Zion Lutheran Church
46°34'17.0"N 102°35'32.7"W
46.571380, -102.592410
104th Ave. SW & 58th St. SW
Regent, Hettinger County, North Dakota 58650
46°34'17.0"N 102°35'32.7"W
46.571380, -102.592410
104th Ave. SW & 58th St. SW
Regent, Hettinger County, North Dakota 58650
Zion Lutheran Church
1908-1983
Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe
(Glory to God in the Highest)
Dedicated to the memory of those who endured the hardships and sorrows, failures and disappointments of these vast plains so that the glory of God might be known throughout the world. For it was through them and the Grace of God that we now celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Zion Lutheran Church of rural Regent.
June 26, 1983.
Info from - back of Zion Lutheran Church Plate
1908-1983
Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe
(Glory to God in the Highest)
Dedicated to the memory of those who endured the hardships and sorrows, failures and disappointments of these vast plains so that the glory of God might be known throughout the world. For it was through them and the Grace of God that we now celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Zion Lutheran Church of rural Regent.
June 26, 1983.
Info from - back of Zion Lutheran Church Plate
When the early settlers came to this wind swept, treeless prairie, they brought their faith into this new territory. The immigrants from Ohio and Illinois settled in a community because of their common heritage and faith. In order to enhance their faith, Missionary Bartels was called to provide leadership in forming a congregation in which the settlers expressed their faith in formal worship. In 1908, Zion Lutheran Church was established composed of the families of Fred Buethner, August Buethner, Max Trzynka, Frank Nornberg, Ernest Koenker, Frank Monke, William Witte, John Monke, Harmon Hartman, Martin Brugamyer, Edward Libbe, Fred Zich and Carl Zander.
The next year, 1909, Pastor F. C Bunge came to serve the congregation. It was during this time that the first marriage was held uniting Miss Sophie Schmidt and Mr. Theo. Monke.
In 1913, the congregation built the church which is still standing in its original location. Prior to that time, services were held in schoolhouses or members’ homes. Max Trzynka was the architect and contractor for building the church.
In 1914, Pastor A. Zenk came to serve the congregation. At that time the first Mission Festival was held and this has been an annual event since that time.
In 1916 the congregation joined the Ohio Synod and became part of a national church.
In 1917 Missionary Gevers was called to serve the congregation. The services were held in German until World War I when English began to come into the church. For the next twenty years both languages were used with German gradually being phased out as the younger generation became educated in English speaking schools and English became the dominant language in the homes.
In 1930 Pastor C. Bartels served the congregation again. It was during this time that the women were given the right to vote in the church.
In 1932, Pastor John Hoyer came to serve the congregation. It was under his tenure that a Luther League was organized for the youth.
In 1935 the congregation joined the American Lutheran Church and a parish with Peace of Tepee Butte, English of Regent, and St. Peter's of DeSart was formed.
Carl Trzynka was the first son of the congregation to enter full time church work as a parochial schoolteacher. In 1938, Miss Mildred Monke, a daughter of the congregation entered the foreign mission field to serve in India for twenty-five years.
Pastor G. Schnaidt joined the congregation in 1938 and in 1943 L. R. Schulz came to serve the congregation.
During the 1940's several changes were made to the original building including: replacing the potbellied stove with a coal furnace which was replaced in 1952 with gas furnaces, replacing the chairs with pews in the sanctuary, installing stained glass windows, adding a full basement, adding a library, and wiring the church for electric power.
In 1952, Pastor A. A. Kubik accepted the call to serve at Zion Lutheran Church. In 1955 G. A. Schultz was installed as pastor. One year later an electric organ replaced the reed organ. In 1958 the congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In 1959, St. Peter's of DeSart disbanded, so Zion, Peace and English formed a new parish.
In 1964, J. B. Jensen was called to serve the congregation, and in 1966 T. Nielsen accepted the call to serve. In that same year Peace closed, and Zion and English became a two-point parish. Also in 1966, Richard Witte became an agriculturalist for World Brotherhood Exchange and served in New Guinea for two years.
In 1969, Dr. J. A. Burgess accepted the call of the congregation. English Church in Regent built a new church building and renamed it "Faith". During his pastorate, First Congregational Church of Regent joined Zion and Faith forming a three-point parish. This set a new precedent in the western North Dakota District in combining a Lutheran and a non-Lutheran church into one parish.
