Strandvik Lutheran Church is closing its doors Jan. 31 after 60 years of service to community

After 60 years of Sunday school Christmas programs, Ladies Aid, church suppers and good fellowship, Strandvik Lutheran Church in rural Lake Park is closing its doors. It was a hard decision for those left attending the church, but the size of the audience has been dwindling more and more. “It’s because we have on average 10 people who come to the service,” Lyle Dahlgren said. “It’s not financial, but it’s not doing what you should be doing” by keeping it open.
Though it was hard, it’s also inevitable, he added. “The closer it gets to closing, it makes me really sad,” DeLoyne Nelson said Tuesday. The church is hosting a celebration on Sept. 27 to commemorate the last 60 years. The final service will be held Jan. 31, 2016. “We’re not celebrating closing the church but the life of the church,” Nelson said. “And the impressionable events we were involved with.” Strandvik history The land for the church was first purchased in 1884. “My great grandpa was the one to sign the deed to buy the land,” Marion Jacobson said. A couple more acres were purchased over the years, and the land was used for a cemetery. It wasn’t until 1948-49 that the church was built and dedicated. It was in November of 1949 that the church was officially organized and the constitution was adopted, becoming Strandvik Evangelical Lutheran Church. A vote was taken whether or not to join a synod. The results were 24 in favor of joining Evangelical Lutheran Synod, two for Augustana Synod, three for Lutheran Free, two were not in favor of joining a synod and one was not in favor of joining any Lutheran group. On Dec. 2 of that year, elections were made and Clarence Larson was named president; Mrs. Milton Johnson, secretary; Mrs. Donald Larson, treasurer; Donald Erickson, Milton Johnson and Bill Olson to the board of trustees. Ernest Dahlgren, Mrs. Donald Erickson and Signe Nylander were elected to the board of education. Before all that though, the Swedish people who formed the church would meet in other locations. In 1887, Rev. P.P. Hendenstrom, who served at the Eksjo Church, came to the District 2 schoolhouse to instruct youth confirmation. It was located a mile east of where Strandvik is today. The first confirmation class included Christina Erickson, Lars and Emma Erickson, Mary and Christine Johnson, Nils Solberg, Annie Erickson and Halvor, whose last name is missing from the history booklet the church has prepared for the Sept. 27 event. The first Ladies Aid meeting was in 1895, with Mrs. Jonas Johnson and Mrs. Frank Swenson entertaining. In 1940, officers were elected. They were Alma Sandeen, president; Olga Olson, vice president; Esther Nelson, secretary; Hazel Eilertson, treasurer. Mrs. Vernon Johnson served the summer Sunday school for years. Dahlgren, Nelson and Jacobson all said generations of their families have attended Strandvik Church for years. Jacobson said that she had moved away from Lake Park from 1945-85, but when she moved back, “of course” she went back to attending Strandvik. Dahlgren said that once the doors close, he’ll miss seeing the same people on a regular basis. The ladies agree that they will miss not being able to fellowship there each week as well – though they all will likely see each other around town still or at whatever church they decide to attend now. “The church suppers, that was a big event,” Nelson said. Dahlgren added that he remembers when they gave people tickets for the supper and people would have to wait in the sanctuary until there was room in the basement to be served. Nelson said Sunday school picnics at the end of the summer and Sunday school Christmas programs were always popular at the church as well. The church also took care of lunches at auctions before the days of food trucks. “It was a way of making money, but it was also fun to work,” Nelson said. During the church’s prime, they estimate 36 families attended. Over time, the building has had some work done to keep it stable, including foundation work and a new roof. Nelson said they hope a newer church will rent out Strandvik, but as of now, they aren’t certain what will happen to the building. They would also like to hold Christmas and Easter services at the church still. One thing is for sure: They won’t be demolishing the building. Sept. 27 program The program on Sept. 27 will consist of current and past pastors speaking including LeRoy Erlandson (served from 1967-73), Donald Homme (served from 1974-99), Randy Whitehead (current since 2001), Roy Noel (current since this year) and Steve Paulson. Soloists will include Nels Anderson, Dorothy Harsh and Barb Baldrica, and duets include Bob and Barb Baldrica and Bobby Chatham and Don Homme. Following the 2 p.m. service, there will be lunch and fellowship in the basement. Though this is a celebration of the church’s history, church members will continue to hold services there throughout the rest of the year. Worship services will be held the first and third Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m., with a potluck dinner before at 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month. The Christmas Eve service is at 4:30 p.m., and the last service will be Jan. 31, 2016. The church is located five miles south of Lake Park on County Road 5. Tweets by @DLNewspapersAfter 60 years of Sunday school Christmas programs, Ladies Aid, church suppers and good fellowship, Strandvik Lutheran Church in rural Lake Park is closing its doors.It was a hard decision for those left attending the church, but the size of the audience has been dwindling more and more.“It’s because we have on average 10 people who come to the service,” Lyle Dahlgren said. “It’s not financial, but it’s not doing what you should be doing” by keeping it open.
