Trinity Lutheran Church
410 Cedar Ave SW
Forman, Sargent County, North Dakota 58032
410 Cedar Ave SW
Forman, Sargent County, North Dakota 58032
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Trinity Lutheran Church - Forman, North Dakota
1887-1982 History Trinity Church was organized November 6, 1887. Rev. Gustav Westerlund 1887-1891 Rev. Rasmus Lavik 1892-1912 Rev. Sander Tollefson 1912-1916 Rev. K. O. Gjernes 1917-1955 Rev. John Rotto 1955-1960 Rev. Edward Norby 1960-1961 Rev. John Berg 1961- Info from - back of Trinity Lutheran Church plate. |
History of Trinity Lutheran Church
The early settlers who constituted the nucleus of the congregation came to Forman and vicinity in 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886. They came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the usual immigrant way seeking land. Some came on foot, some by ox cart and some in the covered wagon and settled mostly in Forman and Rutland townships. Most of them were poor in material goods, but they had a heritage that wealth cannot buy. From the Lutheran church in the homeland the came with faith in God, love for His Word and devotion to His Church.
Their first concern after providing the necessary food and shelter, was to have the word of God preached in the faith and language of their fathers. The first Lutheran pastor who preached in this settlement was Rev. Gustav Westerlund, who was serving the Nordland Congregation in Rutland. He conducted services in the Brandt school house two and one-half miles south of Forman during the summer of 1887. He usually walked from his homestead east of Rutland.
An organization meeting was held in the Brandt school house at which time a proposed constitution was adopted and signed by 21 charter members: Niels Arntzen, Andrew Finrow. H. J. Jorgenson, N. H. Dyste, Ole K. Reitan, J. C. Brandt, Peter J. Narum, C. Nielsen, Henry Gardner, A. E. Land, August Lindberg, Edward Anderson, E. Fjelstad, Frank Lindberg, A. Sannes, E. H. Dyste, A. Sundlie, Martin Martinson. Olaf Skaga. Ove Peter Christianson and Gilbert Elken.
Rev. Westerlund served the congregation from 1888 to 1891 when services were held in the Brandt school house. The first cemetery was dedicated on November 4, 188S. It is 3 miles south of Forman on land donated by August Lindberg.
Rev. Lavik of Milnor served the congregation from 1891 to 1912. In 1906 a church was built 5 miles south and three-fourths of a mile east of Forman on land donated by Alfred Sannes. Elling Jensen, John P. Lunstad and Peter Narum served on the building committee, and the builder was Adolph Glorvick. As services were discontinued in this church, it was moved to Havana where it can still be used as a place of worship.
When the membership increased, it was felt necessary to have services in town, so Rev. Sander Tollefson was called, and the Congregational Church was used until the present building was erected in 1914. The building committee consisted of Nels Dyste, Edward Anderson and Even Fjelstad; with Henry Gardner and Ciser Smias the builders. Hans Hall solicited subscriptions and donated substantially to the building fund.
Pastors who have served since Rev. Tollefson left in 1916 are Rev. Gjernes and Rev. Rotto.
The women of the church have been active in aid work. Their first public event was a dinner and sale held in the courthouse building in 1892. They were not officially organized until in 1900, when the following charter members met at the home of Mrs. J. C. Brandt: Mrs. Gertrude Land. Mrs. Nels Dyste, Mrs. Elling Jensen, Mrs. Edward Anderson, Mrs. Ole Silseth, Mrs. Niels Arntzen Mrs. J. C. Brandt, Mrs. E. H. Dyste, Mrs. J. H. Dyste, Mrs. H. O. Gardner, Mrs. Even Fjeldstad, Mrs. J. P. Lunstad, Mrs. Claus Evenson and Mrs. Emelle Christensen.
The early Sunday School was conducted in the Norwegian language and among the first teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Nels Dyste, Mrs. H. O. Gardner and Mrs. J. H. Dyste.
