Samhold Lutheran Church will celebrate 125 years August 11
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 12:20pm
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The year 1899 pioneers around Gonvick got together to organize a congregation to build a house of worship. Samhold Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed. Church was held in homes of members until the church was completed.
July 12, 1903 they had their first services in the new church.The service was conducted by Pastor Thoreson. Pastor Will Anderson is now serving the congregation since last September 2023.
The church has gone through many changes. A steeple and bell was added with the basement and kitchen equipment. The outside of the church had extensive remodeling with a new look. The congregation decided to keep the original altar in the new surroundings. Other improvements have been made with the addition of an elevator, an addition on the North Side of the church with a storage room and entrance on basement level, additional large Sunday School room on the main level. Changes to the kitchen to make it easier for the ladies working there.
The congregation built a parsonage in 1906 for the pastor and the first one to live in it was Rev. Martin Iverson. They sold that house and built a new parsonage in 1948 and Pastor EM Berg was the first to live in that house.
During the time that Pastor Don and Ann Walker lived in the parsonage it was hit by lighting. The interior had to be redone. A two car garage was built onto the house in 1991.
Painting and other maintenance issues have all been done to the four bedroom home in the past few years.
In 2009, the congregation changed, with Pastor Tom Jacobson, from the ELCA to NALC, the North American Lutheran Church. After Pastor Anderson came the congregation voted to change to LCMC, Lutheran
Congregation in Mission for Christ.
Ministers who have served since Samhold celebrated their 100th year in Faith in 1999 were: Pastors Eric Midthun, Tom Jacobson, Jill Torgerson, Mike Giese, Peter Gunderson and Jimalee Jones and Kris Snyder, Bill Goodman, Nathan Engebretson and now Rill Anderson.
ALCW officers for the 100th celebration were Barbra Books, JoAnn Birkeland, Marilyn Erie, Lin Johnson, Lauraine Bruhjell, Shirley Graftaas, Donna Rude, Myrtle Lien and Lavonne Rossell.
Samhold Church Council in 1999 for the 100th were Barb Brooks, Shirley Graftaas, Brenda Skime, Allen Danielson, David Erie, Jim Gunvalson, John Gunvalson, Tippy Berg, Carroll Hetland, Richard Richards, Robert Vanderport, Mark Lien, Pastor Eric Midthun, Julie Gustafson, Norman Lee, Chester Lee and Mary Brovold.
Samhold Church Council in 2024 for the 125th year are David Spray, Kevin Berg, Pamela Goebel, Lonny English, Mandi Arlaud, Kathy Bergman, Donna Pfeiffer, Debbie Pletschett, Wade Bakke, Steve Pfeiffer, Gary Quern,Nick Spray, Tim Stebe, Richard Sather, Barb Brooks, Denise Buer, Jeanie Sorenson, Liz Bakke, Danielle Derby, Samantha Lindom and Dennis Bergerson.
ALCW officers for the 125th celebration are Eileen Lien, Sheryl Berg, Evon Quern, Roxy Bakke, Sharen Dyrdahl, Carole Johnson, Lynette Lene, Debbie Pletschett, Gwen Eck, Darlene Sawyer, Jeanie Sorenson and Cheryl Mollin.