On February 7, 1888, a few Norwegian pioneers, feeling the need of a pastor and the preaching of the word, met at the home of Thom Elvrum to organize a congregation. It was called "Grimelunds Norske Evangeliske Lutheran Menighed." However in the same year it was changed to Glenfield Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.
Elected as chairman was Thom Elvrum, Paul Rostad as secretary, and the trustees were Mrs. Caroline Elvrum, Mrs. Anne Ryum, and Paul Rostad.
The early congregation consisted of members of these families: Iver Elvrum, Sr., Hans Ryum, Henrietta Ryum, Evan Torgerson, A. J. Sandvold, Tom Elvrum and Hans Leean.
Reverend Quamme of the Free Church of Cooperstown was asked to serve temporarily, and so promising six services during the year. He served the congregation until 1892, but the services were so few that the congregation barely existed.
On June 6, 1892, Mrs. Henrietta Ryum gave one half of an acre of land to the congregation to be used as a cemetery plot, and in 1904, an addition of another half acre was given by C. B. Still.
In December of 1895, Pastor E. T. Silness of Cooperstown was asked to serve. He did so with eight services during the following year. Another call was extended to him in 1897. There were 14 services given in 1898. He continued to serve until 1904, when on November 28, he gave his farewell sermon.
Since the congregation had no house of worship, the services and annual meetings were held in the homes and country school houses. A Sunday School was started in 1897, with Ed Ryum as teacher.
Again without a pastor a call letter was extended to Rev. M. O. Dybvik, pastor at McHenry; he consented to add this congregation to his duties, and served as pastor until 1912. He was followed by Rev. W. Larson, pastor at McHenry, also serving this. congregation. During the few short years Rev. Larson was here there was an apparent growth in the church. Interest was promoted among the people, many joining the church, and services were held regularly. He organized a Young People's Society which was active for many years. The congregation became incorporated and also became a part of the McHenry parish.
Since the town of Glenfield was established in 1912, and a Congregational church had been built, the Lutheran congregation got permission to have services in that building and also the Glenfield schoolhouse.
On January 16, 1916, Rev. Larson died unexpectedly after a short illness. This was a big loss and sorrow for the parish as he was loved by all.
While without a resident pastor, Rev. P. A. Thorson, pastor of the Sutton congregation served for three months. The Rev. T. A. Haugen became the pastor in 1916. Being without a house of worship of their own these many years, the congregation was happy to be able to begin the building of a church in 1917. Although not completely finished inside the first services with confirmation were held on August 5, that year. Much of the furnishings were purchased with the help of the Ladies' Aid and Young People's Society. Sunday School was again organized in 1922, with John Dybwad as superintendent and Walter Larson secretary and treasurer. Up until this time the church services and confirmation instruction had been given in the Norwegian language. While he was here Rev. Haugen began using the English language alternating with the Norwegian. He resigned in 1926
At a special meeting on June 26, 1926, it was decided to leave the McHenry Parish to join with Binford and Sutton in a new parish. The Rev. M. B. Ordahl of Holt, Minnesota, was called to serve as pastor. He was installed at Glenfield on January 2, 1927, by Dr. David Stoeve, district president. Pastor Ordahl spent a great deal of time calling on members of the congregation. He found that there were many interested non-members and as a result of his efforts, more than 80 souls were added to the membership at a special service on October 30, 1927.
Although the church was built in 1917, the finishing and furnishing was a gradual process. The interior of the church had been painted and decorated beautifully in 1926. In 1927, an oak and gold altar with the painting of the Ascension and the altar rail and kneeler were ordered from the Loagstad Art Studio in Minneapolis. The altar was priced at $166.50, the painting at $100, and the rail and kneeler at $208. These furnishings are still used in the church today.
The corner-stone laying and dedication of the church took place on June 13, 1928, with Dr. David Stoeve officiating. This day was the first of a three-day meeting of the Cooperstown Circuit. A large tent was erected north of the church to accommodate the large crowds that attended.
