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Garfield Lutheran Church, midway between Bryant and Lake Norden on Highway 28, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It served Norwegian families in Hamlin County for nearly 100 years.
Garfield Lutheran Church, midway between Bryant and Lake Norden on Highway 28, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It served Norwegian families in Hamlin County for nearly 100 years.

Our Historic Church

Apr 25, 2012

I never attended a wedding, funeral or a single Sunday service in Garfield Lutheran Church, but I always sort of considered it to be our church. I’ve never heard many stories of its early years, but I always assumed the Andrews family, who came from Norway and homesteaded southwest of Lake Norden in 1882, played a part in forming the congregation in 1884 and in constructing the church in 1901.

Sadly I never knew much about the church until recently reading that it has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Immigrant families like my great-grandparents conducted Norwegian language services in a schoolhouse in Garfield Township until 1889. By then, the congregation boasted nearly 60 families who decided it was time to build a proper church.

They found a spot almost halfway between Bryant and Lake Norden. After years of planning and fundraising, volunteer members of the congregation started work in 1900. Men dug huge stones from nearby fields and brought them to the site aboard wagons to be used in the foundation. One congregant created a metal weathervane inscribed with 1901, the year of the church’s completion, and placed it on the steeple.

The interior remained incomplete until 1913, when the pews, pulpit, altar and altar rail were added. Step inside and you’ll still see these original furnishings.

When the church closed in 1978, its leaders faced the daunting task of deciding what to do with its most important possessions. One day, one of the church ladies came to see my aunt, and she had Garfield’s intricately sewn altar cloth with her. “We figured you would want this,” she told my aunt. Puzzled, she asked why.

“Because your mother made it,” the lady replied.

That was news to everyone. Grandma Andrews always had some sort of fancywork going – knitting, crocheting or Norwegian hardanger – and never really said much about any of her creations unless prodded. As it happens, my dad and his 11 siblings attended that church all their lives, probably gazed upon the altar cloth hundreds of Sundays, not knowing it was their mother’s work.

The altar cloth has become a treasured family possession that we use on special occasions. I last saw it atop Grandma’s sea-foam green casket at her funeral in 2003. It serves as a connection to our matriarch and the little prairie church that was so important to our family and dozens of others in Hamlin County.

Comments

07:33 am - Thu, April 26 2012
Heidi said:
I really enjoy the stories behind these old churches. The country church I was married in was built from chalk rock that was hauled piece by piece from a local chalk rock lake. I love how it glows yellow and orange in the sun. Plus, it was my ancestors who hauled those rocks so many years ago.
01:00 pm - Thu, April 26 2012
Bernie said:
Makes one wonder if today's youth will have the same connections and appreciation for the modern churches they attend?
01:23 pm - Thu, April 26 2012
Diane said:
It is always nice to hear about the history of The Garfield church. My Grandmother played the organ there for many years. She had an organ in her home, and the only music I ever remember her playing was Christian music. She is buried there along with some other relatives. Whenever I drive past the church it seems to call out to me and says hello. I hope nothing happens to this wonderful piece of history.
06:01 pm - Tue, September 23 2014
Marilyn Bailey said:
Garfield Church brings the democracy of the American immigrants
into todays life as it shines it message across the prairies. Garfield
represents the work of our pioneer families that created statehood,
1889.

Like the size of the one room school Garfield represents the size
needed by the pioneer community who traveled with horses. My
family was there. . .for 4 generations. Garfield was the foundation
for life in this South Dakota farming community.

My great-grand fathers worked to establish Garfield. One purchased
the organ for $99. A great grandfathers first cousin's grandson pro-
vided for Garfield to be on the national register. Garfield is well
deserving of its new title placing its importance into American history.
07:46 pm - Sun, June 7 2015
Marilyn Bailey said:
My Norwegian relatives who became American pioneers arrive in the Dakota
Territory about 1881. They became Dakota Territory Brides and Grooms where they met and married each other. Their reality included living in sod homes and
having families with 9 to 11 children. The father was plowing virgin land with
bullocks or horses or a walking plow. The Garfield Church was a gathering
place for these hardy people on Sunday. Today their names are on the stones
in the churches cemetery. What an incredible experience in living these stones
represent. My family names are Knudtson, Olson, Rovang and Berg.
02:27 pm - Thu, December 1 2016
Melissa Lewis said:
My great grandfather, Torger (Tom) Rovig, helped build that church. It was amazing to walk inside and 'feel' its history this past summer!
06:10 pm - Wed, July 19 2017
Don Ingalls said:
My grand parents were members of Garfield Lutheran Church. Ernest and Ellen Ingalls and Alfred and Thora Hanson. My parents were married in the church August 6th, 1950. Very special place to my family. My Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles and cousins are buried there.
11:03 am - Thu, July 20 2017
Don Ingalls said:
Ooooops. Before one of my siblings correct me. My parents were married August 26, 1950 at the Garfield Church. Not the 6th.
09:51 pm - Sun, July 15 2018
Janine Campbell said:
My Great-Grandparents were some of the first members and are buried there. Emma and Jul Braaten. My Great, great grandmother is burried there as well (Ragnheld Braaten). Actually, many of my ancestors attended and are buried there. Anton and Esther Johnson, Knute Braaten, Julia Braaten and many more Braaten’s and Johnson’s. My mother was Judith Johnson (Anton and Esther’s youngest). She also attended when she was young.
I have been there and have always loved that church.
02:22 am - Sun, October 21 2018
Patty said:
Hi Janine Campbell could we be related ,,because those are all my ancestors... That's so interesting. I love that church..... And the bell and steeple and hows it's kept up now
....
12:25 pm - Tue, January 1 2019
Bernard Prouty said:
Yes, my Mom lived behind the church. Her maiden name was JoAnn Bentley. Her/our people are buried there. Respectfully
04:51 pm - Tue, January 22 2019
Melissa Lewis said:
My great grandfather, Torger Rovig, helped build this church. He married Anna Bentley. They moved to Minot to raise their family. It was a wonderful feeling to step inside this church a few years ago.
01:39 pm - Wed, February 15 2023
Rita Hauge said:
The descendants of Malvin and Ella Hauge have held a number of family worship services at the Garfield Church over the years as part of family reunions. The adjacent cemetery is the final earthly resting place for a number of the descendants as well. Definitely a special place. Philip Hauge
11:16 am - Thu, August 24 2023
Floyd Mattern said:
My 2nd great-grandparents Wilhelm Herman Mattern and Karie Olsdatter (Vaterud) Mattern were charter members of the church. I would like to go there some day.

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