North Grand Church
4th Ave SW
Bucyrus, Adams County, North Dakota 58639
4th Ave SW
Bucyrus, Adams County, North Dakota 58639
On Sept. 21, 1969, we celebrated the end of 60 years and closed our church.
LUTHERAN CHURCH NORTH GRAND
The following history is compiled largely from information found in old Secretaries' records (written in the Norwegian language up to 1926), from C. A. Sandhei's History of Holden Township published in the Adams
County Record in 1949 and from a history of the congregation written by Mrs. H. K. Fadness in 1955.
The first meeting of "North Grand" was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gustavus who homesteaded in Perkins Co., S.D. about 1 1/2 miles south of the state line.
On March 16, 1909 "North Grand Norsk Luterske Meninghed" (North Grand Norwegian Lutheran Congregation) was formally organized at the home of Manvel Olson who homesteaded in Sec. 32 just southeast of the present location of the building, which is 7 miles south and 2 ½ miles west of Bucyrus. At this first meeting of the new congregation a constitution and by-laws were adopted. There were 32 households represented and 3 more added that year. Since many of the members were married, we can assume there were at least 50 adult members.
During the late winter and early spring of 1909, a Mr. Berntson from Hettinger held a few meetings at the homes, and Rev. A. B. Bergh served the congregation from time to time as temporary pastor. At a meeting in
July of that year it was unanimously decided to send a letter of call to John Halland of Grafton, N.D., and the salary offered was $ I 00 a year. When H. J. Good's large sod house was vacated (in Sec. 33) it was used both for school and church services. It was in this sod house that Rev. John Halland was installed as the first regular pastor by Rev. A. B. Bergh. He served until sometime in 1910 and then became a merchant in Bucyrus.
In these first years of North Grand there was a committee appointed to look for a suitable place for the cemetery and church building. At a meeting in Nov. of 19 I 3 it was decided to locate the cemetery at its present site, on SW ¼ of Sec. 29 for which O. B. Holden donated 2 acres of land. After a new frame school building was erected in NW ¼ of Sec. 33 (on P.O. Shields’ land) it was also used for Sunday worship services by the Grand Congregation and this continued or several years until the new church building was erected, in around 1926 at the site of the cemetery.
In Dec. of 1910, Rev. L. O. Helleklev arrived to take up the work of pastor. He homesteaded on the Grand River in S.D. He erected a house and lived there until he moved away in 1914. His home later became the home of the John Meisner family, and later the Julius Osters. Rev. Helleklev received a salary of $50 or $55 a year. He was also a farmer, or he probably couldn't have managed on that salary!
When Rev. Helleklev left Rev. L. J. R. Larson took his place. Rev. Iver Dahl of Bucyrus also served as a pastor for a time in 1915.
By Dec. 1915 Rev. Magne Schilliaas had arrived to be our pastor. A parsonage was built north of the Grand River about a mile south of the state line on land donated by Mrs. Bertha Olson, mother of Mrs. H. K.
Fadness. This parsonage was later sold to Sam Opheim, one of the early members, and has been remodeled and enlarged and is the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Opheim and family. Mr. C. A. Sandhei was
elected "kirke sanger" (song leader) for which he was to receive $ I from each family per year. By this time, it was decided to have every third service in the English language. In 1918 the congregation bought Rev. Schilliaas an automobile with the understanding that if he stayed 3 more years the auto would be his. He served 5 congregations at this time - Scandia. Zion and Duck Creek in S. D. and Bloom (Mamre) and North Grand in N.D. After Rev. Schilliaas left in 1921 we were served temporarily by a "lay preacher, " John Thompson of Lemmon, S.D.
In I 921 the question of a church building was again brought up but it was not until several years later that construction began. It was built of hollow tiles and completed in about 1927, with members doing most of the work. In the meantime, North Grand was transferred to Bucyrus Parish and Rev. S. N. Englestad came to serve us in 1923 and lived in the Bucyrus parsonage. At this time, we were having services every 2 weeks and every other service in the Norwegian language. Rev. Englestad was here about 18 years, and this period included some rather rough times financially. Records show that most of the congregation's finances were taken care of by the Ladies' Aid who held socials, suppers and sales to raise a little money. The pastor's salary in 1938 was still $I00!
During the 30's we had a good choir of at least 20 voices, and a few of us can still remember the choir practices we had in our homes under the able leadership of C. A. Sandhei. We had a good Sunday School and very active Luther League.
