| Summary: | L.O. Tolo 1939-1944 S.C Simundson 1945-1952 Elof Nelson 1953-1956 C.O.B. Ness (Interim) 1956-1957 W.A. Gregerson 1957-1962 Marvin Wittkopf 1962-1965 Kinley Eittriem 1966-1969 James 0. Tonneson 1970-1975 William Kensley 1976-1979 Steven Hanson 1980— In 1961, the merger of the A.S.C the N.E.L.C and the E.S.C became the American Lutheran Church; In 1963 the Lutheran Free Church joined this merger. Center Lutheran Church adopted the new constitution in January 1961 and started using the church council type of governing. We have had a part in supporting the following: Synodical Budget, Children homes, District Presidents home in Fargo, Seminary Fund, Vacation Bible School, Lutheran World Action, Red Willow Bible Camp, Lutheran Welfare Society of North Dakota, Pensions, Daily devotional books. Many of our young men answered the call for service to their country and some gave their lives in doing so. Members of our congregation have been generous with their memorials and many furnishings have been contributed in this way. Norway Lutheran Church. HISTORY OF NORWAY CHURCH Norway Lutheran Church was organized on February 2, 1900, when a group of men held a meeting in School No. 1 in Norway (Nesheim) Twsp. Mr. S.S. Quanbeck donated three acres of his land as a site for the new church, cemetery and church yard. The first church which was built in 1900 blew down in the storm of August 3, 1916. On August 7, 1916, several members met to make plans for rebuilding the present church. It was decided on November 10, 1900, that Norway would share the same minister with Valley Grove and West Prairie Congregation and would contribute $140 yearly for its share of the pastor's salary. The Ladies Aid was organized in 1901 by the first pastor's wife, Mrs. Eliassen. Pastors who have served were: Rev. Eliassen, 1900-1912 Rev. K.M.J. Mjaanes, 1912-1916; Rev. H. Fjelstad, 1916-1918 Rev. H.O. Bach, 1919-1924; Rev. Marcus Tufteland, 1924-1956 student pastor, L. Jacobson, 1957; Rev. O.J. Sunde, 1958-1964 Rev. J. Knutson, 1964-1967; Rev. E. Nieman, 1968-1971; Rev. Evan Clark, 1971 to date. The names of members who joined the Norway congregation from February 2 through June 4, 1900 were Kristian Fosse, Iver Clauson, Knute Erikson, Tollef Stenson, Harris Oakland, S.S. Quanbeck, John Stenson, Halvor Anderson, Lars Helgeland, Jens Bergh, Peter Christenson, Rasmus Set- tevig, John G. Lee, Peter Elgen, Andrew Settevig, Anton Berg, Fingar Larson, John Berg, Otto Olson, John C Bergh, Jens Jacobson, and Knut Ulven. THE FIRST RURAL PIONEER CATHOLIC CHURCH. OTTOFY, POST OFFICE The homesteaders and pioneers were very close to nature Pioneer Rural Country Church. and their love for God. Traveling over the wide open prairies, valleys and over the rough desolate land with visions of the new found land they were hoping to settle on. Breaking up the fertile ground so they could raise grains and food for their families. Build their homes and a church to worship their Savior. There were very few Catholics settled here. For Sunday Mass once a month the families would take turns having Mass in their homes. The train came as far as Michigan City so Father McDonald would come there and the pioneers took turns to go pick him up with horse and buggy and bring him down to the Sheyenne settlement. Marriages, baptism's and funerals were held in the homes at this time. Some of the pioneers that would get together were: Michael Deehrs, Oscar Deehrs, William Breckhiemers, Frank Stahl's, Edward Stahl's, Peter Burn's, Martin Burkes, John O'Brians and Frank Lipperts. Then in 1901 the first Catholic Church was built on a hilltop overlooking Ottofy, Post Office and the wide open surroundings of the prairie's. Under the supervision of Fr. McDonald the pioneers turned out from every direction to help, at last one more dream had come true, a church to go to worship together. The pioneers donated the furnishings for the church, chairs, pews. The Wm. Breckhiemer family donated the beautiful alter. Charlie Goffe, son-in-law of Frank and Pauline Stahl was very good at fancy crocheting and made 57 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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