Little Forks Lutheran Church
47°33'21.5"N 97°30'15.2"W
47.55597, -97.50422
Portland, Steele County, North Dakota
47°33'21.5"N 97°30'15.2"W
47.55597, -97.50422
Portland, Steele County, North Dakota
Little Forks Lutheran Church
75th Anniversary 1952 Little Forks congregation was organized in 1877 by the Rev. Bernhard L. Hagboe. The first church building was completed in 1885. This church was destroyed by a cyclone in 1900 and the present church was built in 1901. Worships services on Sundays. Regular meetings are held by Ladies Aid, Luther league, Brotherhood, Choir, Bible Class and Sunday School. Pastors through the years have been Bernhard L. Hagboe, M. J. Waage, B. Tollefson, A. J. Eikeland, K. C. Grundahl and A. E. Setness Info from - Little Forks Lutheran Church Plate 1952 |
Little Forks Lutheran Church
100th Anniversary Little Forks Congregation was organized in 1877 by Rev. Bernhard L. Hagboe. The first church was destroyed by a cyclone in 1900 and the present church was built in 1901. Pastors through the years have been Bernhard L. Hogboe, M. J. Waage, B. Tollefson, A. J. Eikeland, K. C. Grundahl, A. E. Setness, C. J. Field, C. T. Ellefson, J. Erickson and J. A. Franko. |
Little Forks Lutheran Church 140th Anniversary 2017
Little Forks congregation was organized December 28, 1877, by the Rev. Bernhard L. Hagboe. Founding fathers attending the meeting were Erick Nyhus, Torgrim Olson Fecher, Johan Olson, Ellef P. Nyhus, Sevat Swenson, Kolbjorn Olson Livedalen, Amund Amundson, Bernt Johnson, Gunder H. Stavens, Helge Nelson, and Fingal Engar. The first church building was completed in 1885. This structure was destroyed by a cyclone in 1900 and was then replaced in 1901 by the present church. |
LITTLE FORKS CONGREGATION
The Little Forks congregation was organized by Pastor Bernhard L. Hageboe (aka Hagboe), 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 (aka Hagboe); 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 Pederson Nyhus and Anna Olson. First death, that of Ingeborg Helgeson Nilson, July 23, 1881.
Services were held in the homes of members and in school houses 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 (aka Raugland), 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 1903 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 (aka Hagboe) 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.
Info from - A History of Hatton, North Dakota 1884 – 1959
Compiled in connection with the SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION July 7-8, 1959
The Little Forks congregation was organized by Pastor Bernhard L. Hageboe (aka Hagboe), 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 (aka Hagboe); 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 Pederson Nyhus and Anna Olson. First death, that of Ingeborg Helgeson Nilson, July 23, 1881.
Services were held in the homes of members and in school houses 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 (aka Raugland), 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 1903 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 (aka Hagboe) 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.
Info from - A History of Hatton, North Dakota 1884 – 1959
Compiled in connection with the SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION July 7-8, 1959
Painting by Hillman Anderson
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Painting by E. Hanson
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