| Summary: | necessary with the Girls’ Society, Ladies Aid, Luther League all helping financially both times. In 1922 the congregation celebrated its 40th anniversary with several visiting pastors, including Rev. Torkveen who had known many of the members in Norway. In 1932, when the congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary, Dr. Aasgaard, President of the general church body, was present. In 1935, Rev. S.S. Wold tendered his resignation. Though in failing health he continued to serve as pastor after 38 years of faithful service, until 1926 when his successor, Oscar Rud, arrived. Pastor Rud was installed in July 1936, and the use of the English language for many of the services was utilized. After two years he was forced by ill health to resign. In the interim between his departure, and the arrival of Pastor Ostrem, the congregation was served by Rev. Thomas Haugen and other neighboring pastors. Benjamin Ostrem was installed in July 1939, and in this year Pekin, Sigdal and Sheyenne were combined to form the Pekin Parish. In June 1942, Ostrem resigned. The absence of a pastor at this time postponed any decisions in regard to building a new church. Rev. L. Haatvedt served the congregation until the arrival of Rev. Roy Malde, who was installed in July 1943. In 1944, it was decided to build a new church, and the Planning Committee appointed at the annual meeting, Nov. 9, 1943, was authorized to act as a Building and Soliciting Committee. These men, Pastor Malde, Chr. Ole Lysne, Magnus Ensrud, Will Rogness, Leonard Loe, Sidney Hoiberg, Adolph Lysne, Sidney Tangen, Nels Bue, L.E. Quam, and P.A. Bjorlie, together with Obert Enstad, the treasurer, were responsible for decisions in construction, procurement of materials, and financial policy. Excavation was begun in the fall of 1944, and concrete foundation laid. The old church was torn down, and the old basement filled. The new church stands south of the location of the old church. A memorial plaque was eventually erected on the site of the old church, in memory of Pastors Lundeby and Wold and pioneers of the congregation, and the Cemetery Committee which first organized on May 13, 1956, arranged to have the ground landscaped and planted shrubbery and flowers as a Memorial Garden. During the building period Sheyenne congregation held all services and meetings at the Pekin Church which had been offered them by the Pekin congregation. Sheyenne Lutheran Church In 1945, the construction of the super-structure was begun with Michael Orskog as contractor, and in spite of hardships caused by WWII, by the spring of 1946 the church, though not completed, was ready to be used as a place of worship, and the first service was held Easter Sunday, April 21, 1946 by Rev. T.K. Spande, who had been installed in March of 1946. Rev. Malde had resigned in early fall of 1945, and had gone to South America to become a missionary a year later. At the annual meeting in 1947, Rev. Spande brought up the matter of getting new pews for the church, and after much consideration, new pews were ordered, but there was a long delay before shipment was made so that at the time of the dedication of the church, the chancel furnishings were all complete but the pews were still on order. At the dedication, July 13, 1947, Dr. David Stoeve, district president and neighboring pastors were present. The old pews were advertised for sale and with the exception of four pews placed in the choir loft, they were eventually sold to a church in Walker, Minn. After Easter services in 1952, Rev. Spande tendered his resignation, and at the time he moved to his new call, the congregation was debt free on church and furnishings. A call was extended to Clifford Ritland, Sr. at Luther Theological Seminary to the Pekin Parish. He was ordained in May 1953, and on June 7, 1953, he was installed at Sheyenne congregation. His beautiful solo voice made him much in demand as vocalist. Pastor Ritland and other choir members were instrumental in procuring a Spinet Hammond electric organ for the church at the price of $1350 designated as a memorial organ because it was paid for largely by memorial gifts. The organ and pews were dedicated Nov. 22, 1953 by Dr. L.E. Tallakson, district president. By 1954, contributions to the organ fund had exceeded all expectations, and it was decided to turn the Spinet model in on a larger church model organ which was installed the same year at a price of $2600 less $1350 trade allowance as per contract. The organ was paid for by voluntary contributions. On June 20, 1954, Percy Ensrud, son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Ensrud, was ordained into the ministry from Sheyenne congregation, and the ceremony was conducted by Dr. Tallakson. Pastor Ritand resigned Sunday, June 10, 1956, to accept a call to Hope Lutheran, Eau Claire, Wis. Pastor Albert O. Tastad accepted the call to serve the Pekin Parish and was installed on Oct. 21, 1956 by Pastor Tideman of Cooperstown. Rev. Tastad had served in Eskimo mission fields at Lost River and Tellar Mission, Alaska. The six stained glass windows on the south side of the church are memorials given by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Morken in memory of their two sons, Robert and Clair. The two choir windows were contributed by Paul Broste in memory of his parents , Mr. and Mrs. John Broste, and brother Magnus. John Broste was the very first “Klokker” or song leader and sexton of Sheyenne church before there was any organ, piano or choir. The two windows on the north side of the church adjacent to the choir loft are gifts from the Wold sisters and their children in memory of Pastor Wold. Next to these is one window given by John Fretheim in memory of his wife, Elma. The Arlien family gave the adjacent window in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Arlien. The two windows installed in the sacristy are memorials to Pastor Wold and Lundeby. These two and the remaining stained glass windows were paid for by the Jubilee Fund following the 75th anniversary of the church. Congregation records up to April 25, 1957, give the following statistics: 1,016 baptized; 669 confirmed; 200 weddings. Sheyenne celebrated its 85th anniversary July 16, 1967, with sermon by Pastor T.K. Spande; choir directed by LeRoy Alfson, Binford; solo by Mrs. Iver Raaen (Ruth Wold); and a vocal trio number by Maxine and Barbara Mueller and Elaine Anderson. Dinner was served and a free will offering went to the improvement fund, the improvement committee being in the process of modernizing the church: improving the kitchen and adding bathroom facilities. In 1970 a “Reunion Day” was held on Sunday, June 28, following the regular 11:00 service. Alfson again directed 889 Scanned with a Czur book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Adobe Acrobat Pro
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