Sundahl's 100th Anniversary-June 1985

At The Banquet

Prelude by Paul and Avis McDaniel

Welcome from Oscar Huso, Jr.

President of Sundahl Lutheran Church

Invocation by Rev. Victor Overboe, son of the congregation.

At the Centennial Program

Welcome by Thoris Huso

Romund Madson son of Rev. Wilhelm Madsen pastor from 1938-48

Rev. Ralph Johnshoy, pastor fom 1953-1957 pictured here with his wife and daughters.

Rev. Einar Fetterman served Sundahl from 1957-1964

Rev. Arlyn Anfinrud was our pastor from 1965-1982. Pictured during his pastorate at the Odin and Esther Westman home.

Pastor Erik Johnson came to Sundahl in 1982.

Centennial photos courtesy Thoris Huso estate. If you have more pictures from the Centennial Celebration that you would like to share please email them or contact us at  

sundahl.lutheran@gmail.com 

Sundahl Lutheran Church 2010

Sundahl Lutheran Church is served by Pastor Ken Iverson. Each Sunday he calls the children to the front and teaches them a simple point from the Gospel text. This is followed by prayer and encouragement for the children. Often the encouragement includes kind words, but occasionally includes a special treat or gift. The Children's Sermon is a weekly highlight for all in attendance.

With few exceptions, we follow this schedule each Sunday September through May. The group of believers that would form Sundahl Lutheran Church first met on Sunday, July 26, 1885 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Swenson which was located on their farm North of Aneta. 

Pastor Iverson also serves Ottawa Lutheran Church located in rural Aneta near the Sheyenne River.

Norway Congregation was formed on January 24, 1891 and joined with Sundahl in 1967. A cemetery association was formed at that time to care for the grounds.

The steeple from their church building is still visible Northeast of Aneta.

The altar art from this church now hangs in Sundahl.

Logan Lutheran Church was organized on March 15, 1899 and joined the Sundahl Congregation on August 28, 1977. Their church building in Rugh Township is gone, but a chapel stands on the site.

The cemetery is marked by this sign and kept up by members of the former congregation.

Many of the Logan artifacts are in Sundahl including the beautiful Lord's Prayer crocheted by Mrs. Sigurd Sotvik.

Standing:  Don Fougner, Paul Retzlaff, Jane Lukens, Barb Locken,
Seated:  Bill Miller, Pastor Ken Iverson, Bonnie Gehrke
Not Pictured:  Janice Kueber and Tim Haakenson who serves a financial secretary.
The business of the church is overseen by the church council. Barb also serves as our church secretary.

Back Row:  Robbie Lukens, Jim Huso, Oscar Huso, Don Huso, Bill Miller

Middle Row:  Kirsti Lukens, Jane Lukens, Patty Aasen, Janice Mills, Joan Huso

Front Row:  Velma Iverson, Yvonne Hoge, Karen Retzlaff, Pepper Lippert

One of the enduring ministries of Sundahl Lutheran Church is the choir. The Senior Choir was organized no later than the 1890's. The choir sings at most worship services during the school year. This photo, taken on a winter Sunday morning, does not include all of the singers that we consider members. We also welcome any former members or singers who are in attendance at Sundahl.

Joan Thompson Huso is the musical director at Sundahl. She is the choir director and accompanist. She and Velma Iverson, wife of our pastor, serve as organists. Joan also plays for Sunday School music which is directed by Pepper Lippert. 

Back Row:  Cheryl Whitman, Carol Syverson, Jean Kiefat, Joan Thompson, Bonnie Gehrke

Middle Row:  Jill Haakenson, Norma Severinson, Linda Retzlaff, Joanne Johnson

Front Row:  Yvonne Hoge, Helen Gehrke, Eileen Kiefat, Patty Aason, Karen Retzlaff

The Sundahl Ladies Aid was organized in 1899. We are now referred to as WELCA which stands for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The above photo is of some of the members who were in church one winter morning.
2010 WELCA Officers:  President-Kay Sundquist, Vice President-Marilyn Hoge, Secretary- Janice Mills, Treasurer-Helen Gehrke, Mission Growth-LuAnn Brooks, Mission Action-Patty Aasen 
The women are divided into seven committees to help keep the church functioning and four serving groups that are cheerful providers of food at church activities.

In 2010 Sundahl is celebrating our 125th Anniversary as a church and wants to continue to let the Light of the Gospel shine in the area and around the world.
Thanks to Karen Retzlaff for providing the best photos in this post.

Church History: Naming Sundahl

Joan Thompson Huso's great grandfather, Ingebrigt Locken and his brother Jon Mehle were charter members of Sundahl church. 

Above:  Sunndalsora Church in Norway. It has been rebuilt after being destroyed by wind and fire. Pictured in the foreground are Joan Thompson Huso  and her mother Anez Locken Thompson with their cousin from Norway between them.

The Locken family lived in the Sunndal valley in Norway and left for America in 1880. Locken was a prominent farm in Sunndal. Sunndal was noted for it’s salmon fishing. Later Sunndalsora  became an aluminum manufacturing plant. Marit Nerdal left Norway in 1877.

 Sundahl Church was named in respect of the homeland they left in Norway. It is a beautiful valley close to the northwest coastline. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ingebrigt (Marit Nerdal) Locken were one of the original charter members of the congregation and story goes that Ingebrigt brought the first load of rocks to build the foundation. Other charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Iver Swenson, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Olson, Mr. S.S. Aas, and Miss Maren Aas. These pioneers were looking for some place to establish a home to rear their families and to bring their children up in the "Faith" of their fathers. According to the history from 1935, these families gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Iver Swenson, a sod one room house, to start their first church services.

Joan Thompson Huso, currently an organist and choir director at Sundahl Lutheran Church, stands on the land her ancestors left in Norway.

Joan’s great aunt Annie Locken Walquist was the first child to be born and baptized in 1885 when Sundahl church was started. Six  families met in various homes: Iver Swenson, Ole Olson, Ingebrit Locken, John Mehle, S.S. Aase. In 1896 -97, Thomas Brakke and Sam Lee were appointed to solicit money for purpose of building a house to worship. In 1906 the new church was dedicated but a new committee of N.A. Kloster, Thorbjorn Huso, and Ingebrigt Locken was formed to raise money for a parsonage for which they paid $2200. A second parsonage was bought for $2400 by the Ladies Aid in 1931 as the first parsonage was a little small. At the 50^th anniversary of the church, only living charter member was Marit Locken, Joan’s great grandmother.

Ingebrigt's brother lived in the Aneta area for 20 years and helped organize Sundahl Church, then returned to Norway. This photo of his grave in Norway was taken by Joan in 2006.

Photos submitted by Joan Thompson Huso

Original Sundahl Church Sanctuary

Above:  Sanctuary of original Sundahl Church 

Above:  Changes were made to the interior in a 1925 remodeling. Here it has been decorated for a wedding.

The original building burned on February 20, 1949.