Our History: 1900s through 1930s
Rev. Lane from Bellingham served the congregation from 1900 to 1902. Mrs. Lane was the first organist.
Rev. O. J. Ordal was called in 1902. He traveled from Bellingham by bicycle and by horse and buggy. Bible School, which then was called Norwegian School, was conducted for a month each summer by Mr. Monsen and Mr. Kildahl and a sister of Rev. Ordal, Johanna Ordal. The first circuit meeting was held in our church in May 1904. It was a three-day meeting. Pastors, delegates and visitors stayed in the homes of members.
Before 1906, Sunday School and Bible School had been held in the church. That year the congregation decided to build a schoolhouse to be used for Sunday School, young people’s meetings and choir practice. A half acre in the corner of the East Hoff Road and the railroad track was donated by S. S. Howem as a building site. In later years, Rev. Borge conducted parochial and public school there for two years.
In 1906, Rev. O. Borge was serving as assistant to Rev. O J. Ordal. This congregation had increased to such an extent that it felt it should have its own resident pastor. Rev. Borge was called, and he accepted the call. He also served congregations at Custer, Ferndale, Alder Grove and Matsqui, B. C. As there was no parsonage, Rev. Borge made his home with S. S. Howem family for one and a half years. A cottage was built by C. H. Hoff to be used as a parsonage, in which Rev. Borge and his sister Olga lived. In June 1911, Rev. Borge and Sigrid Greibrook were united in marriage and went to Vancouver, B. C., where Rev. Borge accepted a call.
Rev. Martin Skonhovd accepted a call to our congregation and served here until January 1, 1914. Rev. Lane again served our congregation until Rev. Borge’s return in 1915.
In 1918, another building project was launched. This time, a parsonage was built on an acre of land located on the East Hoff Road donated by S. S. Howem. With Andrew Keakwold as chief supervisor and generous donations of labor and money by members, Ladies’ Aid and others, the parsonage was finished and Rev. Borge moved in in the first part of 1919.
In 1924 the new altar table was built by Anton Flotre and the statue was given by the Girls’ Sewing Circle. The altar ring was recovered and a new rug put in the church. In August 1924, Rev. Borge left for Cambridge, Wisconsin, where he had accepted call.
Rev. J. F. Norby of Bellingham then served our congregation until April 1925, when Rev. C. B. Johanson came from Saskatchewan, Canada. He served our congregation until his retirement in January 1940.