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... from 75th Anniversary Dedication Booklet, July 19, 1981
As we approach the 75th Anniversary of the Shell Creek Congregation, we have the privilege to survey the past and to look into the future. As we look back, we must feel indebted to the pioneers who had the vision and courage to begin with only their faith in God to see the need for a church in our locality. They lacked means of transportation, roads and places to worship, but this did not stop them—they knew as the families arrived, they had to have Christian services and fellowship and a plan to build a House of Worship. We pray as we look into the future, that our lives may be so dedicated to Christ, that He may continue to be a reality to the generation now growing up in our midst.
Historians of the past have compiled histories for the 50th Anniversary to which this 75th history must need to be both a continuation and a recap of what has gone before. With the Congregation and the Ladies Aid working closely together, their histories will be as one.
BEGINNINGS
On September 16, 1906, a group of homesteaders gathered at the home of Amund Mahlum, nine miles south of Blaisdell, North Dakota, to discuss the necessity and the possibility of organizing a congregation and Ladies Aid. The purpose of such an organization would be first and foremost to sponsor a Christian Congregation. Bethania was the name chosen and Pastor Johansen, a mission pastor was at that first meeting. Services were held in the homes and at the Ohnsager and Magnuson schoolhouses when they could get a mission pastor to come. Most of these pastors came out from Minot.
Christ Christianson gave one acre and one additional acre was bought from him for a cemetery. This plot was dedicated by Pastor Johansen in September, 1907.
 In 1912 the name of the congregation and the Ladies Aid was changed to Shell Creek, and plans were being made to try and build a church the following year. Most of the homesteaders had come from the Northwood and Hatton communities, so John Evenson and John Berg went there to solicit funds. Through these and other contributions, sufficient funds were accumulated so that in 1913, G. O. Strand was hired to build the church for $500. A place only large enough to hold the furnace and coal bin was put under the church.
EARLY PASTORS
Until 1916 there were only mission and traveling pastors for services. Besides Pastor Johansen, there were Pastors Rogver, E. O. Holen, T. S. Stockdal, John Lonne, S. T. Anderson. In 1916 Shell Creek joined the Plaza Parish. A parish parsonage was purchased in 1918. Pastor Langehauge came in 1919 and served the parish for three years.
Pastor Henry Thompson came in 1922 and then plans were begun to finish the interior of the church. The dedication was held in June, 1924. Pastor Thompson resigned to move to Wisconsin and Pastor G. W. Mathre came and served our parish for 10 years.
DEPRESSION AND WAR YEARS
These were hard years of drought and financial depression. Several families moved from our community so this left a burden on those remaining. In 1938 Pastor S. C. Simundson accepted the call to serve our parish. During these years our country entered World War II. Our service flag carried 20 blue stars and one gold star. Our member who gave his life for his country was Marvin Ringoen.
In 1945 Pastor Simundson started a basement fund to build a basement under the church and to get a new furnace. In 1949 the basement was finished and the interior was finished and furnished by the Ladies Aid. In 1945 Pastor Simundson resigned and Pastor T. P. Nordmark accepted the call to serve among us.
THE SECOND HALF-CENTURY
In 1956 the Plaza Parish churches celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Three former pastors were with us for the occasion: Pastors Langehauge, Mathre and Simundson. Pastor Simundson and Nordmark officiated at the dedication of the basement on Sunday afternoon.
Pastor Nordmark resigned in 1957. Pastor Dale Striker accepted a call to our parish in 1957 and was here for six years. Pastor Hans Nordmark was our pastor from 1963 to 1967, and in these years the parish built a new parsonage in Plaza. After Hans Nordmark resigned, we were without a pastor for a year. We were grateful to Pastor Haller and several laymen from Parshall and New Town who came and conducted services for us. In 1968, Pastor Robert Pestal came and conducted Easter services in all four churches of the parish. He accepted the call to this parish and came in September.
GOLDEN WEDDINGS
In the many years of history in our church, several Golden Wedding anniversaries have been observed. The first was that of Mr. and Mrs. John Berg in 1925. This was followed by Mr. and Mrs. Peter O. Lien's in 1947. Mr. and Mrs. Christ Sherva observed their 50th anniversary in 1952 and their 60th in 1962.
Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Bredahl's 50th was in 1956 and Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Vesey's in 1961. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Aas observed their Golden Wedding in 1962 in Stanley and Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Berg had theirs in 1966. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Abrahamson will be observing their 50th in 1981.