It should be mentioned here that Pastor Ordahl was co-founder of the Red Willow Lake Bible Camp. It was mainly through his efforts that the present site was obtained.
On June 11, 1935, Pastor Ordahl resigned because of illness. Following is a quote from his letter of resignation: "Praying that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will soon send you a pastor according to His own heart, and thanking you for all the kindness you have shown to me and my family during the time we have labored together, I invoke God's blessing upon all of you, young and old. May we all be the grace of God and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior, be found at His right hand in the day of final reckoning."
Rev. Ordahl's daughter, Mrs. H. G. Hendrickson, was organist from the time that he served the Glenfield congregation until 1962, a period of 35 years. Mrs. Willmar Johnson is the present organist.
Another realignment took place and we became a new parish with Sutton and James River. In 1936, the Rev. John Meling was ordained and installed by Dr. Stoeve as our pastor. He served ably until the fall of 1938, when he resigned, being called to a parish in Montana. Later he was called to Veblen, South Dakota, where he still serves.
Next a realignment was made including Cooperstown and Sutton. During the interim that followed, services were held occasionally by Mr. Henry Solberg and Rev. O. J. Hungness of Sheyenne, North Dakota. The Rev. A. L.C. Keller of the American Lutheran Church of Carrington served Glenfield a few times. In 1939, Dr. P. H. Holm Jensen of the Danish Lutheran Church at Luverne, North Dakota, was called to the Cooperstown, Sutton and Glenfield parish. He continued through 1940, after which Rev. B. M. Schroeder, a retired missionary, took over temporarily. Mr. A. O. Wigdahl of Concordia College gave us his services for a while.
The Rev. H. J. Hansen became our pastor in 1943. It was good to have regular services again. Pastor Hansen served faithfully until 1947.
Rev. Corliss Rasmussen was our pastor in 1948, until the fall when he resigned from the Glenfield congregation, when Rev. A. O. Borlaug, McHenry, agreed to serve as temporary pastor until permanent arrangements could be made. He served in this capacity until 1957. Besides his regular work of confirmation classes, church services, wedding and baptisms, several adult classes were held and many new confirmed members were added to the congregation.
At the annual meeting in November 1951, it was decided to start a building fund.
In January 1957, the Glenfield, James River and Grace Lutheran churches met to discuss realignment of these three churches as a parish. With the aid of Dr. Loyal Tallakson, North Dakota District President, and Mr. O. Leonard Orvedal, North Dakota Rural Life Director, ELC, and after several meetings of the congregations, the Glenfield Parish was formed. This was in the early months of 1957.
A call was extended to Harry A. Tuff, Rugby, North Dakota, who accepted, and after being ordained in Rugby, he began his services in the new parish July 1. A parsonage was purchased by the Glenfield congregation and the new family was moved in by August 1. With Pastor Tuff's coming, services were conducted every Sunday, the use of church bulletins was initiated, and communion was held the first Sunday of each month. Daily devotion booklets became a part of each family. Extensive work was done with youth throughout the parish, including Luther League and Bible Camp among other things. A young married couples club was formed, and an active choir came into being. The new constitution was adopted in 1958.
Throughout the years since the building fund was started, different plans for remodeling, or the building of a new church were discussed, with the final plan being agreed upon in the spring of 1960. Ground breaking ceremonies were held April 17, 1960, and soon afterward the work of the building was underway. Construction moved along swiftly during the summer.
Officiating at the service of cornerstone laying on July 24, 1960, was our pastor Harry A. Tuff. The cornerstone with its contents were set in place by Mr. Gordon Gilbertson, contractor of Jamestown, assisted by Mr. Milke.
The ceremony of entrance into the new church from the old building took place on July 31. Since Pastor Tuff had accepted a call as youth pastor at Rockford, Illinois, he preached his farewell sermon to the parish at this time. This was followed by a parish dinner. Both pastor and Mrs. Tuff who had given of themselves so untiringly with their many talents were greatly missed. To them and their children, Joy, Paul, Naomi and Peter, we wished God's blessing in their new field of service.