Though it was hard, it’s also inevitable, he added.“The closer it gets to closing, it makes me really sad,” DeLoyne Nelson said Tuesday.The church is hosting a celebration on Sept. 27 to commemorate the last 60 years. The final service will be held Jan. 31, 2016.“We’re not celebrating closing the church but the life of the church,” Nelson said. “And the impressionable events we were involved with.”Strandvik historyThe land for the church was first purchased in 1884.“My great grandpa was the one to sign the deed to buy the land,” Marion Jacobson said.A couple more acres were purchased over the years, and the land was used for a cemetery. It wasn’t until 1948-49 that the church was built and dedicated. It was in November of 1949 that the church was officially organized and the constitution was adopted, becoming Strandvik Evangelical Lutheran Church.A vote was taken whether or not to join a synod. The results were 24 in favor of joining Evangelical Lutheran Synod, two for Augustana Synod, three for Lutheran Free, two were not in favor of joining a synod and one was not in favor of joining any Lutheran group.On Dec. 2 of that year, elections were made and Clarence Larson was named president; Mrs. Milton Johnson, secretary; Mrs. Donald Larson, treasurer; Donald Erickson, Milton Johnson and Bill Olson to the board of trustees. Ernest Dahlgren, Mrs. Donald Erickson and Signe Nylander were elected to the board of education.Before all that though, the Swedish people who formed the church would meet in other locations.In 1887, Rev. P.P. Hendenstrom, who served at the Eksjo Church, came to the District 2 schoolhouse to instruct youth confirmation. It was located a mile east of where Strandvik is today.The first confirmation class included Christina Erickson, Lars and Emma Erickson, Mary and Christine Johnson, Nils Solberg, Annie Erickson and Halvor, whose last name is missing from the history booklet the church has prepared for the Sept. 27 event.The first Ladies Aid meeting was in 1895, with Mrs. Jonas Johnson and Mrs. Frank Swenson entertaining. In 1940, officers were elected. They were Alma Sandeen, president; Olga Olson, vice president; Esther Nelson, secretary; Hazel Eilertson, treasurer.Mrs. Vernon Johnson served the summer Sunday school for years.Dahlgren, Nelson and Jacobson all said generations of their families have attended Strandvik Church for years. Jacobson said that she had moved away from Lake Park from 1945-85, but when she moved back, “of course” she went back to attending Strandvik.Dahlgren said that once the doors close, he’ll miss seeing the same people on a regular basis. The ladies agree that they will miss not being able to fellowship there each week as well – though they all will likely see each other around town still or at whatever church they decide to attend now.“The church suppers, that was a big event,” Nelson said.Dahlgren added that he remembers when they gave people tickets for the supper and people would have to wait in the sanctuary until there was room in the basement to be served.Nelson said Sunday school picnics at the end of the summer and Sunday school Christmas programs were always popular at the church as well.The church also took care of lunches at auctions before the days of food trucks.“It was a way of making money, but it was also fun to work,” Nelson said.During the church’s prime, they estimate 36 families attended. Over time, the building has had some work done to keep it stable, including foundation work and a new roof.Nelson said they hope a newer church will rent out Strandvik, but as of now, they aren’t certain what will happen to the building. They would also like to hold Christmas and Easter services at the church still.One thing is for sure: They won’t be demolishing the building.Sept. 27 programThe program on Sept. 27 will consist of current and past pastors speaking including LeRoy Erlandson (served from 1967-73), Donald Homme (served from 1974-99), Randy Whitehead (current since 2001), Roy Noel (current since this year) and Steve Paulson. Soloists will include Nels Anderson, Dorothy Harsh and Barb Baldrica, and duets include Bob and Barb Baldrica and Bobby Chatham and Don Homme.Following the 2 p.m. service, there will be lunch and fellowship in the basement.Though this is a celebration of the church’s history, church members will continue to hold services there throughout the rest of the year.Worship services will be held the first and third Sunday of each month at 12:30 p.m., with a potluck dinner before at 11 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month. The Christmas Eve service is at 4:30 p.m., and the last service will be Jan. 31, 2016.The church is located five miles south of Lake Park on County Road 5.Tweets by @DLNewspapers