West Scandia Lutheran Church
47°41'33.0"N 100°23'25.1"W
47.692500, -100.390300
Sheridan County, North Dakota
47°41'33.0"N 100°23'25.1"W
47.692500, -100.390300
Sheridan County, North Dakota
West Scandia Lutheran Church
Kief, North Dakota
1902-1978
Pastors -
F. Mosaker
M. Mehlen
Halverson
Oliver Fladager
David Hanson
Albert Gilseth
Haugen
Robert Falk
G. Gronseth
R. Aanestad
David Bey
Irving Lovseth
T. Rykken
Wilfred Hanson
Henning Olson
Olaf Saul
Robert Hellickson
Richard Durkop
E. Froiland
Stanley Larsen
Charles Taft
The current church building was moved to its present location in 1958 and was dedicated June 28, 1959.
Info from - West Scandia Lutheran Church plate.
Kief, North Dakota
1902-1978
Pastors -
F. Mosaker
M. Mehlen
Halverson
Oliver Fladager
David Hanson
Albert Gilseth
Haugen
Robert Falk
G. Gronseth
R. Aanestad
David Bey
Irving Lovseth
T. Rykken
Wilfred Hanson
Henning Olson
Olaf Saul
Robert Hellickson
Richard Durkop
E. Froiland
Stanley Larsen
Charles Taft
The current church building was moved to its present location in 1958 and was dedicated June 28, 1959.
Info from - West Scandia Lutheran Church plate.
Norsk Settlers Began West Scandia 1903
The West Scandia Lutheran Church began in 1903 as Norwegian settlers in the Skogmo area saw a need to continue their religious traditions of their homeland. Most of them were new immigrants from Norway and Minnesota. The congregation became a part of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
A plot of land owned by the Jergenson family was set aside to be used as a cemetery. The first burial there was the twin brother of the late Arthur Christianson in 1903. This cemetery also served as a community burial place for other early settlers. It is located two miles east of our present church.
The first services of the congregation were held in the Ole Christianson sod house and in the Bakken sod house. As the congregation grew, they met in the Bakken school.
The first pastor of the congregation, F.J. Mosaker, came from Harvey with his team of horses. At times he was accompanied by his wife. He served West Scandia and East Scandia, which was located east of Skogmo, Because of the distance he had to cover, he would often spend the night at some of the member's homes. Services were conducted in Norwegian and often the ladies aid preceded the worship service with lunch following the service.
In 1916 the ladies aid agreed to contribute a basement to the new schoolhouse being built. This schoolhouse became known as the Skogmo school, and later, as the Ostrom school. This served as the house of worship from 1916 to 1959 when our present structure was dedicated.
Pastor M.G. Mehlen of Harvey served the congregation from 1906 to 1916, with the exception of the years 1910-1913 when Pastor Halvorson from Drake served the congregation.
Pastor O. L. Fladager served from 1908 until his death in 1931; except for short periods when pastor Hanson from Drake served the congregation. Pastor Fladager was a single man who made his home in this area while serving East and West Scandia. He also served in Mountain City and Byersmille townships, McLean County.
One of the highlights of these early church years was the annual church picnic held at England Lake, located in McLean County. Picnics were later held at the C. Bakken, R. Borchert, and N. Person groves. Each summer confirmation classes were held, mostly in Norwegian, for several weeks of intensive study.
Throughout the history of the congregation the Ladies Aid was a stabilizing factor. In addition to contributing to missions at home and abroad, they also assisted in paying the pastor's salary and other expenses. A little money was given by members at each meeting to help meet expenses. Other sources of income were sales of lunches at auctions sales, lutefisk suppers, and rum mage and fancy work sales.
After the death of Pastor Fladager in 1931, Pastor Albert Gilseth of Harvey served through 1937. A highlight of his ministry was the reorganization of the Young People's Society, (YPS). In addition to involving the youth of the congregation, many other young people in the area took an active part in the monthly programs.
Another part of Pastor Gilseth's ministry was the beginning of the annual church conventions. Visiting pas tors and the entire families would take part in these two-to-three-day conventions, including group singing and worship services held at the schoolhouse. Throughout the conventions the ladies served dinners, suppers, and lunches.
