West Union Lutheran Church
45th St NE & 3rd Ave NE
Loretta, North Dakota 58267
45th St NE & 3rd Ave NE
Loretta, North Dakota 58267
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West Union Church, twelve miles west of Northwood, was organized in August 1885, by Rev. C. J. M. Gronlid at Jacob Brorby's. John Peterson was the first treasurer and Peter Skurdell was the first secretary. It was named West Union Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Paul Bilden suggested the name for the one in Iowa from which he came.
From 1883 to 1886 Rev. Gronlid served, at first occasionally, then eight times a year. From 1886 to 1890 Rev. Olaf Lee from Northwood was pastor. Meetings were held in homes which were sod houses. November 14, 1887, at the home of P. Eidem, it was agreed that all meetings should be held there until June 1, 1888, for which he was to receive one dollar from each family. Homes and schoolhouses were meeting places until 1896.
In 1890 the church joined the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. On March 31, 1891, at the home of Paul Uglem, Rev. Th. J. Skjei preached his first sermon. After accepting the call July 13, 1893, with a salary of $150 per year, he served until 1909.
The most pressing need was a church. Another task from the beginning was to arrange for Norwegian parochial school, so that the children might learn to read the Norwegian language, Bible and Catechism. In July 1893, Rev. Skjei called a meeting of the women at Peder Aftret's and organized a Ladies Aid,
with Mrs. John Peterson, president, and Mrs. Peter Skurdell, treasurer. Its first purpose was to raise money for a church. In 1896 they contributed $579.
In 1894 Rev. Skjei organized the first Young Peoples Society, also at Peter Aftret's. Their first contribution was the bell and pulpit. In that year it was decided that each member give one bushel of wheat for every one hundred raised, but not over twenty bushels. Iver Running, Charley Christen, Haldor Fuglem, and Oluf Forbord were chosen to collect and market it.
Succeeding pastors have been S. H. Njaa, 1913-1949, whose long pastorate spans much of recent history particularly the transition period from the Norwegian to the English language with the passing of
pioneers. 1938 was the first year the minutes were written in English. Victor Overbo served from 1949-1953; Albin Sherve, 1954-1958; Raymond Poppe, 1958-1963; Orville Sunde, 1964-1973; Norman Beighley, 1974-1977; Jeff Blakeley, 1978-1980; and our present pastor is Dennis Ellingsen.
Extensive repairs of various kinds were made on the church in 1920, a basement was constructed in 1926, the parsonage and church were repaired during Rev. Overbo's pastorate, and repairs on the parsonage were made in 1958. The church and the parsonage have been painted now in 1982 and present membership is 87.
On January 2, 1896, a building committee composed of S. B. Draxton, Peter Skurdell, John Peterson, Peter F. Peterson and Charley Christen was chosen. The church was built in 1896 by Syvert Solberg with the help of local men for $1,425. On October 25, 1896, it was used for the first service.
The congregation was incorporated in 1899 and received a deed to the land signed by Paul and Betsey Uglem June 27, 1902. The church was dedicated in 1904. That year the first organ was purchased and used until 1949, when it was replaced by an electric one. Clara Skurdell Draxton was the first organist.
In 1909 Beaver Creek, Bethania, and West Union formed a parish and called Rev. T. Tjornhom, who served until 1913. The present parsonage was purchased in 1914.
Information - A Century of progress, 1884-1984, Northwood, North Dakota
From 1883 to 1886 Rev. Gronlid served, at first occasionally, then eight times a year. From 1886 to 1890 Rev. Olaf Lee from Northwood was pastor. Meetings were held in homes which were sod houses. November 14, 1887, at the home of P. Eidem, it was agreed that all meetings should be held there until June 1, 1888, for which he was to receive one dollar from each family. Homes and schoolhouses were meeting places until 1896.
In 1890 the church joined the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. On March 31, 1891, at the home of Paul Uglem, Rev. Th. J. Skjei preached his first sermon. After accepting the call July 13, 1893, with a salary of $150 per year, he served until 1909.
The most pressing need was a church. Another task from the beginning was to arrange for Norwegian parochial school, so that the children might learn to read the Norwegian language, Bible and Catechism. In July 1893, Rev. Skjei called a meeting of the women at Peder Aftret's and organized a Ladies Aid,
with Mrs. John Peterson, president, and Mrs. Peter Skurdell, treasurer. Its first purpose was to raise money for a church. In 1896 they contributed $579.
In 1894 Rev. Skjei organized the first Young Peoples Society, also at Peter Aftret's. Their first contribution was the bell and pulpit. In that year it was decided that each member give one bushel of wheat for every one hundred raised, but not over twenty bushels. Iver Running, Charley Christen, Haldor Fuglem, and Oluf Forbord were chosen to collect and market it.
Succeeding pastors have been S. H. Njaa, 1913-1949, whose long pastorate spans much of recent history particularly the transition period from the Norwegian to the English language with the passing of
pioneers. 1938 was the first year the minutes were written in English. Victor Overbo served from 1949-1953; Albin Sherve, 1954-1958; Raymond Poppe, 1958-1963; Orville Sunde, 1964-1973; Norman Beighley, 1974-1977; Jeff Blakeley, 1978-1980; and our present pastor is Dennis Ellingsen.
Extensive repairs of various kinds were made on the church in 1920, a basement was constructed in 1926, the parsonage and church were repaired during Rev. Overbo's pastorate, and repairs on the parsonage were made in 1958. The church and the parsonage have been painted now in 1982 and present membership is 87.
On January 2, 1896, a building committee composed of S. B. Draxton, Peter Skurdell, John Peterson, Peter F. Peterson and Charley Christen was chosen. The church was built in 1896 by Syvert Solberg with the help of local men for $1,425. On October 25, 1896, it was used for the first service.
The congregation was incorporated in 1899 and received a deed to the land signed by Paul and Betsey Uglem June 27, 1902. The church was dedicated in 1904. That year the first organ was purchased and used until 1949, when it was replaced by an electric one. Clara Skurdell Draxton was the first organist.
In 1909 Beaver Creek, Bethania, and West Union formed a parish and called Rev. T. Tjornhom, who served until 1913. The present parsonage was purchased in 1914.
Information - A Century of progress, 1884-1984, Northwood, North Dakota