News : Bethlehem Lutheran members remember ancestors as they celebrate 100th year

Bethlehem Lutheran members look at photos in which they appear during previous church anniversaries.

Bethlehem Lutheran church will celebrate its centennial on Sunday June 9, 2013, with a worship service and a congregational meal. There will be an open house for the public on Monday, June 10.

It was June 10, 1913, when 47 members signed the charter that established the Swedish Evangelical Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Those 47 people had good Swedish names like Anderson, Carlson, Bengtson, Gustafson, Hanson, Hoakanson, Johnson, Monson, Olson, Peterson, Bostrom, Lonn, Lindberg, Roseberg, Rosenquest, Sarin, Sevendahl and Skoog.

These names that are not only in the History of the church but they are also names that are intertwined with the history of Benton County and the city of Vinton. These are familiar names even today as some 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation descendants continue to be active in the church, and also in activities of the broader community.

About the photo:

In the picture above Marlyn Jorgensen on the far right, a member of the centennial committee is shown presenting pictures from 1938, 1963 and 1988. These are pictures of the congregation taken at the 25th, 50th, 75th, anniversary celebrations. Second from right is Dell Hanson holding the picture taken in 1925. He is in the picture as a young boy along with his parents, Myron and Helen Hanson. Dell is the grandson of Ed Hanson one of the charter members. Dell and Mona now have family that are 4th, 5th and 6th generation of Hanson family in the church and the community. The third person from the right is John Lindahl who is holding the picture from 1963 where he is a young lad. John is the son of Harold and Joan Lindahl who are also in the picture . John is a great nephew of August Bengtson a charter member. Joan continues to be an active member of the congregation as are John and his wife Julie who has presided over opening services of the Sunday school for 33 years. Holding the picture from 1988 are John, Ben, and Madeline Olson. Ben is in the 1988 picture as a baby being held by his dad just as he is holding his Madeline. Ben’s parents’ John and Ellen are in the picture as well as his Grandparents Arthur and Betty Olson. Arthur is the son of charter member Oscar Olson so that means that little Madeline Olsen is a fifth generation Olsen to be a member Bethlehem.

There are many more families that can trace their lineage back to those 47 charter members and all have made and continue to make important contributions not only to the church but the larger community as well. We at Bethlehem are very thankful that in addition to long time families were are blessed with many newer members who have embraced the history of Bethlehem but also have made new and important contributions to the ongoing work of the church as well as being great additions to the community

The public is invited to come to the centennial open house Monday evening June 10, 2013 beginning at 6:30 to view exhibits of the churches history, pictures of past events and activities, view Swedish memorabilia, tour the church building, and visit with members of the congregation to reminisce about the past, present and future. And oh yes it wouldn’t be a Swedish meeting without coffee and foods come and enjoy. We will be looking for you.