In the year 1960, a new Lutheran Church body was formed by the union of three Lutheran Synods and their congregations: the Evangelical Lutheran Church (mainly Norwegian), the American Lutheran (mainly German), and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (mainly Danish), and the Glenfield congregation and the other congregations of our parish thus became members of the newly-formed church body, called The American Lutheran Church, with Ca. 5,000 congregations and pastors, and over two and a quarter million baptized members.
Dr. J. E. Farup who served first as a missionary and later for 20 years as Professor of Theology in South Africa, and Mrs. Farup came to our congregation in October 1960. The dedication of the new church and installation of Dr. Farup as parish pastor were held on April 30, 1961. Officiating at this service was Dr. L. E. Tallakson, president of the Eastern North Dakota District. Others participating were two former pastors Rev. Harry A. Tuff of Rockford, Illinois, and Rev. A. O. Borlaug of McHenry; others were Rev. A. O. Fiske of New Rockford and Rev. R. Raesler of Carrington.
Having at first used the old pews in our new church, an appeal was made for donations, and on November 2, 1962, 22 new pews, a pulpit, a baptismal font and two new chancel chairs installed. This was at a combined cost of over $3,200 raised by volunteer donations.
Dr. and Mrs. Farup left in May 1966, for a home in Tacoma, Washington. Soon after, Rev. John Gorklo, his wife Jan, and son Danny, arrived to serve the parish. Pastor was ordained and installed July 3, 1966.
A mortgage-burning ceremony took place during the service held June 1, 1969, with Dr. Tallakson, Dr. Farup and Rev. Borlaug assisting.
Pastor Gorklo resigned in October 1970, when he accepted a call to Camp Cole, Missouri A daughter and an adopted son were added to their family while they were here. We had enjoyed beautiful choir music directed by Mrs. Gorklo.
Visiting pastors filled in until Rev. David Monge came and was installed July 11, 1971. He and his wife, Lynn, worked with the young people and with their two small daughters soon became a part of our community. In 1973, Pastor Monge resigned to accept a call in Fargo.
Rev. Dale Houck of Ohio was our next pastor being installed July 22, 1973. He and his wife, Carolyn, continued youth activities in addition to his regular work. Two children, Joshua and Katie were born here. Pastor resigned in August 1977, and they moved to serve a large rural congregation in Illinois.
Rev. Vernon Holte, his wife, Elaine and son, David, came in November 1977. Pastor Holte is a native of Upham, North Dakota, and a graduate of Concordia College and a 1950 graduate of Luther Seminary. He had served churches in Ohio, Minnesota, New York, South Dakota, and Oregon. He was a Navy chaplain in 1955 and 1965. For several years he was a nursing home administrator before returning to the ministry and accepting our call. In addition to his other work, he taught several adult evening Bible classes. He resigned in June 1981, and left with his wife and son to a rural home and retirement near Waupaca, Wisconsin
Rev. and Mrs. Don Neumann and family arrived from Ohio in August 1981, and soon became part of our church, school and community. Pastor Neumann presented several Sunday evening classes on Lutheran Doctrine and Christian Theology. Men's fellowship breakfasts were held for sometime, and many activities took place for the young people. We were sorry when pastor resigned and he, Sandra and their children, Gail, Matthew, Joey and Nicole left to serve a congregation in Cando in February 1985.
Rev. Jonathan Stansfield and his wife, Barbara, arrived in August 1986, from Dubuque, Iowa. Pastor Stansfield had been ordained August 3, by his father-in-law, Rev. Davis Redman, in Barnevild, Wisconsin, following graduation from Wartburg Theological Seminary, internship in Loudonville, Ohio, and a year-long graduate internship in Des Moines, Iowa.
We are grateful to the pioneers whose faith enabled them to endure the hardships of establishing homes and families in Dakota Territory and saw the need of forming a congregation and dream of building a church. Also to those who supported and attended the church through the years.
We appreciate the pastors who have been willing to come to this rural area to bring us the "Good News of a Risen Lord." We thank them for their
Source: Glenfield History 1886 – 1987 Page 133