In the later 30's many of our congregation left in search of "greener pastures." There were many farewell parties - for Sandheis, Steans, Seljeseths , Ole Dahlens, G. P. Holdens and others. Some, like the early homdsteaders, did not return, but some did and resumed their places in the church and community. At times during these years when there were so few of us left, we had services in the homes again to save the expense of buying fuel.
After Rev. Englestad left in about 1941, Rev. B. L. Schroeder of Reeder served us until a letter of call brought Rev. Arthur Aadland to Bucyrus Parish in about 1944 or 1945. He left us after a couple of years or so.
In 1947 Rev. O. C. Rolfsen came to be our pastor and was with us for 12 years. During these years much work was done in the church. There was interior finishing, and new furniture bought, including altar, baptismal font and pews.
On Sept. 21, 1969, we celebrated the end of 60 years and closed our church. Most of the very few families left chose to remain in the Bucyrus Parish and have joined the Lutheran church in Bucyrus.
The charter members of North Grand Church, as listed in the original Secretary' s book and listed in same order were:
I. Carl G. Benson
(Sec'y of the first meeting)
2. A. S. Lund
3. Albert Gustavus
4. Ole Melby
5. Alfred Bloom
6. Sam Opheim
7. John M. Johnson
8. Manvel Olson
9. B.J. Rogne
I0. Matt H. Medtien
11. Andrew P. Olson
12 . Helge Fadness
13 . Ludv:g Hoovel
14. O. B. Holden
15. Christ Amundson
16. C. A. Sandhei
17. Peder Johanson Horn
18. John Norman
19 . Peder Anderson
20. Rasmus Hagen
21. Iver Iverson
22. Sigvald Veien
23 . Oliver Stime
24. Sig vart Olson Opheim
25. David A. Davidson
26. Steven E. Peterson
27. John N. Johnson
28. Joseph Solberg
29. John Larson
30. A. Brekke
31. Mrs. Bertha Olson
32. Mickel Amundson
By Mrs. Henry Jeffers
NORTH GRAND LADIES' AID
The North Grand Ladies' Aid was organized on Aug. 12, 1909, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Benson living on the SW ¼ of Sec. 32 in Holden Township. Rev. John Halland was the pastor of North Grand Congregation at the time and was in charge of the meeting. The officers who were elected at this first meeting were Mrs. Brynjolf Rogne, President; Mrs. O. B. Holden, Vice-President; Mrs. Carl Benson, Secretary and Mrs. Arthur Paulson, Treasurer. Other ladies who joined at this first meeting were, Mrs. H.K. Fadness, Mrs. L. J. Hoovel. Mrs. Andrew Olson, Mrs. Christ Amundson, Mrs. Rasmus Hagen, Mrs. Olaf Tonder, Mrs. C. A. Sandhei, Mrs. Ole Melby. Mrs. H. Olson from " Norman Hill," Miss Bertha Halverson and Miss Lena Aslakson. Miss Aslakson later became Mrs. H. J. Steen. At a meeting at Rasmus Hagen's on July 14, 1910, Mrs. Bertha Olson and Mrs. Oliver Stime also became members.
At the second annual meeting held at the home of Mrs. Ole Melby on Sept. 3, 1910, the members passed the following resolution: "The aim and purpose of this society shall be to aid the North Grand Congregation
in its work for the furtherance of the Lord's Kingdom both at home and abroad, and to gather funds to be used for the purpose of furnishing and beautifying the church which is hoped will be erected soon (it was
began some 15 years later) and to be diligent in the acts of mercy and in aiding missions - both local and foreign. Officers elected for the second year were: Mrs. H. K. Fadness, President; Mrs. L. J. Hoevel, Vice-President and Mrs. O B. Holden, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Ladies’ Aid had their first sale on Dec. 30, 1910, at the L. J. Hoovel home. The sale brought $13.30. Through the years other "socials" were held – an ice cream social on July 4, 1912, or t e purpose of raising funds for the purchase of an organ to be used for church services, a basket social on Dec. 27, 1912, which netted $21.05 and there were similar money-making ventures. In May of 1925 the dream of North Grand Congregation and Ladies' Aid was finally realized when a carload of hollow tile was ordered and work on the church actually begun. By this time the Aid had accumulated the goodly sum of $3,126.33.
The first confirmation was conducted in the church on Aug. 1,1926.
The Ladies' Aid continued to function and support the church until it was dissolved in 1969. At the time it had 9 members including one charter member, Mrs. H. K. Fadness, who was a loyal and devoted member during all of its 60 years. The last meeting of the North Grand ladies' Aid was held at the home of Mrs. Julius Oster on Dec. 17, 1969.
