Almont North Dakota
1906 Centennial 2006
Almont Lutheran Church
by Lavonne Ritz
The Almont
Lutheran Church was organized on August 10, 1926. The ones at the head
or mostly interested in the organization were: O. C. Ellingson, E. E.
Templeton, C. A. Knudson, O. K. Overgard, J. Jens Nelson, and Jonathan
Pederson.
The Almont Lutheran Ladies Aid supported the
Church, not only financially but also spiritually.
Mrs. Theodore Larson said, “If we start
a Ladies Aid it will bring about a Church.” She asked, “Would
you members be willing to start a church?”
They said, “If we can get enough money
together we will.”
They had a few bake sales and suppers at the Sims Church to raise money
for the Almont Church.
They had decided to buy the old school house;
which was being replaced by a new brick building. The ten year old frame
house was moved to the present location at the end of Main Street where
it was remodeled in 1918 into its present form, which has served until the
present time.
The Ladies Aid raised money for the Church.
A Pulpit and eight long hardwood pews were purchased for $800.00. Later
on carpet for the Altar and runner for the aisles and about fifty wooden
folding chairs were bought. All this was made possible by the money from
the Ladies Aid.
The Church was completed in 1919 but until
then services were held in the new School by Reverend Hanson.
The Almont Lutheran Church also had a confirmation
Class which consisted of both young and old. Reverend Larson was Pastor
at the time of the first class. All congregations got permission from the
school house as a place for worship until they had their own church finished.
In 1924 Reverend Thornell had accepted a call
to serve as Pastor. Reverend and Mrs. Thornell and children lived in what
is now the residence of Andrew Kilen. He had services in both Almont and
Sims.
Reverend Thornell asked, “Would the
congregation of Almont Lutheran Church like to elect officers?”
The people were in favor of electing officers.
The following were the first officers of the Almont Lutheran Church:
Pastor
and President......................J. Thornell
Secretary....................................C.A.
Knudson
Treasurer.......................................J.
Bredvold
Trustees..................................Harry
Jacobson
......................................Ervin
Kruger
Organist...........................Mrs.
N. E. Becklund
The Almont
Lutheran Sunday School started in 1926 with Mrs. J. Pederson as Superintendent.
Mrs. Pederson asked, “Will all the members
of the family, young and old, come to Sunday School?”
During the winter they had some recreation
for the children. In May and June of 1926 there wa hardly anyone in Church
and Sunday School because of the Scarlet fever epidemic. They had their
Christmas Program at the church. Usually there was a large number of attendants
because in those days they didn’t have so many church affairs for
young children.
They also had an active choir. The Luther
League was started in 1925. In 1926 they had a Luther League Convention
at Almont. There were many events during that time. Mr. Theodore Larson
also started the Lutheran League.
In 1927 the Church was wired for electricity.
The fixtures installed cost $143.41.
In 1928 they bought new dishes for the church
and each member was to bring two dish towels. This was suggested by Mrs.
Theodore Larson.
In 1934 the entrance into the church was repaired
and the floor was painted.
Reverend Haakenson asked, “Will the members of the Aid sponsor
a reception for the confirmation Class and their Families the 20th of
May 1937?”
The work of the Lutheran Welfare society was
introduced to us and Mrs. Jonathan Pederson was appointed to take charge
of the work in Almont Congregation.
Pastor and Mrs. Haakenson were proud of a
baby girl born in May of 1937.
Mrs. J. Hoovestol, President of the aid, told the members of the Aid
that the Mission Festival was going to be held in the Church on June
16.1939. The Aid was going to serve.
Mrs. Becklund said “Probably one of
the greatest events was Cantata given by Mrs. Rule in 1941.”
Mrs. T. B. Barstad suggested that the members
give some money to help the Concordia college. Also the Lutheran Welfare
Society.
The Luther World Action was begun in our community
in 1943.
The members of the Congregation bought a service flag and also a service
roll to list all the members of out Church who were enlisted in the
service of their country.
The pastor accepted a call to be Chaplain
in the Army, so left the Congregation in August. A farewell party was held
by both Congregations in the Sims Church before he left. Their prayers went
with him for the service he would be rendering their boys.
In 1944, Rev. C. J. Fylling, institutional
Pastor from Bismarck, began serving the congregation by coming out every
Sunday morning and having services in either Sims or Almont. He also started
Confirmation classes.
Some new improvements were made in the church basement. New curtains
and rods were bought for the windows, the interior of the church was
redecorated and the roof was reshingled in 1946.
The Almont and Sims Congregation gave a homecoming
party for the service men who came home.
Before the fall convention in 1948, they had
new cupboards and a serving counter built in the kitchen. New stairs were
build to the basement and the walls, ceiling and floors were painted.
Members that have gone from the community
as Missionaries from our community are Eileen Becklund, (Friberg) to Africa,
and Ardella Reetz to Pakistan.
Mrs. Becklund and Mrs. Grace Nelson were at
Sunday School October 25, 1953, and Mrs. Becklund said to Grace, “I
think the Church should be painted.”
Mrs. Nelson said, “Why don’t we get some of the members
together to paint the church. I don’t think it would take them
more that two days to paint the whole church if we get enough people
together.”
They painted the tables and walls gray and
the benches green.
Mrs. Becklund said, “I will make the curtains for the basement,
and hang them up.”
She hung the curtains up in the basement on
December 10th.
They divided the basement into four room.
They divided them with curtains for the Sunday School classes, as there
was too much confusion otherwise.
They were very glad to hear that they were
getting a Minister that would live in Almont and be among the people. Although
they were very sorry to see Rev. Fylling leave the Congregations.
A few weeks after this Rev. Fyling informed
the congregation their new pastor would be coming June 10th, 1953.
Rev Jolivette, his wife and two children came
to Almont to live in the former home of Albert Stegmeier. The home was bought
for the parsonage.
Rev. Fylling said, “Rev. Jolivette is
well experienced for this type of work, teaching the Word of god.”
Rev. Jolivette started many organizations
after he came. He had sunday School teachers meetings which I attended,
Bible Study, Brotherhood meetings, and Luther league.
We are very fortunate to have our own Minister
in town so he is able to visit the homes of the members of the congregations.