Houses of Worship Interlude — Nannestad Church

Sometimes, life around the museum doesn't allow us to do all the research we'd hoped in time for a blog update. So this week, we're looking west of Warroad, to a church just east of the town of Badger. The following account was written and provided to the Warroad Heritage Center by the Nannestad Ladies Aid. 

Note: We attempted to locate as many of the women's names as we could. Most women prior to the mid- and late-1900s are written about primarily as the wife of so-and-so (ex: Mrs. John Anderson) instead of by their first names. By tracking down the names of as many of these women as we can, we hope to further preserve our history and the history that is shared by both men and women, equally. Thus, if a name is written within brackets (ex: [Anna] or Mrs. [Ida] Johnson), then we have replaced the name of the husband with the name of the wife. We have done the same with any additional information we felt was necessary. We have also included the maiden name of the women where we could, to include her family name as well. Finally, please note that when you see a "..." it means that we have skipped a section in the church's written record that lists names and attendance for Ladies Aid meetings. Names of Ladies Aid members are included at the end.

"The Nannestad Ladies Aid was organized in January of 1900 at the Andrew Gorvin home—located on the farm which till recently has been owned by Ole N. Peterson. The family, at that time, occupied a two room log house. I do not know if the congregation was already organized or if it was shortly afterward. However, our [the Ladies Aid] first aim was to build a church.

At the time of organization there were the following eight members: Mrs. Knute Nereson, who was elected its first President. Mrs. John Michaelson was chosen Vice President, Mrs. I. C. Olsen (Now Mrs. Hontvet) became its first secretary and members were Mrs. Erick Modin, Mrs. Knute Dahl (later known as Mrs. Henry Hillman), [Martha (Johnson)] Gorvin, and Mrs. Pete Guldbranson. 

Meetings were held at the homes on the first Wednesday of every month at two o'clock in the afternoon. The programs were conducted by one of the members and consisted of hymn singing, and the reading of the Lord's Prayer or the reading of the Scripture in the Norwegian language.

Bad roads and little money were our greatest difficulties. Lunches, consisting of sandwiches, cake, and coffee were served by seating everyone at the table. Because it was all they could afford, a five cent due was charged each member. Even then, some often came without their nickels. 

A short time after organizing, a basket social was held, at which the small sum of ten or twelve dollars was raised and added to our building fund. Baskets, trimmed or plain, were brought and sold by the auctioneer, Mr. Wm. Johnson. One lunch was brought tied in a large red handkerchief.

Then too, material was purchased, made into wearing apparel by the members of the Aid, and sold at an Annual Auction. This was usually held in the fall of the year, after both men and women had earned money by working during the harvest and threshing seasons, in some older and more prosperous communities. 

During the summers, transportation was extremely difficult, as many roads, if they could be called such, were impassable for both horses and oxen. Riding, too, was very rough as lumber wagons were used, and at times we had to drive over burned down trees, stumps and stones. Travel by foot was softest and by far the most comfortable. Removing one's footwear and wading through water and mud was, indeed, not uncommon.

No record of the names of pastors who served our congregation before 1914 can be found. However, Rev. Adriansen worked with us for some time, being succeeded by Rev. Johanson. The pastors lived at Greenbush and because of the great distance to travel with horses, they seldom were able to present at Aid meetings.

Rev. Skogerbor, now pastor at Erskine, Minnesota served here a number of years, but left about 1916, to be succeeded by Rev. Berge Olson. Pastor Olson was the first one to travel by car so he met with us whenever possible. 

Rev. Gulseth came about 1924, remaining here four years. Rev. Morris N. Peterson succeeded him and served us till 1934. At this time Nannestad congregation became a part of the Badger parish and was served by Rev. A. L. Abrahamson from 1934 till 1939. He resided at Badger. Student Berg was with us during the following summer and Rev. Runestad arrived in the fall of 1939...

Between the years 1900–1928, the money raised by the Aid had been used for the church, parochial school, pastors' salary, the budget and missions. The 1929 annual meeting was held at the Bernt [and Emma] Dallum home. Rev. Peterson was chosen chairmen of the meeting. Three officers were re-elected and [Ida] Erickson was elected secretary.

On October 3, 1929, our Aid served at [Anna] Lundemo's auction sale and on October 18, at the Gunnar Nelson sale. The proceeds were $20.65 and $40.55 respectively [Current USD: $336.68 and $661.14 respectively]...

After serving our parish for eight years, Rev. Runestad accepted a call at Oklee in the Fall of 1947...We were happy to welcome Rev. Kalmoe and family in February of 1948, after not having a minister for several months. The Nannestad Ladies Aid served for the Annual Creamery Meeting in Badger, April 9, 1948. Proceeds, $114.45 [Current USD: $1,324.02]. $18.25 was added to the building fund at a social held at the Clifford Hontvet home July 11, 1948 [Current USD: $211.13]. A big improvement for the Nannestad Church was the building of the road in 1948, which connected the two gravel roads from the north and south. This made it easier to have regular meetings and more attendance...

