyhus; Trustees, Sevat Swenson, Gunder Stavens and Fingal Enger; deacons, Holbjen Livedalen and Torgrim Fecher; advisor, Ellef P. Nyhus.
First confirmants in 1880 were Nils Anderson Heslien, Helge Amundson, Ole Olson Haagenson, Carl Olson, Nils Olaus Olson, Anders Anderson Heslien, Halvor Christofferson, Ragnild Amundson, Sigrid Anderson and Ingeborg Nilson. First baptism, recorded May 26, 1878, was that of Johanna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Boe. First marriage, July 28, 1878, that of Erick Pedersen Nyhus and Anna Olson. First death, that of Ingeborg Helgeson Nilson, July 23, 1881.
Services were held in the homes of members and in schoolhouses until in 1885 when the first church was erected on a two-acre plot of land in Enger township, donated by Anders Heslien for a cemetery in 1881. Daniel Bjerke and Peter Wold built the 50' by 33' by 20' high structure. This church was destroyed by a cyclone, July 27, 1900, and the present Little Forks church was built on the same site the following year. Midland was the carpenter. In this church stands the same altar built by Osten Pladson for the first church, being only slightly damaged in the cyclone. The pulpit was built by A. Norby. The altar painting, depicting the crucifixion, was painted by Mrs. Johanna Raygland, at one time a resident of Cummings, N. Dak.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1884. In 1891 the bell, still in use, and the first organ were donated by this organization which today has 50 active members and 8 honorary members.
In 190:3 the Young People’s Society - the present Luther League - was organized. Three types of lighting systems for the church were provided by this organization - first the kerosene chandeliers, next gas lights and then the present electric lights. In 1910 the young people purchased a new organ which in turn was replaced with a Hammond electric organ in 1951.
Various improvements have been made on the church buildings from time to time. In 1914 the chapel was extended. In 1939 the church was redecorated, and improvements made on the chapel, in 1950, an automatic oil burning furnace was installed. In 1952 more improvements were made, the church redecorated, and a new church carpet installed. The carpet was donated by the Ladies Aid. In 1957 the sacristy was enlarged, and more Sunday School room and a new entrance added to the chapel.
The congregation today has a membership of 296 and its Sunday School an enrollment of 50.
Pastors who have served the congregation are Pastor Hageboe 1877 - 1880; M. J. Waage 1880 - 1887; B. Tollefson 1887 - 1905; A. J. Eikeland 1905 - 1940: K. C. Grundahl 1940 - 1946; A. E. Setness 1946 - 54 and C. J. Field, present pastor, came in 1954.
[Source: Hatton Diamond Jubilee 1884 - 1959, s.l., s.n, unknown pub. date; Transcribed by Fred Coleman]