Cooperstown Lodge Number 45, Knights of Pythias, Domain of North Dakota, was instituted February 12, 1902 with Mr. Thomas Moffitt in charge.
There were 25 charter members at the time of institution, and by 1903 the membership had grown to 39. In 1928 membership in the organization reached 160, an all-time high.
Oliver Zentz, a current member of the lodge, is a Past Supreme Representative.
50-Year Life Members:
| Dr. L. Almklov | Deceased |
| Andrew Tufteland | “ |
| John D. Erickson | “ |
| Sven S. Olgaard | “ |
| Clarence P. Dahl | “ |
| Walter W. Flick | “ |
| Clay Knapp | still a member |
Past Grand Chancellors:
Theodore A. Marquardt
R. J. Lockner
James Bender
Oliver Zentz
Past Chancellors: (living and deceased):
D. Fouts
F. O. Besuchet
John Moffat
George Van Blon
G. B. Clark
J. A. McCulloch
W. L. Stringer
F. A. Thompson
Fred Detwiller
Theo. Marquardt
A. M. Detwiller
G. B. Edmondson
A.G. Hall
William LaPlant
Adolph Thompson
Ben Killeran
Ole A. Lee
E. J. Collette
Frank Collins
N.C. Baker
S. A. Rekedal
C. A. Porterville
Martin Turnquist
Nels P. Nelson
William L. Wandke
George Severtson
R. J. Lockner
Thos. Irgens
H. O. Nelson
Albert J. Ashland
William Turnquist
S. S. Olgaard
Robert Thorn
Henry B. Nelson
C. P. Dahl
S. J. Quam
Martin N. Johnson
Kenneth Flick
Clarence Paintner
Melvin H. Nelson
Kenneth Olgaard
Hjalmer Johnson
Gilman E. Olson
Darwin Erickson
John Edward Erickson
Oliver Zentz
William Ohman
Clifford Anderson
Ralph Bender
Deland Marson
Robert Nelson
James Hazard
James Bender
Lyle Bender
Robert Bunde
Willmar Haerter
Clarence Sansborn
Paul Bender
Garfield Rasmusson
Bill Cushman
Warren Peterson
Two well-known members from the lodge were Gerald P. Nye who served as U.S. Senator from North Dakota for quite a few years, and C. P. Dahl who was interested in politics and served as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota for some time.
Cooperstown K. P. Lodge made some substantial gifts of money to the Griggs County Hospital and the Community Building, also sent boys to Boys State, gifts of money to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Our oldest member to date is Clay Knapp, who has been a member since 1924. Ralph Bender was Mayor of Cooperstown from 1952 to 1970 and a member in Valley City Lodge #26 in 1939 and transferred to Cooperstown Lodge #45 in 1947.
Source: Cooperstown, North Dakota 1882-1982 Centennial Page 239