Rock Creek Lutheran Church - 135 Years

Published about June 1998

135th anniversary celebration set A BEAUTIFUL WALLHANGING depicting the church's strength is entitled "A Mighty Fortress" which is the theme of the 135th Anniversary Celebration of Rock Creek Lutheran. The wallhanging was made by Mildred Sponheim and Joan Klemesrud. An old-fashioned picnic on Saturday, June 27, with lots of delicious potluck dishes, gallons of lemonade and coffee furnished will begin the Rock Creek Lutheran Church's 135 Anniversary celebration. After lunch, you can get aboard a horse drawn wagon and ride to the log cabin and the school. You are more fortunate catching a ride than the former students were, who walked through the countryside to school. Progress provided area residents with cars and trucks and on Saturday you can experience a ride in a model-T. These cars must have seemed like time stood still compated to riding in a horse drawn wagon. Old-fashioned games and homemade ice cream for a refreshing treat will fill the afternoon. Sunday's activities will be a little more formal with a catered noon meal with reservations requested. Lots of memories will be talked about, and you can keep these memories permanently by purchasing the 135th anniversary book. 135 years changes lots of things, and so Rock Creek Lutheran, one of the first churches in Mitchell county, grew and changed with the times. Since it's beginning in 1863 to the early 1920's, Lutherans in Osage had been associated with the rural Rock Creek Church. Osage decided to go on it's own, and a new church was formed by those parishioners. Rock Creek kept growing with lots of new farmers coming to the very fertile farming region. By 1921 there were 531 members in the congregation - 130 families in all. During those years, families who were not of Norwegian ancestry began to join Rock Creek. This was unusual, because up until this time, services using the Norwegian language. At this time, services using the English language were held and that made joining the rural church more inviting for those who did not know Norwegian. Sometimes Norwegian services were held on special occasions and the minutes of the parish meetings were recorded in the Norwegian language until 1923. not only was the language changing, but also the social activities of the church. Sewing circle began in Route 1, but by 1931, four routes were added and these little ladies circles were consolidated into Ladies Aid, one organizaiton. A guest day for Ladies aid was held in 1932, and has become an annual event. By 1933, Ladies Aid had been in existence for 50 years at the same time the congregation was celebrating it's 70th anniversary. In 1938, the constitution of the church was translated from the Norwegian language into the English language. Years passed and Rock Creek progressed with remodeling of the church entrance, the auditorium redecoreated and Lutheran Brotherhood for men organized in 1942. Lutheran League began to have annual banquets and junior choir was organized that sameyear. By 1943, the congregation was 80 years old. In 1947, a permanent parsonage was built right next to the church, and has remained an attractive and comfortable rural home for church pastors and their families. Women were given the right to vote on the revised constitution of the church in 1953, although they had probably voiced their opinions to their husbands and home prior to the official voting. Margaret Birkedal Luttio, a local parishioner, became a missionary and left for duties in Japan with her missionary husband and their family. By 1954, social activities had increased so much at church, that it was necessary to begin a major building project of adding a parish addition to the north side of the church with a new kitchen an dremodeling in the basement. In the sanctuary, a new altar, pulpit. and font, plus choir pews were added. The neighborhood was not only Lutheran, but competitive. Ten THROUGH THE YEARS, remodeling and additions have enhanced the stately country church to it's present-day beauty. The church has always been on this same spot, with additions of a basement, parish hall and new kitchen, remodeled sanctuary and entrance. It has stood like "A Mighty Fortress" for 135 years for the neighboring parishioners. acres of land wa cleared "across the creek" for a Rock Creek Park ball diamond and picnic area. Men and machines cleared the land, constructed a little dam against the creek and built a cement bridge on the driveway on top. Picnic tables, fireplaces, playground equipment and colleyball areas were added in addition to the diamond. Many a Sunday afternoon or early evening was spent watching rival baseball teams "play ball." By 1961, building additions were again underway with the construction of a beautiful entrance to the church building. Just a few years later in 1965 this same entryway was again undergoing a building repair due to a tornado that devastated the Rock Creek area and did extensive damage to the church. By 1963, Rock Creek Lutheran church had been in existence for 100 years. Today, there is no longer school held in that community, the park and diamond are no longer busy, but "fixing up" of this area is presently underway in time for the June celebration. Rock Creek has become known throughout the Norwegian community for their annual, fall Lutefisk supper. In the summer, again, many parishioners as well as guests attend the annual ice cream social held on the church's beautiful lawn. One service is held on Sunday morning. Sunday school runs all winter, with vacation Bible school in the spring. Ladies Aid is directly reponsible for many of the church's activities and there are several ladies circles. For reservations for the catered dinner to he held on Sunday, June 28th, please contact committee members; Brian and Julyann Mellman, phone 515-739-2717, Merrill and Muriel Johnson, 515-732-4025, or Maurice and Lois Maakestad, 515-732-4090.

Submitted to IaGenWeb by Larry Shoger, Jan. 2009

Webization by K. Kittleson