FIRE AND RENEWAL
 Early in the morning of July 15, 1968, the Shell Creek Church was struck by a bolt of lightning. In spite of the efforts of the Plaza Fire Department and many local men, the building burned to the ground. The brass altarware, the flags, the pulpit Bible and the crocheted picture of the Lord's Supper were the only articles saved from the burning building.
A special meeting of the congregation was held at the home of Ing Sessing and all the members present felt we should maintain the congregation—either to rebuild or to buy another older church that was not in use. After many meetings and much discussion, it was voted to purchase the Zion Lutheran Church of rural Lunds Valley, North Dakota. This congregation had dissolved in June of 1968, so the church was not in use.
On October 7, a meeting was called and the committees reported their findings. McGuire Contracting would be hired to run the concrete for the basement; Robert Nore to move the church and Quentin Bangen to dig a ditch to bury the debris of the basement. The men and women of the congregation with the help of tractors, loaders and trucks, cleared the basement of all the debris. The men went and prepared the church for moving and removed the furnace to be put in the new basement. On the first days of November the concrete for the basement was poured and on the 4th of December the church was moved to its new foundation.
The finishing of the basement was all done by local help. The light fixtures were bought from, and wiring done by Ted Reum of Plaza. The carpets were bought from and installed by Springan Furniture of Stanley. The exterior of the church was painted by Mr. and Mrs. Elroy Christianson.
SUSTAINING THE CHURCH
An annual dinner and Bazaar have been held every fall, usually in October. This has helped raise money to help pay the various financial obligations to the A.L.C. and A.L.C.W. We have also given contributions to the Boys Ranch of Minot, Vocational Workshop of Minot, and the Grafton School, and many others, on a yearly basis.
Many work days have been held at the church to do the necessary repairs and additions. A windbreak was planted and cement work done at the southwest basement door and an entrance shelter for the east door was built. Chester Sherva furnished and built the entrance shelter for the doors on the south. Lars Oynes painted the exterior of the church in 1980.
MEMORIALS
Many memorials have been given to help refurnish the church and basement:
- Electric Organ in memory of Maria Hystad
- Piano in memory of Melanie, Ole and Vera Brekke
- Picture "Grace" in memory of Pastor and Mrs. T. P. Nordmark
- Trees planted around church and cemetery in memory of Enoch and Mable Berg
- Altar cloth in memory of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Vesey
- Service Book and Hymnals in memory of Mrs. Ragna Ness
- Clock (battery) in memory of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Vesey
- Service Book and Hymnals in memory of Ole Brekke
- Electric clock in memory of Mrs. Signe Aaland
- Picture "Jesus and the Children" and Bibles given to the Sunday School in memory of Mrs. Ragna Ness
- Brass pulpit lamp and hanging in memory of Bert Aas
- Coffee service set in memory of Mrs. Bert Aas
- Lace tablecloths and shelves in memory of Mrs. Elida Oswald
- $400 toward the new furnace fund in memory of Mrs. Alma Berg
- $200 toward the water works in memory of Mrs. Norma Bloom
- Trees planted on the north and west of the cemetery in memory of Elvin and Christine Christianson
- Bookcase in memory of Oscar Tranby
- A fence around the cemetery by Harry Ringoen and dedicated to the memory of all the Pioneers
- Lights on the pillars by front gate in memory of Clifford Ringoen
- Entrance sign at the gate in memory of Oliver Aas
- Memorials for Leroy Bloom, Art Lien, Marvin Anderson, Mrs. Oynes and Art Bredahl were given toward a new Hymnal Fund
- Three freehand painted pictures of our churches hang on the east wall of the church and were given by Palmer Talaasen, Marlin Skogstad, and Mrs. R. Heller. The three banners have been recently hung in the church proper.
These all add much to the beauty of our church.
Many memorials and donations have been given and designated to the cemetery fund and these will be used to do the necessary work and upkeep of the cemetery.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
The present officers of the congregation are: Roy Abrahamson, James Moen, Jr., and Elroy Christianson — Trustees; Norris Abrahamson, Secretary; Karen Ringoen, Treasurer.
The officers of the Ladies Aid are: Myrtle Sessing, President; Doris Tranby, Vice President; Betty Bloom, Secretary; and Doreen Moen, Treasurer.
THE FUTURE
So now this church, as did our first church, stands as a monument to a faith in Jesus Christ, that has brought much joy to His servants. Remembering the fact that this community has been visited by years of drought, crop failures, and the burning of the church building, we know that the Lord has not forgotten us. We have been truly blest in many ways and may God continue to bless our efforts in the years that lie ahead.
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