Beaver Creek church is located in section 7 of Fertile township, or 3 miles south and one mile west of Joice.
As we review the early history of the Lutheran Faith among the Pioneers of our area, we sense how difficult it was to provide religious services for those scattered Lutheran settlers. The Rev. C. L. Clausen and the Rev. Nels Brandt were two of the first early pastors in this area who ministered to the immigrants. The Rev. Clausen was the most instrumental in organizing several congregations farther west towards Worth and Winnebago Counties. Organized Lutheran Church activity in Winnebago County began in 1865 by the Rev. T. A. Torgerson.
At a service south of Lake Mills, very likely in someone's home, on Sunday, September 3,1865, the Rev. Torgerson and a small group of interested people decided to organize the Winnebago Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. At this time, six adults with their families expressed a desire to become members. The congregation grew rapidly in area and membership, thus creating the two districts of Winnebago and Beaver Creek. These districts then became affiliated with the Norwegian Synod.
For twenty three years Winnebago Lutheran Church supplied the spiritual needs for this large area. The Rev. J. M. Dahl, who was called to be pastor of the Winnebago Congregation in 1872, also conducted services occasionally in school-houses throughout the area served by him.
In September of 1888 the Winnebago Lutheran Church was destroyed by fire. Following this disaster, a number of families living in the Beaver Creek District began planning to establish their own congregation. They felt a need for more adequate services to their community.
For sometime the services for the Beaver Creek Area people were conducted in the Larson schoolhouse. A meeting was held in the Fjeld schoolhouse on February 15,1889, when it was formally decided to organize a new congregation. The Rev. J. M. Dahl served as chairman and A. N. Hauge was temporary secretary. The name adopted for this new congregation was "Beaver Creek Norwegian Lutheran Congregation, Worth County, la." It was decided that Beaver Creek, a small creek approximately 1 mile west of the present church site, would be the boundary line between Winnebago and Beaver Creek Congregations. Those who owned land on both sides of the creek could choose to which congregation they preferred to belong.
At this organizational meeting the following officers were elected: Trustees - Nels Egge, Knudt Felland, and K. J. Ellestad; Treasurer - A. N. Hauge; Secretary - Mikel Evenson; and Janitor - Peter Anderson. One of the first items of business was to call the Rev. J. M. Dahl to serve the parish. The Rev. Dahl also served Winnebago, Village of Fertile, and Ellington Prairie Congregations.
Beaver Creek decided to build a new church and elected the following committee to supervise the project: O. T. Heimdal, T. T. Ramsey, S. A. Berge, Nels A. Fjeld and Lars O. Strommen. At the organizational meeting Halvor Bang and wife donated one and one half acres of land for the church site. In appreciation, the congregation agreed to give the Bang Family a large size burial plot in the church cemetery. Ashill and Martha Billeson gave one-half acre of land on the south side of the road, adjacent to the cemetery, to be used for a hitching lot for horses.
The building of the new church began in the summer of 1890, and on July 6th the cornerstone was laid. The carpenters were Anton Tollefsrude, Knudt London Nelson and Henry Kittleson. The total cost of the structure was about $3,000. This was raised by special pledges among the members, and represented a real sacrifice on the part of these pioneers. The first service was held in the new church during the winter or early spring of 1891, however, the church was not dedicated until October 11,1891.
A great deal of significance was attached to the purchase of the church bell. In 1898 it was purchased and installed in the bell tower. The quality of its tone and the inscription that is engraved on its side is remarkable. "Unto The Church I Do You Call, Death To The Grave Will Summon AH". It is assumed that the altar and the Ascension Scene on the altar were purchased. However, the inscription below the picture, "GUD ALENE AEREN" (God Alone Honor) was printed by Harold Haarfagre an itinerant painter.
There is no available record of the charter members but the records do show that Mikel Evenson and his family were of the first to join the new congregation. The first child baptism, on record, was Marie Clarinda Dakken, a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ole Dakken. She was baptized January 18, 1891. The first confirmation was held on July 13,1890. with a class of ten members. The first confirmation class in the English language, was on July 12,1925. The first marriage was performed, solemnizing the union of Mr. Nils Breiland and Miss Ingeborg Vetleson, on May 30, 1891. The first burials on record in the Beaver Creek Cemetery were Axel Svenson in 1889 and Gullick O. Tweed in 1890.
On May 18,1905, it was decided to sever parish connections with the Winnebago Congregation. Due to the failing health of Pastor Dahl, and the growth of the Winnebago Congregation, it had become necessary for Pastor Dahl to confine his efforts to that parish. Beaver Creek Congregation had also grown so large that they felt it necessary to be served by a pastor who could give them more attention. Beaver Creek then joined with the Fertile Congregation and was served by the Rev. H. E. Fosnes, who was the pastor of the Fertile Parish. Pastor Fosnes was installed at Beaver Creek on January 1,1906.
Following Pastor J. M. Dahl's death on November 1, 1906, Beaver Creek rejoined the Winnebago Parish. The Rev. Hans Fosnes was called to serve the two point parish, and served until October 1, 1910. The Rev. C. S. Salveson was the interim pastor until the installation of the Rev. Johannes Granskou on January 15, 1911. In 1918, Beaver Creek terminated its parish association with Winnebago, and the Rev. Granskou completed his ministry at Beaver Creek on December 31, 1918. From that time until April, 25, 1920, the Rev. R. O. Hjelmeland served as pastor for Beaver Creek.
On March 27,1920, arrangements were completed with Bethany Congregation of Joice, Iowa, the Concordia Congregation of rural Joice, Iowa and Beaver Creek Congregation to become a three point parish. A letter of call was issued on March 30,1920, to the Rev. O. Amdalsrud to serve this parish and he accepted the call May 1,1920. He served until his resignation in June of 1921. On July 28,1921, the Rev. L. E. Kleppe was called and remained with us until his death in 1933.