In 1975, Pastor V. Reinicke accepted the call as pastor. Also, that year Donald E. Brugamyer, a son of the congregation, was ordained as pastor at Zion whose first parish was rural Watford City, North Dakota.
In 1980, Richard and Amy Witte left for a five-year commitment to serve the American Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic to develop an agricultural project.
In 1980 Pastor R. "Skip" Getman accepted the call and is now serving the congregation.
In June of 1983 Zion Lutheran Church celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
The building still stands with its steeple reaching to the heavens holding aloft the Cross of Christ while within the good news of the gospel is preached, thereby fulfilling the purpose for which it came into existence. Many people have served and been served by the congregation during the seventy-five years of existence; however, past services do not guarantee future existence. So long as there are ears to hear and hands to serve, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be made manifest in this congregation. —Harold Pahlmeyer
Info from – Regent reviews, 1910-1985 (page 27 & 28)
The next year, 1909, Pastor F. C Bunge came to serve the congregation. It was during this time that the first marriage was held uniting Miss Sophie Schmidt and Mr. Theo. Monke.
In 1913, the congregation built the church which is still standing in its original location. Prior to that time, services were held in schoolhouses or members’ homes. Max Trzynka was the architect and contractor for building the church.
In 1914, Pastor A. Zenk came to serve the congregation. At that time the first Mission Festival was held and this has been an annual event since that time.
In 1916 the congregation joined the Ohio Synod and became part of a national church.
In 1917 Missionary Gevers was called to serve the congregation. The services were held in German until World War I when English began to come into the church. For the next twenty years both languages were used with German gradually being phased out as the younger generation became educated in English speaking schools and English became the dominant language in the homes.
In 1930 Pastor C. Bartels served the congregation again. It was during this time that the women were given the right to vote in the church.
In 1932, Pastor John Hoyer came to serve the congregation. It was under his tenure that a Luther League was organized for the youth.
In 1935 the congregation joined the American Lutheran Church and a parish with Peace of Tepee Butte, English of Regent, and St. Peter's of DeSart was formed.
Carl Trzynka was the first son of the congregation to enter full time church work as a parochial schoolteacher. In 1938, Miss Mildred Monke, a daughter of the congregation entered the foreign mission field to serve in India for twenty-five years.
Pastor G. Schnaidt joined the congregation in 1938 and in 1943 L. R. Schulz came to serve the congregation.
During the 1940's several changes were made to the original building including: replacing the potbellied stove with a coal furnace which was replaced in 1952 with gas furnaces, replacing the chairs with pews in the sanctuary, installing stained glass windows, adding a full basement, adding a library, and wiring the church for electric power.
In 1952, Pastor A. A. Kubik accepted the call to serve at Zion Lutheran Church. In 1955 G. A. Schultz was installed as pastor. One year later an electric organ replaced the reed organ. In 1958 the congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary.
In 1959, St. Peter's of DeSart disbanded, so Zion, Peace and English formed a new parish.
In 1964, J. B. Jensen was called to serve the congregation, and in 1966 T. Nielsen accepted the call to serve. In that same year Peace closed, and Zion and English became a two-point parish. Also in 1966, Richard Witte became an agriculturalist for World Brotherhood Exchange and served in New Guinea for two years.
In 1969, Dr. J. A. Burgess accepted the call of the congregation. English Church in Regent built a new church building and renamed it "Faith". During his pastorate, First Congregational Church of Regent joined Zion and Faith forming a three-point parish. This set a new precedent in the western North Dakota District in combining a Lutheran and a non-Lutheran church into one parish.
In 1975, Pastor V. Reinicke accepted the call as pastor. Also, that year Donald E. Brugamyer, a son of the congregation, was ordained as pastor at Zion whose first parish was rural Watford City, North Dakota.
In 1980, Richard and Amy Witte left for a five-year commitment to serve the American Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic to develop an agricultural project.
In 1980 Pastor R. "Skip" Getman accepted the call and is now serving the congregation.
In June of 1983 Zion Lutheran Church celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
The building still stands with its steeple reaching to the heavens holding aloft the Cross of Christ while within the good news of the gospel is preached, thereby fulfilling the purpose for which it came into existence. Many people have served and been served by the congregation during the seventy-five years of existence; however, past services do not guarantee future existence. So long as there are ears to hear and hands to serve, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be made manifest in this congregation. —Harold Pahlmeyer
Info from – Regent reviews, 1910-1985 (page 27 & 28)