Peter Dahlquist, a lay missionary from Warren, Minnesota came to Bemidji in the spring of 1905. He was 61 years old. Bemidji was a rough and tumble town with a mix of respectability as well as the seamier side of town with its many saloons and boarding houses. The town consisted of many crude frame buildings, but it also had the beginnings of a thriving tourist town with its banks, mercantile houses, and several large hotels like the Remore Hotel on the corner of Third and Beltrami.
The April 27, 1905 edition of the Bemidji Pioneer carried the following item: “Reverend Dahlquist of Warren will hold a Swedish Lutheran service in the Norwegian Lutheran Church at 10:30 a.m. Reverend Dahlquist is a District Missionary of the Minnesota Conference, Augustana Synod. He will preach tomorrow evening at the home of Peter Bodin in Mill Park.”
Peter Dahlquist was a farmer and a lay missionary with the title of “Catechist.” He was born in Sweden in 1844, so he understood the longing of his listeners to hear the Word of God in their own language. Many were recent arrivals and still understood Swedish better than English.
He first organized a Swedish Lutheran Ladies Aid which was the forerunner of the Bethel Lutheran Church. Seven ladies were charter members, namely, Mesdames W. D. Klein, J. C. Tennstrom, O. J. Laqua, E. Layon, Christine Hubbard, F. Nelson and Akerberg. Their purpose was to establish a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Augustana Synod. The first minutes were dated May 1, 1905.
A meeting was held on January 7, 1908 at the home of Adolph Bodin for the express purpose of organizing a church. Only two of the original ladies’ group became charter members. They were Mrs. J. C. Tennstrom and Mrs. E. Layon. Mill Park was a neighborhood which lay and between the villages of Nymore and Bemidji. Neither really laid claim to Mill Park, but many mill workers lived in Mill Park because it was close to the big mill. The neighborhood was also between Lake Irving and Lake Bemidji, and between the railroad tracks of the Great Northern and the M & I.
About thirty people attended the organizational meeting. Student Pastor Gabriel Pearson led the Scripture reading and prayer. Reverald L. W. Gullstrom of Grand Rapids preached a sermon. Once devotions were completed, the business of organizing a church took place. A name was selected which was “Den Svenska Lutherska Bethel Forsamlingen.”
Peter Bodin, John A. Lindgren and Emil Lund were elected as deacons. Trustees were Adolph Bodin, Nels Lindvall, and Emil Lund. John C. Tennstrom was elected as Secretary. Adolph Bodin was elected treasurer among the trustees.
Incorporation papers were drawn up and filed the next day. Thirty-three adults signed the charter. These were: Peter B. Bodin, Martha Bodin, Olaf A. Bodin, Kathrina Bodin; Johanna Bouchard; Alfred Carlson, Edla Carlson; Britha Kristine Edd; John Erickson, Brita Katherina Erickson; Ida Gordhammer; Christina Gustafson; Gust Johnson, Mary Johnson; Elizabeth Layon; Johan Alfred Lindgren, Marie Lindgren; Nels Lindvall, Sophia Lindvall; Emil Lund, Anna Leovisa Lund; John Moberg, Carrie Moberg; Eric Nyman, Amanda Nyman; Peter Olson, Lena Olson; Anna Lisa Parson; Gabriel Pearson; Harry Peterson; Katrina Svenberg; T.C. Tennstrom, Hanna Tennstrom.
The congregation had no church building at the outset. Mrs. John Moberg recalled in later years that “services were held in the Ford Garage at least twice during these early years. The old Catholic Church near the Great Northern Depot, the Odd Fellows Hall, and the old Norwegian Lutheran Church were also used as meeting places. One Sunday when no other place was available, Mr. John Moberg borrowed planks from the Crookston Mill and services were held in Moberg’s garage.”
A building project started in the fall of 1908. Lots were purchased at the corner of Sixth Street and America Avenue. On February 27, 1909, it was decided to build a church 28’ x 40’ and a chancel 8’ x 16’. John Moberg and Peter Bodin made up the building committee. Emil Lund became the head carpenter. The church was completed in 1911. The first service was held on December 17, 1911, and the formal dedication was on July 14, 1912.
SWEDISH LUTHERANS ARE TO BUILD A NEW CHURCH
Contract Has Been Let for Erection of New Edifice, Corner America and Sixth.
At a meeting of a large number of local citizens of Swedish nationality Friday evening it was settled that Bemidji should have a Swedish Lutheran church, and a contract for
a building was let. Plans had been under way for some time leading in this direction
and one and one-half lots on the corner of America avenue and Sixth street were purchased. A contract for a building 28×40 feet with a cement basement, was let Friday
night to Thomas Johnson, a local contractor. The contract calls for the completion of the new church by August 15. A board of directors to manage the business affairs of the new Swedish Lutheran church was elected and is composed of the following: Peter Bodeen, Nelson Sillets and Emil Lund. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, July 20, 1909)
Reverend John Randahl arrived in June 1910, and became pastor of Bethel Lutheran and Zion Lutheran in Hart Lake. He traveled by train, horse and buggy or sleigh, or even on foot to reach his many preaching points.
A Sunday School was organized in 1911 with Mrs. J. C. Tennstrom as Superintendent. Pastor Randahl organized the First Lutheran Church in Hines in 1915. He resigned from Bemidji on January 1, 1917 and left for the Hines parish in April. He was replaced by Reverend Theodore B. Nordale. During 1920 Bethel purchased its first parsonage. This was located directly north across the street from the church.
When the logging operations wound down in the Bemidji area and many people moved west, the church had its first critical period. Membership dropped and there was concern whether the church could continue. However, this period passed, and the church remained intact. Rev. Gustav Sanstead answered the call and arrived in Bemidji in 1924. In 1924, the old parsonage was sold and a new one purchased at the corner of 13th and Bixby.
The Ladies’ Aid was instrumental in keeping the church financially sound. The men of the congregation erected a permanent building on the fairgrounds. The rear portion was the kitchen. Two dining tables were under cover and serving counters were on three sides. The ladies furnished the food. A good meal could be purchased for about $1.00. Strong competition existed between the Norwegian and the Swedish stands. Many ladies took part but only a few were mentioned in the church history. Ada Swedmark’s mother, Ms. Jacobson, baked 100 pounds of flour each year for Swedish rye bread and buns. Mrs. Alfred Moen and Mrs. John Moberg were the recognized champion lefse makers. Mrs. Herman Fenske, Mrs. George Berglund, Mrs. Charles Blade, Eleanor Erickson and others were always found doing their share. The stand was discontinued in 1940.
The church continued to grow in spite of the Great Depression. On August 19, 1945, a mortgage burning ceremony was held in the church. The parsonage indebtedness had been paid off, and for the first time in 37 years, Bethel was debt free. Recognition was given to Mr. and Ms. Theodore H. Fenske for their substantial gift that enabled the congregation to become debt free.
By 1952, the church building had become too small. The congregation considered expanding at the America Avenue building, but this would have been too costly. Instead, the congregation voted to purchase the Munsingwear building at 502 Irvine Avenue. The new church was formally dedicated on July 20, 1952. A new sanctuary, library and pastor’s offices were added in 1976. The former Munsingwear building became the fellowship hall and Sunday School classrooms.
(Information from the Centennial History of Bethel Lutheran Church, located in the Research room at the Beltrami County History Center, Bemidji, Minnesota).
Bethel Lutheran moved to a new location at 5232 Irvine Avenue in 2000. Facebook