A highlight in our Ladies Aid was the presentation of a Life Membership Pin in April 1949 to Mrs. Mary Hontvet in appreciation of her 49 years of service as an active Aid member. This is the first such gift given by the Nannestad Ladies Aid...On Sunday, July 16, 1950, Nannestad Ladies Aid celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at the George Borgen home. The weather was ideal for the outdoor gathering and those attending numbered almost three hundred people. A most interesting program had been prepared and it was presentedfollowing the serving of the noon lunch. 

Mrs. Mary Hontvet, only living charter member of the Nannestad Ladies Aid, was the guest of honor. As a token of appreciation, a corsage was presented her. Mrs. [Bertha] Skeim, Mrs. [Geoline] Gunderson, Mrs. Inga Gregerson, Mrs. [Elizabeth] Didrikson, and Mrs. [Martha] Skeim, all members of the Aid for thirty years or more, were presented with roses...

For the last ten years the Ladies Aid has been planning and saving funds to build a parish hall. In the spring of 1951, this dream became a reality and work was begun on the parish hall. A carpenter was hired for a few days, otherwise, all work was donated by members of the congregation. The weather was favorable, so the work progressed rapidly, and the building soon advanced far enough so that the Parochial School program was held in it. Only the interior remained unfinished. 

On July 4, 1951, the Aid had a stand at the Fourth of July celebration at Badger. The proceeds were $231.67 [Current USD:  $2,483.16]. In the fall of 1951, Rev. Kalmoe left to accept a position at Mott, North Dakota. At present, we are without a pastor. 

The annual meeting of 1951 was held at the Marvin Didrikson home. By a unanimous vote the same officers were re-elected as the previous year, with the exception of Mrs. [Minnie] Gunderson. Mrs. [Eva] Gunderson was selected Secretary in her place. [Thus, at the end of 1951, Mary Hontvet served as President, Minnie Thompson served as Vice President, Minnie Eva Gunderson served as Secretary, and Caroline Didrikson served as Treasurer.]

In the month of August 1952 Pastor Mostrom took over the duties as our new pastor. During the year our Ladies Aid received several memorials to be used for installing lights and a new pulpit for our church...Our road up to our church was graveled, and the Ladies Aid paid a part of the graveling which made it less difficult to get to the church in rainy weather. Program material prepared by the W.M.F. was used as the bases for bible study during the year. In the following year, May 17, 1953, a smorgasbord was held at our parish hall. 

From the Heritage Center: 

 It is unclear from our records when church services stopped at Nannestad Church. What is known is that in 1983, the church was moved to its current location in the Roseau Pioneer Farm & Village. Guests can visit this place during certain times in the year. The building currently contains church records and many of its original furnishings. The organ is in working condition. Many events at the Pioneer Farm take place in the church which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004. In 1985, the Nannestad Church also donated the parish hall to the Pioneer Farm. According to the Farm's website, "It serves as a great gathering and eating place for Pioneer Farm events. Note the tables, benches, and creaking chairs."

For more information on the Nannestad Church or to schedule a visit to see different historical buildings from Roseau County's past, please visit the Pioneer Farm's website. 

List of known Ladies Aid Members listed throughout the history told above:

Bendickson, Mrs. Charlie

Berger, Maria 

Borgen, Karen (Berquam)

Borgen, Millie (Foss)

Christiansen, Anna (Olson)

Christianson, Hilma (Severson)

Dallum, Emma (Mattson)

Didrikson, Caroline (Gustafson)

Didrikson, Elizabeth (Brotherston)

Didrikson, Thilda (Haglund)

Eklund, Hilda (Malmskog)

Erickson, Ida (Borgen)

Gillebo, Alanda (Olson)

Gorvin, Martha (Johnson)

Gregerson, Eva (Didrikson)

Gregerson, Inga (Johnson)

Gregerson, Sophia (Olson)

Gregerson, Viola (Gunderson)

Guldbranson, Mrs. Pete

Gunderson, Geoline (Johnson)

Hanestad, Marie (Henrud)

Hillman, Mrs. Henry

Hontvet, Mary (Lundgren)

Johnson, Margaret (Herron)

Lundemo, Anna (Molsterteigen)

Lundemo, Gina

Michaelson, Mrs. John

Morstad, Annie 

Morstad, Mrs. Iver

Nelson, Mrs. Gust

Nelson, Mrs. Hans

Nereson, Mrs. Knute

Ohlquist, Kjersten (Holmen)

Olson, Evelyn (Johnson)

Olsen, Mrs. I. C.

Olson, Mrs. James

Olson, Neda Andrina 

Pederson, Ingaborg (Skeim)

Peterson, Ella (Forsness)

Peterson, Mrs. Nanford

Rasmussen, Christina (Jelderks)

Skeim, Bertha (Berquam)

Skeim, Martha (Berg)

Sluka, Mary Ann (Shimpa) 

Swenson, Lena

Thompson, Minnie (Olson) (Later Minnie Gunderson)

We'll return to Warroad in our next blog post, so stay tuned!