Wright Township near LaMoure in Dickey County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church

The Chan SanSan Scenic Backway

— James River Valley Scenic Backway —

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

1. St. Ansgar Lutheran Church Marker

Inscription.

Map inset
The pristine 35 miles of the Charles SanSan Trail / James River Valley Scenic Byway offers visitors splendid views of unspoiled, rich North Dakota landscapes. Along the route are many scenic and historic places to visit and explore. Enjoy them all!

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No longer do all members of the congregation claim the Norwegian heritage, but rather a diverse heritage, gathering together in their common faith. The small congregation continues to stand welcoming and serving those who come to this valley.

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church, which is often called the "Church in the Valley" was organized by early settlers of Norwegian descent in 1889. Until the church was built in 1914, services were held in homes and later in the Wright Township Schoolhouse No. 1. The church building sits on two acres donated by J.G. Mattson and is located in NW 1/4-Sec. 1 of Wright Township, Dickey County, ND. It measures 30 by 62 feet with a full basement and was built at a cost of $3.003.05. The beautiful oak altar (picture by Klagstad), communion rail three large chairs, pulpit, baptismal font, and pews, all of which are still

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in use, were donated by the Ladies Ald costing $863.66 The large bell in the tower was donated by B.L. Nelson, Sr. and Mrs. Juberg.

When conditions are right, in the peaceful scenic view of the valley behind the church, faint wagon tracks made by early pioneers can be seen. Besides the cemetery in the church yard, there is an earlier cemetery one mile north and one-half mile east.

St. Ansgar History
It was March 28, 1882, when Lars Holm and Peder Jorgensen each drove a stake in the frozen ground to claim the land where they would build their homes. This unsurveyed land later became Section 12 of Wright Township, Dickey County. The men ate their lunch of frozen bread and pork, took a good look around, and went back to their camp five miles up the river. It was there that they had left their oxen in a sod stable built by a homesteader in 1881. They would wait until late spring to build their homes of sod along with shelter for their stock. By May 7th, their families from Wisconsin had joined them in their new homes. They brought their bibles and "huspostils" (sermon books) with them and thanked God for all His blessings.

The

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

2. St. Ansgar Lutheran Church and Marker

nearest post office and trading place was at Grand Rapids, a distance of 18 miles. The Holms and the Jorgensens were the only two families in the township, but they said that once a band of friendly Indians came by, as did some prospectors who were looking for gold in the hills. In the spring of 1883, two more "Norske" families became neighbors. One was Mrs. Thompson, with four children, a sister to Mrs. Jorgensen. There were new babies in their families, but because snow came early, it wasn't until the spring of 1884 that the Rev. Hill could come from Lisbon for the baptisms of Tilda Jorgenson, Isa Thompson, and Gilbert Holm at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peder Jorgensen.

As more settlers came to the area, an agreement was made to have the Rev. Rogne of the "Norske Synode" come to serve part time from Ellendale, 30 miles to the southwest. Records show that Aamen Olson, Lars Holm, Andrew How, S.S. Thompson, Erik Jacobson, Ole Ellison, Reier Thurston, Jake Mattson, Peter Petersen, Peder Jorgensen, Thedor Johnson, K.L. Tangen, Peter Berg, and Nels Knutson were in the agreement. Peder Jorgensen was elected to gather money for the pastor's

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

3. St. Ansgar Lutheran Church

salary, which was not an enviable job.

They circulated a paper on which each person put his name and contribution, and the treasurer would then collect the money. All the people were poor, and sometimes all he got, after walking many miles, was a cup of coffee. That was nice, but it didn't swell the pastor's salary. In the end, it was a credit to the community that the Rev. Rogne was paid every cent of what they had promised him.

With this "larger congregation" the services were held in the Wright Schoolhouse and it was there that they had their first Christmas program, December 24, 1885. Their Christmas tree was a native cottonwood or willow tree trimmed with colored paper and silver stars made from tea lead. Candy bags, cards and colored candles were sent by the Mission Society of the state of New York.

It was not until 1889 that the pioneers decided to organize as a congregation, and it was the Rev. Heiberg, their newly called pastor, who suggested the name of St. Ansgar. Services and meetings continued to be held in the schoolhouse until the church was built in 1914. Throughout the years, St. Ansgar saw many pastors come

St. Ansgar Lutheran Church cornerstone plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

4. St. Ansgar Lutheran Church cornerstone plaque

and go, but the church persevered many hard times with strong faith and a supportive congregation.

In June 1989, St. Angir Lutheran Church celebrated its 100th Heritage of Faith Anniversary. The congregation continues to hold an annual Heritage Day at which they focus on a portion of their past and future, celebrating though an informal program, games and a meal.

Some of the changes made to the church since 1914 have been:
Electricity and lights - 1947
Two stained glass windows - 1954
Handicap Accessible - 1985
A new well and indoor plumbing - 1993
Belltower enclosed and a new steel roof -2001

Photos courtesy of the James Valley Scenic Backway Committee

Erected by North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1882.

Location. 46° 16.953′ N, 98° 15.965′ W. Marker is near LaMoure, North Dakota, in Dickey County. It is in Wright Township. It is at the intersection of 78th Street Southeast and County Road 60, on the left when traveling west on 78th

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Street Southeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10158 78th St SE, Fullerton ND 58441, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Drift Prairie.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Early Settlers of the Valley (approx. 1.3 miles away); Honorable Milton R. Young (approx. 5.3 miles away); Symbol of Freedom (approx. 5.3 miles away); Steamboats on the River (approx. 5.3 miles away); Civilian Conservation Corps Project (approx. 5.4 miles away); LaMoure County Courthouse (approx. 5.6 miles away); Stagecoach Relay Station (approx. 10.7 miles away); 1916 Block (approx. 10.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in LaMoure.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.