Ostervold Lutheran Church
Ostervold Luthern Church Cemetery
47.55857, -97.81514
47°33'30.9"N 97°48'54.5"W
RR 1 Finley, Steele County, North Dakota 58230
Ostervold Luthern Church Cemetery
47.55857, -97.81514
47°33'30.9"N 97°48'54.5"W
RR 1 Finley, Steele County, North Dakota 58230
Ostervold Lutheran Church
On May 14, 1883, a meeting was held in the Hans Gilbertson home to organize congregation.
The name "Ostervold" was chosen, after a church on Storebo Island in Norway.
In 1895, the building of the church became a reality. It was dedicated on July 2, 1899.
On January 24, 1943, the Church and its contents were destroyed by fire.
Spring of 1949 a new building was started and dedicated September 7, 1952.
Rev. O. E. Gronvald 1884 - 1886
Rev. C. C. Gjerstad 1886 - 1887
Rev. O, K. Quamme 1888 - 1894
Rev. P. A. Thorson 1894 - 1903
Rev. V. E. Boe 1903 - 1909
Rev. E. C. Tollefson 1909 - 1916
Rev. Jacob Tanner 1916 - 1917
Rev. V. E. Boe 1917 - 1940
Rev E. T. Fryand 1941 - 1948
Rev. O. A. Jordahl 1948 - 1966
Rev. Ernest Stadum 1966 -
Information - back of Ostervold Lutheran Church 1883-1983 Finley, North Dakota Plate
On May 14, 1883, a meeting was held in the Hans Gilbertson home to organize congregation.
The name "Ostervold" was chosen, after a church on Storebo Island in Norway.
In 1895, the building of the church became a reality. It was dedicated on July 2, 1899.
On January 24, 1943, the Church and its contents were destroyed by fire.
Spring of 1949 a new building was started and dedicated September 7, 1952.
Rev. O. E. Gronvald 1884 - 1886
Rev. C. C. Gjerstad 1886 - 1887
Rev. O, K. Quamme 1888 - 1894
Rev. P. A. Thorson 1894 - 1903
Rev. V. E. Boe 1903 - 1909
Rev. E. C. Tollefson 1909 - 1916
Rev. Jacob Tanner 1916 - 1917
Rev. V. E. Boe 1917 - 1940
Rev E. T. Fryand 1941 - 1948
Rev. O. A. Jordahl 1948 - 1966
Rev. Ernest Stadum 1966 -
Information - back of Ostervold Lutheran Church 1883-1983 Finley, North Dakota Plate
The first settlers who came to Ostervold community in the early eighties were of Norwegian descent. Peder J. Hanson, one of the leaders organizing the congregation probably expressed the views of most of them in the story of his life when he wrote, "When we came here it did not look so bright as to church services - but we had God and His word with us".
They met in homes for services and after services Mr. Hanson taught the children. When a schoolhouse was built, it was used for worship.
On May 14, 1883, a meeting was held at the Hans Gilbertson home to organize "The Ostervold Lutheran Congregation". Charter members were Anders A. Brakke, Peder J. Hanson, John F. Gylten, Peder H. Leslie, Hans Gilbertson, John Birkland, Christian Birkland, Torkel Jacob Halvorson, Anton Leslie, Ole O. Olson, Ole C. Kleiven, Harold Johnson, Hans Erickson, Peder L. O. Coltom, Jens O. Berge, Ole O. Coltom, Rasmus Sampson and Ole Anderson.
The name "Ostervold" was chosen for the new congregation from the name of the home church on Storebo Island in Norway, the church of some of the charter members.
Hans Gilbertson donated a piece of land on a corner of his farm for a cemetery. A constitution also had to be drawn up and on February 12, 1884, the constitution was adopted. A song leader (klokker) was elected. His pay was to come from a special collection on the three Festival Sundays. In 1884 it was decided to hire Erick O. Wasness to teach "Norwegian Parochial" school at a salary of $6.00 a month.
In 1891-1892 they rented a quarter of land from Mrs. Anna Monson, summer fallowed it one year, raised a crop the next year. Proceeds went to the building fund. Each farmer donated one bushel of wheat for every 100 bushels he harvested, which also went to the building fund.
The first church was built in 1895 for a total of $848.89 when each man donated 12 days of work free. The land was donated by Knute Halvorson for church yard and cemetery. In 1910 the church was enlarged by adding to the north end of the nave and in 1918 was dug.
This church and its contents was destroyed by fire on January 24, 1943. Again, services were held in the schoolhouse nearby until a new brick church was built and dedicated September 7, 1952, with Dr. Tallakson as the main speaker. At this service two crosses were placed on the Christian service flag commemorating the full time service in the church of Pastor E. N. Torgerson and T. P. Nordmark. These two men looked to Ostervold as their church home as they came from Norway years before.
The church observed its 50th anniversary June 25, 1933, with Pastor E. C. Tollefson as guest speaker. On November 2, 1958, the 75th was observed with Dr. Jacob Tanner as guest speaker and the 85th on June 29th and 30th, 1968, with confirmants' reunion, and with O. A. Jordahl, Pastor E. T. Fyrand and Pastor V. C. Boe as guest speakers.
