Walle Lutheran Church
746 9th Street NE
Thompson, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58278
746 9th Street NE
Thompson, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58278
Walle Congregation was organized in 1876 by Pastor Bjerg Harstad. He served until the coming December 17, 1876. He resigned in 1879.
Pastor Ole Aaberg followed him. Pastor Aaberg served both Walle and Nazareth congregations. Nazareth was a large territory south of Walle that is now Reynolds and Buxton, and from there east to the Red River.
A young man, Rev. S. O. Braaten arrived in the valley in 1885. Almost at once the planning of a church building was begun.
In 1889, a constitution was drafted in Norwegian. This was not revised and translated into English until 1945.
In May 1894, the building was finished but the furniture had not been installed when the church was struck by lightning and burned. Only the organ was saved.
The congregation was not defeated and a second building, the same size and in the same location, was erected and dedicated in 1897.
But disaster came again in 1902. This time it was a tornado. It whirled through the valley, leaving destruction in its wake. It blew down and demolished five churches - the Catholic and Baptist churches in Thompson, then Rosendahl, Evanger and Walle churches, in addition to many farm buildings that were in its path.
Walle church had to begin again. With trust in God, in the same year they began the construction of a third church. It was finished and dedicated in 1905 and is still in use.
Rev. Braaten served as Pastor for 38 years, the longest pastorate in the history of the church. He was forced to resign due to ill health, but continued to reside in his farm home with his family until his death in August, 1926.
His successor was Rev. O. T. Ness. Rev. Ness was serving the Grand Forks Rural Parish made up of East Walle, Evanger, and Grand Marais. Walle was added to the group.
Both Pastor Ness and his wife were untiring workers and contributed much to the life of the church. Mrs. Ness was a fine choir director and served in that position, in addition to taking part in every phase of women's work. Rev. Ness led the congregation until his illness and death in 1941.
The 50th anniversary celebration in the church was delayed until 1927, until the dining hall was finished and ready for use. This dining hall was financed by the Ladies Aid.
A new organ was needed, so during the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Lunde a Wurlitzer organ was purchased and was dedicated at the time of the 75th anniversary of the church.
In 1959, while Rev. Fridrichs Kramin was pastor, the church entrance was rebuilt. At the same time, new carpets were laid in the chancel and the nave. Then new hymnals and other necessities were purchased to help in the worship services.
Under the leadership of Rev. Selmer Hilde, a new altar and a lectern were placed in the chancel and an amplifying system was installed. All of these were in place when Walle celebrated its 90th anniversary on June 24, 1966.
In 1974, the dining hall was moved to the north and attached to the church. Then a parish parsonage was purchased on S. Walnut Street in Grand Forks. The first pastor to occupy the parsonage was Rev. Roger Schelinger.
On February 15, 1976, the congregation celebrated its lOOth birthday with a festive worship service and dinner. The celebration was continued in June, with a conformant banquet and a Sunday Festival service.
The centennial theme was, "One century in Christ.''
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1885. It began as just an Aid to the local church but very soon their interests broadened to include people in all parts of the world. Their first interest was missionary work in China, then in Madagascar, and later a scholarship for missionaries in Hong Kong.
In 1960, with the church merger of the American Lutheran Church, they became the American Lutheran Church Women. They continue to help in God' s work at home and to help and encourage missionary work around the world.
God was always present in the congregation as they planned and built. May they continue in His work and in His way with grateful hearts and with devotion to Him in the years that are yet to come.
Info from: Memories of Yesterday Thompson Centennial 1881 - 1981
Pastor Ole Aaberg followed him. Pastor Aaberg served both Walle and Nazareth congregations. Nazareth was a large territory south of Walle that is now Reynolds and Buxton, and from there east to the Red River.
A young man, Rev. S. O. Braaten arrived in the valley in 1885. Almost at once the planning of a church building was begun.
In 1889, a constitution was drafted in Norwegian. This was not revised and translated into English until 1945.
In May 1894, the building was finished but the furniture had not been installed when the church was struck by lightning and burned. Only the organ was saved.
The congregation was not defeated and a second building, the same size and in the same location, was erected and dedicated in 1897.
But disaster came again in 1902. This time it was a tornado. It whirled through the valley, leaving destruction in its wake. It blew down and demolished five churches - the Catholic and Baptist churches in Thompson, then Rosendahl, Evanger and Walle churches, in addition to many farm buildings that were in its path.
Walle church had to begin again. With trust in God, in the same year they began the construction of a third church. It was finished and dedicated in 1905 and is still in use.
Rev. Braaten served as Pastor for 38 years, the longest pastorate in the history of the church. He was forced to resign due to ill health, but continued to reside in his farm home with his family until his death in August, 1926.
His successor was Rev. O. T. Ness. Rev. Ness was serving the Grand Forks Rural Parish made up of East Walle, Evanger, and Grand Marais. Walle was added to the group.
Both Pastor Ness and his wife were untiring workers and contributed much to the life of the church. Mrs. Ness was a fine choir director and served in that position, in addition to taking part in every phase of women's work. Rev. Ness led the congregation until his illness and death in 1941.
The 50th anniversary celebration in the church was delayed until 1927, until the dining hall was finished and ready for use. This dining hall was financed by the Ladies Aid.
A new organ was needed, so during the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Lunde a Wurlitzer organ was purchased and was dedicated at the time of the 75th anniversary of the church.
In 1959, while Rev. Fridrichs Kramin was pastor, the church entrance was rebuilt. At the same time, new carpets were laid in the chancel and the nave. Then new hymnals and other necessities were purchased to help in the worship services.
Under the leadership of Rev. Selmer Hilde, a new altar and a lectern were placed in the chancel and an amplifying system was installed. All of these were in place when Walle celebrated its 90th anniversary on June 24, 1966.
In 1974, the dining hall was moved to the north and attached to the church. Then a parish parsonage was purchased on S. Walnut Street in Grand Forks. The first pastor to occupy the parsonage was Rev. Roger Schelinger.
On February 15, 1976, the congregation celebrated its lOOth birthday with a festive worship service and dinner. The celebration was continued in June, with a conformant banquet and a Sunday Festival service.
The centennial theme was, "One century in Christ.''
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1885. It began as just an Aid to the local church but very soon their interests broadened to include people in all parts of the world. Their first interest was missionary work in China, then in Madagascar, and later a scholarship for missionaries in Hong Kong.
In 1960, with the church merger of the American Lutheran Church, they became the American Lutheran Church Women. They continue to help in God' s work at home and to help and encourage missionary work around the world.
God was always present in the congregation as they planned and built. May they continue in His work and in His way with grateful hearts and with devotion to Him in the years that are yet to come.
Info from: Memories of Yesterday Thompson Centennial 1881 - 1981