With the departure of Pastor Gilseth and the dissolving of the East Scandia congregation in 1937, Pastor Haugen from Drake and Interns Steen and Heen served West Scandia. In the summer of 1940, all church records were destroyed when a fire, caused by lightening, destroyed the home of Christ Christianson who was secretary of the congregation at that time. In 1941 Pastor R. Falk of the American Lutheran Church of McClusky served until his calling into the chaplaincy during World War n. Pastor G.O. Gronseth of Harvey was the next pastor until the fall of 1943 when Pastor R.S. Aanestad was called to serve the McClusky Lutheran Parish of which West Scandia had now become a part. With the departure of Pastor Aanestad in 1945, Pas tor D.M. Bey served until September 1948. From that date until 1950 Pastor I. Lovseth served the parish followed by pastor T.A. Rykken who served until 1953. Pastor W. Hanson was called to serve the congregation in 1954. At this time the membership of the church was at an all-time low. Several families had moved or transferred, but Pastor Hanson saw a future for the congregation and encouraged and inspired them to make plans to purchase a church building. At a special meeting July 30, 1954, the six voting members present began discussing the possibilities of purchasing a church building. The Leonard Ostrom family donated the land on which the church was to stand. A deed was given to the church by Louise and Theodore Ostrom on February 23, 1957. The church is located 14 1/2 miles north of McClusky. In the spring of 1955, using the $505,00 remaining in the treasury from the early years of Ladies Aid, a bid was made and accepted for the Emanuel Lutheran Church building of rural Butte. That congregation had disbanded, and their building was for sale. During the year several new families had joined the congregation, so with their help and the aid of neighbors and friends, the church building was moved near its present site.
In the spring of 1958, the church building was moved to its present location. Many hours of labor were donated by members and friends of the congregation to complete the remodeling of the church building. It was dedicated June 28, 1959, with Pastor Henning Olson serving as Interim pastor at the time. Dr. Loyal Tollackson, West District Presidents; pastor Wilfred Hanson; and Pastor R.S. Aanestad also took part in the dedication service.
Prior to this Pastor Saul served from 1956 until his death in June 1958. The congregation was then served for a short time by Torberg Nordmark who was a student pastor. Pastor Robert Hellickson served the parish from August 1959 until February 1964. Pastor Richard Durkop served as interim Pastor until pastor E.M. Froi land arrived in October 1964. With his departure in December 1966, Pastor Durkop again consented to serve West Scandia.
In November 1967 Pastor Stanley Larson was called from a rural Williston parish. Under his leadership during the past eight years, the congregation has continued to grow and expand. It maintains a Sunday School, and confirmation classes similar to those begun in the yearly years. Vacation Bible School is held each summer. Annual harvest festivals and parish picnics add variation to summer and fall worship services. An active ALCW, organized December 9, 1970, carries on the traditions of the Ladies Aid of former years in addition to having Bible studies and monthly meetings in the homes of its members.
The congregation is now making plans for its 75th anniversary which will be held in a few years.
Info from - Sheridan County heritage '76: a bicentennial project (pages 158 &159)
The West Scandia Lutheran Church began in 1903 as Norwegian settlers in the Skogmo area saw a need to continue their religious traditions of their homeland. Most of them were new immigrants from Norway and Minnesota. The congregation became a part of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
A plot of land owned by the Jergenson family was set aside to be used as a cemetery. The first burial there was the twin brother of the late Arthur Christianson in 1903. This cemetery also served as a community burial place for other early settlers. It is located two miles east of our present church.
The first services of the congregation were held in the Ole Christianson sod house and in the Bakken sod house. As the congregation grew, they met in the Bakken school.
The first pastor of the congregation, F.J. Mosaker, came from Harvey with his team of horses. At times he was accompanied by his wife. He served West Scandia and East Scandia, which was located east of Skogmo, Because of the distance he had to cover, he would often spend the night at some of the member's homes. Services were conducted in Norwegian and often the ladies aid preceded the worship service with lunch following the service.
In 1916 the ladies aid agreed to contribute a basement to the new schoolhouse being built. This schoolhouse became known as the Skogmo school, and later, as the Ostrom school. This served as the house of worship from 1916 to 1959 when our present structure was dedicated.
Pastor M.G. Mehlen of Harvey served the congregation from 1906 to 1916, with the exception of the years 1910-1913 when Pastor Halvorson from Drake served the congregation.