Pastor C. J. Gronlid from Hatton, North Dakota served occasionally in 1884. Pastor O. C. Gronvold was the first pastor called and served from 1884-1894, P. A. Thoreson 1894-1903, V. E. Boe 1904-1909, E. C. Tollefson 1909-1916, Dr. Jacob Tanner 1916-1917, V. E. Boe returned 1917-1940, E. T. Fyrand 1941-1948, O. A. Jordahl, 1948-1966 and the present Pastor Ernest Stadum came in October 1966.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1883 through the efforts of a few women and Rev. Gronvold. Since the people were settled far apart, they had two Aids, Eastern and Western. Both aids met twice a month in homes with members walking many miles to attend, knitting as they walked. In 1918 the two aids joined and met once a month in their new church basement. Before the congregation was organized, they met for services in homes and the children were taught their Sunday School lessons by their parents after services. Sunday School was officially organized in 1892 with P. J. Hanson as the first Sunday School Superintendent. Other active organizations were their Young People's League and a good choir.
During the depression the Ostervold Choir was to go to Cooperstown for a joint choir rehearsal for the Circuit Luther League Choral Union. They couldn't afford to take cars, so they put some hay in the bottom of a truck which they sat on and off to Cooperstown!
Info from - Finley 75th Diamond Jubilee 1897 - 1972 (pages 86 & 87)
They met in homes for services and after services Mr. Hanson taught the children. When a schoolhouse was built, it was used for worship.
On May 14, 1883, a meeting was held at the Hans Gilbertson home to organize "The Ostervold Lutheran Congregation". Charter members were Anders A. Brakke, Peder J. Hanson, John F. Gylten, Peder H. Leslie, Hans Gilbertson, John Birkland, Christian Birkland, Torkel Jacob Halvorson, Anton Leslie, Ole O. Olson, Ole C. Kleiven, Harold Johnson, Hans Erickson, Peder L. O. Coltom, Jens O. Berge, Ole O. Coltom, Rasmus Sampson and Ole Anderson.
The name "Ostervold" was chosen for the new congregation from the name of the home church on Storebo Island in Norway, the church of some of the charter members.
Hans Gilbertson donated a piece of land on a corner of his farm for a cemetery. A constitution also had to be drawn up and on February 12, 1884, the constitution was adopted. A song leader (klokker) was elected. His pay was to come from a special collection on the three Festival Sundays. In 1884 it was decided to hire Erick O. Wasness to teach "Norwegian Parochial" school at a salary of $6.00 a month.
In 1891-1892 they rented a quarter of land from Mrs. Anna Monson, summer fallowed it one year, raised a crop the next year. Proceeds went to the building fund. Each farmer donated one bushel of wheat for every 100 bushels he harvested, which also went to the building fund.
The first church was built in 1895 for a total of $848.89 when each man donated 12 days of work free. The land was donated by Knute Halvorson for church yard and cemetery. In 1910 the church was enlarged by adding to the north end of the nave and in 1918 was dug.
This church and its contents was destroyed by fire on January 24, 1943. Again, services were held in the schoolhouse nearby until a new brick church was built and dedicated September 7, 1952, with Dr. Tallakson as the main speaker. At this service two crosses were placed on the Christian service flag commemorating the full time service in the church of Pastor E. N. Torgerson and T. P. Nordmark. These two men looked to Ostervold as their church home as they came from Norway years before.
The church observed its 50th anniversary June 25, 1933, with Pastor E. C. Tollefson as guest speaker. On November 2, 1958, the 75th was observed with Dr. Jacob Tanner as guest speaker and the 85th on June 29th and 30th, 1968, with confirmants' reunion, and with O. A. Jordahl, Pastor E. T. Fyrand and Pastor V. C. Boe as guest speakers.
Pastor C. J. Gronlid from Hatton, North Dakota served occasionally in 1884. Pastor O. C. Gronvold was the first pastor called and served from 1884-1894, P. A. Thoreson 1894-1903, V. E. Boe 1904-1909, E. C. Tollefson 1909-1916, Dr. Jacob Tanner 1916-1917, V. E. Boe returned 1917-1940, E. T. Fyrand 1941-1948, O. A. Jordahl, 1948-1966 and the present Pastor Ernest Stadum came in October 1966.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1883 through the efforts of a few women and Rev. Gronvold. Since the people were settled far apart, they had two Aids, Eastern and Western. Both aids met twice a month in homes with members walking many miles to attend, knitting as they walked. In 1918 the two aids joined and met once a month in their new church basement. Before the congregation was organized, they met for services in homes and the children were taught their Sunday School lessons by their parents after services. Sunday School was officially organized in 1892 with P. J. Hanson as the first Sunday School Superintendent. Other active organizations were their Young People's League and a good choir.
During the depression the Ostervold Choir was to go to Cooperstown for a joint choir rehearsal for the Circuit Luther League Choral Union. They couldn't afford to take cars, so they put some hay in the bottom of a truck which they sat on and off to Cooperstown!
Info from - Finley 75th Diamond Jubilee 1897 - 1972 (pages 86 & 87)