West Prairie Lutheran Church
15720 ND Hwy 46
Kindred, Cass County North Dakota 58051
15720 ND Hwy 46
Kindred, Cass County North Dakota 58051
The Hepper Olson Church Plate Collection
WEST PRAIRIE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Religious meetings were held in a schoolhouse and in various homes until 1891 when a meeting was held at School Dist. No. 30 and a congregation was formed under the name of Davenport. On May 9,1896, it was changed to West Prairie. Pastor Bogstad was pastor.
Three congregations went together as a parish in 1897. Davenport, Kindred and West Prairie joined a parish and West Prairie's share of expenses were $75.00 a year. Christ Johnson donated land for the church where it now stands, and Eric Swiggum donated land across the road to the north for a cemetery in 1900. The building was put up in 1909 for $2,545.00.
The dedication service was held October 22,1910 by Pastor T. H. Dahl, D.D. The first organist was Mabel (Swiggum) Andvik. Stella (Engene) Laske was the first baby baptized. On December 26, 1913, Mabel Swiggum and John Andvik were married. The first confirmation class in 1911 were Alice (Johnson) White, Celia Swiggum, Julia (Simmons) Swiggum, Cora (Swiggum) Elstad, Ella (Anderson) Jensvin and Lewis Anderson. Pastor P. J. Johnson was serving the church then. All services were in Norwegian. In 1928, one third of the services were in English; in 1938, one half of the services were in English; and in 1950, all the services were in English.
Other pastors were Rev. G. Gabrielson, Rev. Oscar Laaveg, Rev. Harold Dardahl, Rev. Earl Sletten and Rev. Lloyd Wallace.
In 1967, there was a realignment of churches. West Prairie joined the Leonard Parish of Helendale and Leonard. They purchased one-third interest in the parsonage.
Pastor Clair Schwalm was the first pastor under this arrangement. Pastor Phillip Peterson was next with Pastor Rodney Dondorf serving the parish at the present time.
Info from – Leonard Centennial, 1881-1981 (page 35)
Religious meetings were held in a schoolhouse and in various homes until 1891 when a meeting was held at School Dist. No. 30 and a congregation was formed under the name of Davenport. On May 9,1896, it was changed to West Prairie. Pastor Bogstad was pastor.
Three congregations went together as a parish in 1897. Davenport, Kindred and West Prairie joined a parish and West Prairie's share of expenses were $75.00 a year. Christ Johnson donated land for the church where it now stands, and Eric Swiggum donated land across the road to the north for a cemetery in 1900. The building was put up in 1909 for $2,545.00.
The dedication service was held October 22,1910 by Pastor T. H. Dahl, D.D. The first organist was Mabel (Swiggum) Andvik. Stella (Engene) Laske was the first baby baptized. On December 26, 1913, Mabel Swiggum and John Andvik were married. The first confirmation class in 1911 were Alice (Johnson) White, Celia Swiggum, Julia (Simmons) Swiggum, Cora (Swiggum) Elstad, Ella (Anderson) Jensvin and Lewis Anderson. Pastor P. J. Johnson was serving the church then. All services were in Norwegian. In 1928, one third of the services were in English; in 1938, one half of the services were in English; and in 1950, all the services were in English.
Other pastors were Rev. G. Gabrielson, Rev. Oscar Laaveg, Rev. Harold Dardahl, Rev. Earl Sletten and Rev. Lloyd Wallace.
In 1967, there was a realignment of churches. West Prairie joined the Leonard Parish of Helendale and Leonard. They purchased one-third interest in the parsonage.
Pastor Clair Schwalm was the first pastor under this arrangement. Pastor Phillip Peterson was next with Pastor Rodney Dondorf serving the parish at the present time.
Info from – Leonard Centennial, 1881-1981 (page 35)
WEST PRAIRIE LUTHERAN CHURCH
The West Prairie church was organized in 1891 with fifteen charter members. Rev. Bogstad was the first pastor. Until 1896 the congregation was called the Davenport Lutheran church. The church was built in 1910. In 1929 it was moved on its present basement. In 1951 it was enlarged and remodeled. In 1967 a new front entrance was added.
West Prairie was a part of the Kindred Parish until 1967 when it joined with Helendale and Leonard to form the Leonard Parish.
The present pastor is Rev. Rodney Dondorf.
Let us look back with gratitude to the pioneers who established the churches and passed their heritage on to their children. The succeeding generations have preserved the past and developed the future as we note that some of these churches have celebrated or soon will be celebrating their centennial anniversaries. Names in the church directories include members of the fifth generation.
Info from - Kindred Centennial, 1880-1980 (page 29)
The West Prairie church was organized in 1891 with fifteen charter members. Rev. Bogstad was the first pastor. Until 1896 the congregation was called the Davenport Lutheran church. The church was built in 1910. In 1929 it was moved on its present basement. In 1951 it was enlarged and remodeled. In 1967 a new front entrance was added.
West Prairie was a part of the Kindred Parish until 1967 when it joined with Helendale and Leonard to form the Leonard Parish.
The present pastor is Rev. Rodney Dondorf.
Let us look back with gratitude to the pioneers who established the churches and passed their heritage on to their children. The succeeding generations have preserved the past and developed the future as we note that some of these churches have celebrated or soon will be celebrating their centennial anniversaries. Names in the church directories include members of the fifth generation.
Info from - Kindred Centennial, 1880-1980 (page 29)