History of Salem Lutheran Church

"Our Heritage And Our Hope"

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who has promised is faithful."Hebrews 10:23

This history of Salem Lutheran Church was first presented as the narration for a Salem Historical Video-tape produced for Salem's 125th Anniversary Celebration on October 3, 1999.   As long as they are available, copies of the video can be obtained by contacting Salem Church. salem@wctatel.net

In 1865 the American Civil War came to a close.  It was in that same year that the first two Norwegian Lutheran pioneers,  Taral Thompson and Johannes Uvaas, moved into the area of what would later become Lake Mills, Iowa. Two years later Eberhard Christianson, a blacksmith, arrived in the settlement.  He built a home, and then sent for his wife and family, still in Norway.  When a baby was born to the Christiansons in June of 1870, a problem arose: there was no pastor or congregation in the community for a baptism.   The Christianson's problem was solved when they learned that the Rev.  Botolf  B. Gjeldaker was going to hold services at Silver Lake on the last Sunday in August.  Their baby, and 16 others, were brought for baptism that day in the grove of trees where Silver Lake Lutheran Church now stands.When Rev. Gjeldaker learned there were other Norwegian Lutheran families in Lake Mills, he extended his service to the community.  The first Norwegian Lutheran worship service in Lake Mills was held in 1871 in a two-story school building that stood in the middle of where Main Street is now located.Rev. Gjeldaker was a "circuit riding" preacher who served gatherings of Norwegian Lutherans throughout the area.  A letter written by him to Eberhardt Erickson of Lake Mills in November of 1871 included a schedule of Christmas Services to be held by him  in late December and January  at Shell Rock, Silver Lake, Round Prairie, Lime Creek,  and the Kleven School (which was west of the former county home).  Rev. Gjeldaker and other early circuit riding pastors traveled by foot or horse and buggy on dirt trails in the summer and used skis or snowshoes during winter months.On October 2, 1874, Rev. Gjeldaker met with a group of men in a  schoolhouse near the Rollev Kittelson farm southwest of Lake Mills to officially organize the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation.  As the congregationís first pastor, Rev. Gjeldaker agreed to preach 9 Sunday services a year at a salary of $100.  Services were held in homes, outdoors or in early schoolhouses.From 1874 to 1876, Rev. Gjeldaker served the congregations at Lake Mills and Silver Lake.In 1876, Silver Lake called their own pastor.  The Lake Mills congregation was then served by Rev. Ole Nelson, who also served congregations in Lime Creek, Shell Rock, and New Luther Valley.The first Lutheran pastor to "live" in Lake Mills was Rev. Paul Ostby, who was called in 1878.  He served for 14 years as Pastor of the Lake Mills congregation as well as Lime Creek on the Minnesota side.Rev. Ostby recognized the importance of drawing up and filing articles of incorporation for the congregation.  They were signed by J.M. Dahl, A.L. Aasgaard and trustees, Nils O. Styve, George Nelson and Herman Hagen.  They were notarized on March 21, 1889 by P.M. Joice - namesake for the town of Joice.On Thanksgiving Day of 1882, Mrs. Eberhard Christianson invited a few women to her home to form a group that would work to raise money for the church.  She had visited such a group at Silver Lake and felt her town needed a similar organization.  This gathering of women marked the beginning of what would become Salem's Women's Organizations, known throughout the years as kvindeforening, Ladies Aid, WMF, ALCW, and Women of the ELCA.From 1882 to 1889, the congregation met in the Lake Mills school, which was located where the Methodist parsonage now stands.In these early years, a "klokker" assisted the pastor with prayers and Scripture reading.  In 1890 he received a bushel of wheat from each family or money in the same amount for his services.  O.O. Ulve was the last klokker;  he resigned in 1934.The Sunday School was first organized by a Mr. Nesheim, operator of the City elevator, who was superintendent during  Rev. Ostby's ministry.The forerunner of Salem Youth Groups today was a Young People's Society that was organized in 1895 to provide Christian fellowship for the youth.  This group eventually became known as the "Luther League" in the 1940's.The Lake Mills congregation in its early years belonged to the Norwegian-Danish Conference.  During these same years, there were another group of Norwegian Lutherans in the area who were served and organized by pastors of the Norwegian Synod.In 1889, since ther was still no Lutheran church building in town, the two groups agreed to build one as a joint effort.  This "United Lutheran Church"  was built at a cost of  $3200 on the lot where the current Salem Lutheran Church now stands. With the addition of a lector room and furnishings, the total cost of the building rose to $6000.   The brass lamps located today on tables in the Narthex first hung in this 1889 church building.This 1889 building had been constructed with the understanding that the two groups would use it on alternate Sundays.  This sharing arrangement, however, was short-lived.  Within a year, the Synod Lutherans withdrew to erect their own building in Lake Mills.</P>Rev. Nils Brun of Chicago was installed as Pastor in 1893 and served in Lake Mills for 20 years.In 1913, Rev. O.R. Sletten was called as pastor of what was still called the United Congregation.  Rev. Sletten would become the longest-serving pastor of this congregation, remaining for 24 years.In 1917 the Norwegian Synod and the United Lutheran Church merged with the Hauge Synod.  The two Lake Mills congregations formed a committee to organize the new union and draft a constitution.  Both pastors agreed to resign and Rev. Sletten was then unanimously selected to be the pastor.   It was Pastor Sletten who changed the name of the church from United Lutheran to Salem Lutheran.  The word "Salem" is derived from the Hebrew "Shalom" and means "Peace."  Not all was "peaceful," however.  A minority of Synod Lutherans did not agree to the merger of their respective church bodies,  and separted to officially organize the Lake Mills Evangelical Lutheran Church, also known as the "Synod Church."A tracker organ was purchased by the early church.  