By Mrs. Henry Jeffers
Info from - PRAIRIE PIONEERS A STORY OF ADAMS COUNTY (pages 317 - 319)
The following history is compiled largely from information found in old Secretaries' records (written in the Norwegian language up to 1926), from C. A. Sandhei's History of Holden Township published in the Adams
County Record in 1949 and from a history of the congregation written by Mrs. H. K. Fadness in 1955.
The first meeting of "North Grand" was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gustavus who homesteaded in Perkins Co., S.D. about 1 1/2 miles south of the state line.
On March 16, 1909 "North Grand Norsk Luterske Meninghed" (North Grand Norwegian Lutheran Congregation) was formally organized at the home of Manvel Olson who homesteaded in Sec. 32 just southeast of the present location of the building, which is 7 miles south and 2 ½ miles west of Bucyrus. At this first meeting of the new congregation a constitution and by-laws were adopted. There were 32 households represented and 3 more added that year. Since many of the members were married, we can assume there were at least 50 adult members.
During the late winter and early spring of 1909, a Mr. Berntson from Hettinger held a few meetings at the homes, and Rev. A. B. Bergh served the congregation from time to time as temporary pastor. At a meeting in
July of that year it was unanimously decided to send a letter of call to John Halland of Grafton, N.D., and the salary offered was $ I 00 a year. When H. J. Good's large sod house was vacated (in Sec. 33) it was used both for school and church services. It was in this sod house that Rev. John Halland was installed as the first regular pastor by Rev. A. B. Bergh. He served until sometime in 1910 and then became a merchant in Bucyrus.
In these first years of North Grand there was a committee appointed to look for a suitable place for the cemetery and church building. At a meeting in Nov. of 19 I 3 it was decided to locate the cemetery at its present site, on SW ¼ of Sec. 29 for which O. B. Holden donated 2 acres of land. After a new frame school building was erected in NW ¼ of Sec. 33 (on P.O. Shields’ land) it was also used for Sunday worship services by the Grand Congregation and this continued or several years until the new church building was erected, in around 1926 at the site of the cemetery.
In Dec. of 1910, Rev. L. O. Helleklev arrived to take up the work of pastor. He homesteaded on the Grand River in S.D. He erected a house and lived there until he moved away in 1914. His home later became the home of the John Meisner family, and later the Julius Osters. Rev. Helleklev received a salary of $50 or $55 a year. He was also a farmer, or he probably couldn't have managed on that salary!
When Rev. Helleklev left Rev. L. J. R. Larson took his place. Rev. Iver Dahl of Bucyrus also served as a pastor for a time in 1915.
By Dec. 1915 Rev. Magne Schilliaas had arrived to be our pastor. A parsonage was built north of the Grand River about a mile south of the state line on land donated by Mrs. Bertha Olson, mother of Mrs. H. K.
Fadness. This parsonage was later sold to Sam Opheim, one of the early members, and has been remodeled and enlarged and is the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Opheim and family. Mr. C. A. Sandhei was
elected "kirke sanger" (song leader) for which he was to receive $ I from each family per year. By this time, it was decided to have every third service in the English language. In 1918 the congregation bought Rev. Schilliaas an automobile with the understanding that if he stayed 3 more years the auto would be his. He served 5 congregations at this time - Scandia. Zion and Duck Creek in S. D. and Bloom (Mamre) and North Grand in N.D. After Rev. Schilliaas left in 1921 we were served temporarily by a "lay preacher, " John Thompson of Lemmon, S.D.
In I 921 the question of a church building was again brought up but it was not until several years later that construction began. It was built of hollow tiles and completed in about 1927, with members doing most of the work. In the meantime, North Grand was transferred to Bucyrus Parish and Rev. S. N. Englestad came to serve us in 1923 and lived in the Bucyrus parsonage. At this time, we were having services every 2 weeks and every other service in the Norwegian language. Rev. Englestad was here about 18 years, and this period included some rather rough times financially. Records show that most of the congregation's finances were taken care of by the Ladies' Aid who held socials, suppers and sales to raise a little money. The pastor's salary in 1938 was still $I00!
During the 30's we had a good choir of at least 20 voices, and a few of us can still remember the choir practices we had in our homes under the able leadership of C. A. Sandhei. We had a good Sunday School and very active Luther League.
In the later 30's many of our congregation left in search of "greener pastures." There were many farewell parties - for Sandheis, Steans, Seljeseths , Ole Dahlens, G. P. Holdens and others. Some, like the early homdsteaders, did not return, but some did and resumed their places in the church and community. At times during these years when there were so few of us left, we had services in the homes again to save the expense of buying fuel.
