Immanuel Church 125th Year

Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1898 with a congregation being formed in 1891. Until 1898 the congregation met in various people’s homes at which time a church building was built south of where Plummer stands today.

When Plummer was founded in 1904, people were wanting a school and church in their town. A school was built first but whenever it was available it was used for church functions. In 1909 a Ladies Aid Society was put together in the home of  Mrs. Adoph Alrick. The first officers of the ladies aid society were President, Mrs. Adolph Alrick; Vice President, Mrs. E.B. Lanager; Secretary Mrs. Ellen Rice; and Treasurer Mrs. Knute Henderson. This group of ladies raised money for five years and collected a total of $993.56. Along with this money raised, Ole Gergdahl volunteered to donate more funds. This money would be used to build the church. This happened on May 14, 1914 and the process of building the church started. A little over a year later, on November 25, 1915 a dedication and cornerstone laying service was held for the first time. The name of the church was Plummer Evangelical Lutheran Church.

On December 17, 1914 the first child to be baptized at the Plummer Evangelical Lutheran Church was Vernice Priebe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Priebe. Otila Hemly, Julia Bredesen, Hilda Schjeldrup and Elmer Haugen were the first class to be confirmed on April 16, 1916. First couple to be married were Marcy Erickson and Richard Loffelmaker in December of 1920.

In 1947 talk started about merging the Plummer Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Immanuel Lutheran Church, a county church. When the two churches merged, the church took the name Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1949 a basement and modern heating and plumbing facilities were added. After this addition the first couple to be married were Beatrice Waldal and Clayton Larson.

A parsonage was built in 1954 on the land donated by Edwin Jacobson. A dedication of the parsonage was held on September 20, 1955.

In 1974 an addition was built onto the church as the church was too small for its large congregation. The addition contained an entry way, Sunday school rooms, church office, a library and also enlarged the worship area. The ceilings were lowered, beams, new lights and windows were installed in the former structure. On December 1, 1974 a dedication service for the remodel and addition was held.

November 16, 1974, in the newly remodeled church, the first wedding to take place was the wedding of Debra DuChamp and Wayne Vettleson.

In 2002 blue altar clothes were purchased by Jean Matt in memory of her husband Hubert. 2000 the fuel oil furnace and air conditioner unit were installed and the church was re-shingled. Then in 2008 they met about repairs to the electrical for basement lighting, prep and materials for construction of new kitchen counter and countertops, and prep, materials and labor to install a new tile floor. The church became handicap accessible in 2012. In 2013 the church carpet was replaced. Replacements were made to the windows at the church and furnace and air conditioner in the parsonage in 2014. 

This year, Immanuel Lutheran Church will be celebrating its 125th anniversary. On Saturday, July 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Immanuel Church they will be having registration, photo display and visiting. 

On Sunday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. there will be worship at the Immanuel  Church. A noon meal program at the Plummer school will end their weekend celebration.