Following earlier missionary work, this church began in Dakota Territory among Scandinavian Lutherans as early as 1861 and was organized on October 8, 1864, with Reverend Emil Christenson as minister. The church built in 1869 was made of lumber hauled by “volunteers” from Sioux City by ox team. It is the oldest Lutheran church still standing in the Dakotas. Hebrews 13.8 reads, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday-today and forever”.