After Rev. Englestad left in about 1941, Rev. B. L. Schroeder of Reeder served us until a letter of call brought Rev. Arthur Aadland to Bucyrus Parish in about 1944 or 1945. He left us after a couple of years or so.
In 1947 Rev. O. C. Rolfsen came to be our pastor and was with us for 12 years. During these years much work was done in the church. There was interior finishing, and new furniture bought, including altar, baptismal font and pews.
On Sept. 21, 1969, we celebrated the end of 60 years and closed our church. Most of the very few families left chose to remain in the Bucyrus Parish and have joined the Lutheran church in Bucyrus.
The charter members of North Grand Church, as listed in the original Secretary' s book and listed in same order were:
I. Carl G. Benson
(Sec'y of the first meeting)
2. A. S. Lund
3. Albert Gustavus
4. Ole Melby
5. Alfred Bloom
6. Sam Opheim
7. John M. Johnson
8. Manvel Olson
9. B.J. Rogne
I0. Matt H. Medtien
11. Andrew P. Olson
12 . Helge Fadness
13 . Ludv:g Hoovel
14. O. B. Holden
15. Christ Amundson
16. C. A. Sandhei
17. Peder Johanson Horn
18. John Norman
19 . Peder Anderson
20. Rasmus Hagen
21. Iver Iverson
22. Sigvald Veien
23 . Oliver Stime
24. Sig vart Olson Opheim
25. David A. Davidson
26. Steven E. Peterson
27. John N. Johnson
28. Joseph Solberg
29. John Larson
30. A. Brekke
31. Mrs. Bertha Olson
32. Mickel Amundson
By Mrs. Henry Jeffers
NORTH GRAND LADIES' AID
The North Grand Ladies' Aid was organized on Aug. 12, 1909, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Benson living on the SW ¼ of Sec. 32 in Holden Township. Rev. John Halland was the pastor of North Grand Congregation at the time and was in charge of the meeting. The officers who were elected at this first meeting were Mrs. Brynjolf Rogne, President; Mrs. O. B. Holden, Vice-President; Mrs. Carl Benson, Secretary and Mrs. Arthur Paulson, Treasurer. Other ladies who joined at this first meeting were, Mrs. H.K. Fadness, Mrs. L. J. Hoovel. Mrs. Andrew Olson, Mrs. Christ Amundson, Mrs. Rasmus Hagen, Mrs. Olaf Tonder, Mrs. C. A. Sandhei, Mrs. Ole Melby. Mrs. H. Olson from " Norman Hill," Miss Bertha Halverson and Miss Lena Aslakson. Miss Aslakson later became Mrs. H. J. Steen. At a meeting at Rasmus Hagen's on July 14, 1910, Mrs. Bertha Olson and Mrs. Oliver Stime also became members.
At the second annual meeting held at the home of Mrs. Ole Melby on Sept. 3, 1910, the members passed the following resolution: "The aim and purpose of this society shall be to aid the North Grand Congregation
in its work for the furtherance of the Lord's Kingdom both at home and abroad, and to gather funds to be used for the purpose of furnishing and beautifying the church which is hoped will be erected soon (it was
began some 15 years later) and to be diligent in the acts of mercy and in aiding missions - both local and foreign. Officers elected for the second year were: Mrs. H. K. Fadness, President; Mrs. L. J. Hoevel, Vice-President and Mrs. O B. Holden, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Ladies’ Aid had their first sale on Dec. 30, 1910, at the L. J. Hoovel home. The sale brought $13.30. Through the years other "socials" were held – an ice cream social on July 4, 1912, or t e purpose of raising funds for the purchase of an organ to be used for church services, a basket social on Dec. 27, 1912, which netted $21.05 and there were similar money-making ventures. In May of 1925 the dream of North Grand Congregation and Ladies' Aid was finally realized when a carload of hollow tile was ordered and work on the church actually begun. By this time the Aid had accumulated the goodly sum of $3,126.33.
The first confirmation was conducted in the church on Aug. 1,1926.
The Ladies' Aid continued to function and support the church until it was dissolved in 1969. At the time it had 9 members including one charter member, Mrs. H. K. Fadness, who was a loyal and devoted member during all of its 60 years. The last meeting of the North Grand ladies' Aid was held at the home of Mrs. Julius Oster on Dec. 17, 1969.
By Mrs. Henry Jeffers
Info from - PRAIRIE PIONEERS A STORY OF ADAMS COUNTY (pages 317 - 319)