| Summary: | .•It-iPBI" Bethania E.L. Church First Bethania E.L. Church Destroyed by Fire Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church Years ago many families living from five to eight miles west of Northwood felt that it was too far to drive for church services in town. They invited Pastor Albert Johanson, who at that time served the church at Northwood, to conduct services in their homes. A ladies aid was organized in 1896 for the purpose of building a church and organizing a congregation in that district. Much interest was shown in this and, without organizing a congregation, they gathered money and built a church that cost $2,050. Several of those who were more interested in this undertaking were already members of the Lutheran Church in Northwood. At a business meeting held in this church January 3, 1900, these people asked permission to separate from the Northwood congregation and join with the people out west in organizing a new congregation which already had a church building. On January 11, 1900, at the home of Ole Ellingson Hilden, Rev. Albert Johanson presided over a meeting which resulted in the Bethania Lutheran Church. It was also decided at this meeting that this congregation should ask to join the United Lutheran Church. Pastor Johanson was called to serve it in addition to his charge in Northwood. The new congregation was to pay the church in Northwood a certain sum every year for this service, but it was not long before the congregation paid the pastor directly. The following, who were members of the Lutheran Church at North- wood, joined the new organization: Erick Kristianson, Ellef Herleikson, John Ask, Sven O. Reinton, Ole Ellingson Hilden, Andrew Olson, Andrew Kjorven, Gilbert Bakke, Andrew G. Johnson, Martin Knutson and Lars Knutson. After the meeting January 11th additional members were enrolled: Alfred Carlson, John Sime, Ole Rude, Nils Johnson Roison, Gilbert Sherva, Arne Sagen, Axel Hanson, Edward Knain, Syvert Bjerke, Albert Loe, Halvore Loe, Knute Ler- berg. The following officers were elected at this meeting: Deacons: Ellef Herleikson, Andrew G. Johnson, Andrew Olson. Trustees: Martin Knutson, John Ask, Erik Kristianson. Secretary: Andrew Kjorven. Treasurer: Axel Hanson. Precentor (Klokker): Ellef Herleikson. It was not for long that the new congregation had an opportunity to worship in the new church. It burned the night of July 4, 1900. The Congregation met at once and decided to rebuild at a cost of $2,600. It has been improved several times since, and now has a full basement with a modern kitchen and electric lights. In 1909 the congregation united with Beaver Creek and West Union Lutheran Churches to form a new parish. Pastor T. Tjornhom was called as pastor. Before this time the congregation had been served by Pastor Johanson and Pastor Runsvold from North- wood, and also for a short time by Pastor Th. Skjei from West Union Church. When Pastor Tjornhom resigned in 1913, Pastor S. H. Njaa became pastor. The next year these three congregations purchased a house in Northwood for the pastor which has served as parsonage since. The ladies aid that was organized in 1896 has continued to work very faithfully and has been a great help to further the work of the church. Sunday School, parochial school, and Luther League have been very active organizations during all these years. 192 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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