The first organist was Bertha Dyste Hurly who started playing as a child and continued for more than thirty years. Succeeding regular organists were Mrs. Maltrud and Mrs. Bernice Larson. The present organist is Mrs. Glenn Oleson, with Clarice Knutson as assistant.
During the past year the Trinity Lutheran congregation has built a parish education building which will be dedicated in June.
Info from – Forman’s Diamond Jubilee History 1884-1959 Forman, North Dakota June 11, 12, 13
The early settlers who constituted the nucleus of the congregation came to Forman and vicinity in 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886. They came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the usual immigrant way seeking land. Some came on foot, some by ox cart and some in the covered wagon and settled mostly in Forman and Rutland townships. Most of them were poor in material goods, but they had a heritage that wealth cannot buy. From the Lutheran church in the homeland the came with faith in God, love for His Word and devotion to His Church.
Their first concern after providing the necessary food and shelter, was to have the word of God preached in the faith and language of their fathers. The first Lutheran pastor who preached in this settlement was Rev. Gustav Westerlund, who was serving the Nordland Congregation in Rutland. He conducted services in the Brandt school house two and one-half miles south of Forman during the summer of 1887. He usually walked from his homestead east of Rutland.
An organization meeting was held in the Brandt school house at which time a proposed constitution was adopted and signed by 21 charter members: Niels Arntzen, Andrew Finrow. H. J. Jorgenson, N. H. Dyste, Ole K. Reitan, J. C. Brandt, Peter J. Narum, C. Nielsen, Henry Gardner, A. E. Land, August Lindberg, Edward Anderson, E. Fjelstad, Frank Lindberg, A. Sannes, E. H. Dyste, A. Sundlie, Martin Martinson. Olaf Skaga. Ove Peter Christianson and Gilbert Elken.
Rev. Westerlund served the congregation from 1888 to 1891 when services were held in the Brandt school house. The first cemetery was dedicated on November 4, 188S. It is 3 miles south of Forman on land donated by August Lindberg.
Rev. Lavik of Milnor served the congregation from 1891 to 1912. In 1906 a church was built 5 miles south and three-fourths of a mile east of Forman on land donated by Alfred Sannes. Elling Jensen, John P. Lunstad and Peter Narum served on the building committee, and the builder was Adolph Glorvick. As services were discontinued in this church, it was moved to Havana where it can still be used as a place of worship.
When the membership increased, it was felt necessary to have services in town, so Rev. Sander Tollefson was called, and the Congregational Church was used until the present building was erected in 1914. The building committee consisted of Nels Dyste, Edward Anderson and Even Fjelstad; with Henry Gardner and Ciser Smias the builders. Hans Hall solicited subscriptions and donated substantially to the building fund.
Pastors who have served since Rev. Tollefson left in 1916 are Rev. Gjernes and Rev. Rotto.
The women of the church have been active in aid work. Their first public event was a dinner and sale held in the courthouse building in 1892. They were not officially organized until in 1900, when the following charter members met at the home of Mrs. J. C. Brandt: Mrs. Gertrude Land. Mrs. Nels Dyste, Mrs. Elling Jensen, Mrs. Edward Anderson, Mrs. Ole Silseth, Mrs. Niels Arntzen Mrs. J. C. Brandt, Mrs. E. H. Dyste, Mrs. J. H. Dyste, Mrs. H. O. Gardner, Mrs. Even Fjeldstad, Mrs. J. P. Lunstad, Mrs. Claus Evenson and Mrs. Emelle Christensen.
The early Sunday School was conducted in the Norwegian language and among the first teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Nels Dyste, Mrs. H. O. Gardner and Mrs. J. H. Dyste.
The first organist was Bertha Dyste Hurly who started playing as a child and continued for more than thirty years. Succeeding regular organists were Mrs. Maltrud and Mrs. Bernice Larson. The present organist is Mrs. Glenn Oleson, with Clarice Knutson as assistant.
During the past year the Trinity Lutheran congregation has built a parish education building which will be dedicated in June.
Info from – Forman’s Diamond Jubilee History 1884-1959 Forman, North Dakota June 11, 12, 13