This organ now rests on the balcony of the Lake Mills High School auditorium.The first Lutheran Men's Brotherhood meeting was held in 1918.  The first president was T.S. Tweed, with M.A. Aasgaard, vice president.One of the high points in Salem Church history took place in 1919,  when the cornerstone was laid for a magnificent new brick edifice of Gothic architecture, the only one in the county.  The architect for the church was Thorvild Thorson, of Forest City, Iowa, and it was built by C. Rye &amp; Sons for $70,000, completely equipped.  More than a few Salem members mortgaged their property in order to make four-figure contributions toward the building effort, and many years were required to pay off their debts.A church of this magnitude needed a pipe organ.  The Lutheran Men's Brotherhood and Luther League contributed $7200 towards the new $8000 pipe organ.  The Ladies Aid gave $2650 towards the art glass windows and electric light fixtures.The new building was dedicated on May 22, 1921.  Twenty-one pastors were present for the dedication, together with over 2000 members and visitors.  Only about half the crowd found room within the church.In the 1920's, Rev. O. Hallesby, well-known theologian and author from Norway, agreed to preach in two places in Iowa that could hold large crowds.  Jewell and Lake Mills were chosen.  Over 2000 people heard him preach at Salem.  People filled the aisle, hallways, and even inside the altar rail.Tuesday School religious instruction on time released from the public school was begun with the Supt. of Schools S.G. Reinertson and Pastor Sletten as the first instructors.  Tuesday School continued until the spring of 1973.A controversy in the Sunday School department led to a special meeting of the deacons on February 2, 1921. It was learned that some Sunday School teachers and choir members had attended dances.  The church adopted an ultimatum stating that, "if anyone is not willing to abstain from dancing, we request they resign from their office in church in order that their future conduct does not cause offense."A former Salem member grew up to play an important role on the National Lutheran scene during these years.  Dr. J.A. Aasgaard grew up in the Lake Mills community and Salem Church.  He advanced to the position of President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church - a position he occupied from 1925 to 1954.  It was under his leadership that a  denomination of foreign-speaking immigrants was to be transformed into an English-speaking Americanized church body.  His firm, but good-natured personality aided him in welding a strong united church out of three groups that had merged in 1917.  At the end of his administration he played a leading role in bringing about the 1960 merger of the American Lutheran Church (ALC).  He entertained the motion for adjournment in the final moments of the ELC convention in Minneapolis on April 21, 1960.The Norwegian language was used exclusively for many years at Salem.  In 1935, every other Sunday Service was held in English.  By 1937, all but a few special summer services were in English.Rev. Joseph Knutson followed Rev. Sletten and served from 1937-1943.   He would later become President of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.  He was followed by Rev. Howard Blegen from 1943-1946 and Rev. Thomas Boe from 1946-1956.Pastor Boe discussed the need for an Altar Guild.  The group was formed in 1952 and has been an active group of servants in the church for nearly 50 years.In 1952, the decision was made no longer to list the financial contributions of individual church members in the annual report. In 1954, women received the right to vote in Salem church meetings.Fund raising for a new educational unit was begun during Rev.  Boe's ministry, with construction beginning during Rev. A.I. Kvamme's ministry.  Rev. Kvamme served at Salem from 1956-1966.  The educational unit of fifteen classrooms, chapel, three offices, restrooms, lounge, resource room and storage rooms was dedicated on June 19, 1959.  The church basement and kitchen were also remodeled at this time.  The total cost of the educational unit and basement was $205,000.A separate project in 1958 and 59 was the rebuilding and moving of the church organ and choir loft.  The choir loft in the 1919 church had been located in the area where the organ pipes are currently housed.  The cost of the organ rebuilding was $12,000, with an additional $3000 paid to local carpenter Christ Nelson to build the new choir loft and housing for the organ pipes.  Salem adult and youth choirs have added beauty to worship throughout the years.It was during Rev. Kwamme's ministry in Lake Mills that the congregation first began calling Associate Pastors. Associates who served with Rev. Kwamme were Rev. Frederick Dahl and Rev. Kenneth Hatland.Rev. I.B. Sorenson was Senior Pastor at Salem from 1966-1975.  Associates who served with Rev. Sorenson were Rev. James Quitno, Rev. Dennis Heiffner, Rev. John Sime, and Rev. Paul Tweeten.Pastor DuWayne Dalen was called as Senior Pastor in 1975 and served for 20 years.  Working with him as Associate Pastors were Rev. Wesley Mathre, Rev. Dennis Hanson, Rev. Tom Isaacson, and Rev. Roger Dykstra.In the early 1990's, plans were made for the building of an enlarged Narthex, choir room, handicapped accessible rest rooms and an elevator.  Total cost of the addition was nearly $500,000.   Ground was broken in 1994, with the dedication taking place in the spring of 1995.In 1995, Pastor Dalen retired, and Associate Pastor Roger Dykstra was called as Salem's Senior Pastor.  Pastor Sara Beth Akre was called as Associate Pastor in the fall of 1995.W.O.W. - a weekly afterschool program for area children - was begun in cooperation with other churches in the community in 1996.  Also in 1996, the SON Shine Christian Preschool was opened at Salem.In 1998, Jody Bonorden was called to the new position of  Director of Youth and Children's Ministries.In the fall of 1998, a weekly contemporary service, JC4U@9:45, was begun in the Chapel.Many things have changed in 125 years of Salem Lutheran Church history.  Many of those changes have been reason for joy and celebration.  Some of them have been reason for sorrow and regret.  But there is one thing which has never changed, and that is the faithfulness and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ.  As we turn to the future, we do so trusting that he who has been our heritage will remain our hope, and that the new days we see will be "Days Full of Grace."