Pastor O. L. Fladager served from 1908 until his death in 1931; except for short periods when pastor Hanson from Drake served the congregation. Pastor Fladager was a single man who made his home in this area while serving East and West Scandia. He also served in Mountain City and Byersmille townships, McLean County.
One of the highlights of these early church years was the annual church picnic held at England Lake, located in McLean County. Picnics were later held at the C. Bakken, R. Borchert, and N. Person groves. Each summer confirmation classes were held, mostly in Norwegian, for several weeks of intensive study.
Throughout the history of the congregation the Ladies Aid was a stabilizing factor. In addition to contributing to missions at home and abroad, they also assisted in paying the pastor's salary and other expenses. A little money was given by members at each meeting to help meet expenses. Other sources of income were sales of lunches at auctions sales, lutefisk suppers, and rum mage and fancy work sales.
After the death of Pastor Fladager in 1931, Pastor Albert Gilseth of Harvey served through 1937. A highlight of his ministry was the reorganization of the Young People's Society, (YPS). In addition to involving the youth of the congregation, many other young people in the area took an active part in the monthly programs.
Another part of Pastor Gilseth's ministry was the beginning of the annual church conventions. Visiting pas tors and the entire families would take part in these two-to-three-day conventions, including group singing and worship services held at the schoolhouse. Throughout the conventions the ladies served dinners, suppers, and lunches.
With the departure of Pastor Gilseth and the dissolving of the East Scandia congregation in 1937, Pastor Haugen from Drake and Interns Steen and Heen served West Scandia. In the summer of 1940, all church records were destroyed when a fire, caused by lightening, destroyed the home of Christ Christianson who was secretary of the congregation at that time. In 1941 Pastor R. Falk of the American Lutheran Church of McClusky served until his calling into the chaplaincy during World War n. Pastor G.O. Gronseth of Harvey was the next pastor until the fall of 1943 when Pastor R.S. Aanestad was called to serve the McClusky Lutheran Parish of which West Scandia had now become a part. With the departure of Pastor Aanestad in 1945, Pas tor D.M. Bey served until September 1948. From that date until 1950 Pastor I. Lovseth served the parish followed by pastor T.A. Rykken who served until 1953. Pastor W. Hanson was called to serve the congregation in 1954. At this time the membership of the church was at an all-time low. Several families had moved or transferred, but Pastor Hanson saw a future for the congregation and encouraged and inspired them to make plans to purchase a church building. At a special meeting July 30, 1954, the six voting members present began discussing the possibilities of purchasing a church building. The Leonard Ostrom family donated the land on which the church was to stand. A deed was given to the church by Louise and Theodore Ostrom on February 23, 1957. The church is located 14 1/2 miles north of McClusky. In the spring of 1955, using the $505,00 remaining in the treasury from the early years of Ladies Aid, a bid was made and accepted for the Emanuel Lutheran Church building of rural Butte. That congregation had disbanded, and their building was for sale. During the year several new families had joined the congregation, so with their help and the aid of neighbors and friends, the church building was moved near its present site.
In the spring of 1958, the church building was moved to its present location. Many hours of labor were donated by members and friends of the congregation to complete the remodeling of the church building. It was dedicated June 28, 1959, with Pastor Henning Olson serving as Interim pastor at the time. Dr. Loyal Tollackson, West District Presidents; pastor Wilfred Hanson; and Pastor R.S. Aanestad also took part in the dedication service.
Prior to this Pastor Saul served from 1956 until his death in June 1958. The congregation was then served for a short time by Torberg Nordmark who was a student pastor. Pastor Robert Hellickson served the parish from August 1959 until February 1964. Pastor Richard Durkop served as interim Pastor until pastor E.M. Froi land arrived in October 1964. With his departure in December 1966, Pastor Durkop again consented to serve West Scandia.
In November 1967 Pastor Stanley Larson was called from a rural Williston parish. Under his leadership during the past eight years, the congregation has continued to grow and expand. It maintains a Sunday School, and confirmation classes similar to those begun in the yearly years. Vacation Bible School is held each summer. Annual harvest festivals and parish picnics add variation to summer and fall worship services. An active ALCW, organized December 9, 1970, carries on the traditions of the Ladies Aid of former years in addition to having Bible studies and monthly meetings in the homes of its members.
The congregation is now making plans for its 75th anniversary which will be held in a few years.
Info from - Sheridan County heritage '76: a bicentennial project (pages 158 &159)