It was during Pastor Kleppe's ministry that the congregation realized the need for building improvements to accommodate a larger membership and more church activity. They recognized a definite need for an improvement to the church basement. At the annual meeting in 1928, a committee was elected to get a cost estimate of the project. Members of the committee were Andrew Tvedt, Andrew Felland and Christian Slattum. They were later instructed to proceed with the improvement. The Ladies Aid appointed Mrs. N. E. Field, Mrs. K. J. Tweed, and Mrs. O. T. Heimdal to assist them in their planning. Basement digging in those days, was not done by machine, but by man power. Excavation was done by hand with shovel and wheelbarrows. Knut Heimdal and Emil Iverson were hired for the project and church members also assisted with the work. Nels Nelson, a native carpenter, was hired to do the block laying and remodeling of the basement. The cost of the completed project was $2,500.00 and paid for by the generous support of the Ladies Aid.
A great sorrow to the parish was the sudden death of the Rev. L. E. Kleppe on March 26, 1933. Pastor Kleppe was a very energetic individual, firm in his Christian faith, and a living example of spiritual strength.
Following Pastor Kleppe's death, the Rev. R. 0. Hjelmeland served us temporarily until the installation of the Rev. L. F. Scheie on November 19,1933. He was a very devoted person in his work for the Lord, and was known for his outstanding leadership and preaching ability. He was a witness for the Lord not only in his works but also in his ways. Pastor Scheie continued to serve the three point parish for over 17 years before accepting a call to another parish in January, 1951. The Rev. Axel Shefveland served as interim pastor until December of 1951.
Pastor L. F. Spaulding became the minister of our congregation January 1,1952, which was still a three point parish. He submitted his resignation January 20, 1954. It was at this time that the Beaver Creek Congregation chose to become a one point parish, and Concordia of rural Joice discontinued its church.
On September 21-24,1939. Beaver Creek celebrated the Golden Anniversary of its founding. The celebration was held in conjunction with the Annual Mission Festival. The Rev. L. F. Scheie was the host pastor. The special speakers included the missionaries A. W. Haugen from China and J. M. Otte from Africa. Greetings were brought by the Rev. H. F. Huseth from the Winnebago Congregation and the Rev. T. P. Solem, president of the St. Ansgar Circuit.
On September 27,1964, Beaver Creek celebrated its Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. The Rev. Robert Evenson was the host pastor and gave the prayers and liturgy at the morning service. The Rev. Thor Quanbeck, former interim pastor, read the scriptures and the Rev. Philip Ramsey, a son of the congregation, delivered the sermon, "Values That Last". The church choir sang, "To Thee We Sing" and "The Altar of Prayer". The women of the church served the noon meal to all in attendance. The Rev. L. F. Scheie, former pastor of Beaver Creek for seventeen years delivered the afternoon address. He spoke about the general meaning of the church and its mission. Greetings were read from previous and neighboring pastors. The men's church quartet sang "The Churches
One Foundation". Many former members who had been baptized, confirmed, or married at Beaver Creek returned for this special event.
Interim pastors that served our congregation from 1954 -1958 were: Rev. T. H. Quanbeck, Rev. Dean Whitney and Rev. Lester Peterson. Pastor Lewis Bakke accepted the call to serve Beaver Creek beginning his ministry in September, 1958 and was a loyal servant in preaching and teaching until his resignation September 1,1964. Pastor Robert Evenson ministered to our parish from 1964 until 1966 when the Rev. Arthur Odden was called to serve us. Pastor Odden served Beaver Creek only a short time as he was killed in a car-train accident on October 26, 1967. The Rev. Herbert Peterson came to serve us, following Rev. Odden's death, and faithfully ministered to the congregation from December of 1967 until December 6, 1974. Pastor Peterson was severely injured in an auto accident in Monterey, Mexico while working with the Latin-American Mission. The Rev. Philip Peters was called and remained with us until 1980. In 1979 Beaver Creek Congregation voted to participate in a joint ministry with Faith Lutheran Church, Miller, Iowa. The Rev. I. B. Sorensen, Lake Mills, Iowa was interim pastor until January 18,1981, when Pastor Emil Martinson was called to share the ministry with Faith Lutheran and Beaver Creek and he served this two point parish until May 17,1987.
The Rev. Steven Lomen and the Rev. Linda Johnson accepted our letter of call and were installed on November 29,1987. Their youth and Christian dedication are a blessing to us all and they continue to aid us in the spiritual development of our church.
By the Grace of God, Beaver Creek has been blessed by many changes and developments. Our membership has varied considerably from one period to another, from a large membership to a smaller number in later years. God has blessed us with a splendid spirit of cooperation and loyalty towards the work of our congregation. There continues to be a growing interest in spiritual programs of the church manifested by regular church attendance. The attractive and well equipped church and church yard indicates the concern of the congregation for carrying on the Lord's work, both efficiently and reverently. The cooperation of committees and individuals has made this work satisfying and rewarding and thus we are doubly blessed.
The church has been redecorated several times and many improvements have been added through the years. A new Baldwin organ was installed in 1969 and new carpeting was added in the sanctuary and church basement in 1973. The original church pews were replaced with oak pews adding to the beauty of the church sanctuary.
Steve Lomen and Linda Johnson served until 1991. Pastors after that were P. Peters (1991-1994), Ann Sveningson (1995) and Steve Smith (1995- ) The church was disbanded and the church building moved to Heritage Park in Forest City, Iowa. The church is open to the public and chruch records can be viewed. A monument has been erected where the church building used to stand.
The names are spelled as they appear in the church record book.
