Niobrara Lutheran Church’s roots go back well over 100 years to a time when a group of Norwegian immigrants settled west of Niobrara. Ole Berge was the first to arrive in 1890 with 2 children and then other families followed a short time later.
The loneliness of the prairie and remembering their promises at confirmation and the power of God’s word moved them to organize the Ponca Lutheran Congregation in 1891. They held services in their homes.
The Niobrara Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on January 7, 1896. In September 1900 the Reverend O.J. Lundy came to serve the congregation and remained until May 1919. During that time a church building was erected 9 miles west of Niobrara and dedicated in 1908. Services were conducted in Norwegian until 1918 when both English and Norwegian were spoken. The Riverview Cemetery is located near the former site of the church.
In 1936 families in town formed a Lutheran Church and by 1937 the minister served both the town and country churches. The town church met in the Episcopal Church until the building was no longer available. Services were then held at Niobrara State Park until 1941 when a church was built in town that was known at Bethany Lutheran Mission. Those people who did not have transportation to the park were given rides in trucks. In September the Norwegian church and the Bethany Church joined to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niobrara.
In 1948 the Niobrara Congregation together with Good Shepherd at Lindy formed 1 parish with the pastor residing in Niobrara.
In 1962 a parsonage was constructed.
In 1974 the congregation transacted negotiations with the U.S. Government for relocation to the new town thus the current church was constructed and the parsonage was moved up on the hill. The 1st worship service was held, with Holy Communion in the new church on August 7, 1977 eventhough the building was not done and pews had not arrived.
Ben Isackson made a gift of a new fellowship hall.
The bell from the Episcopal Church that had been in Niobrara was purchased for $300 with the stipulation that it be used to call people to worship. It was placed in the bell tower in 1981.
In 2015, we joined with the Niobrara-Verdel Presbyterian Church and formed the Faiths United Parish.
The loneliness of the prairie and remembering their promises at confirmation and the power of God’s word moved them to organize the Ponca Lutheran Congregation in 1891. They held services in their homes.
The Niobrara Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on January 7, 1896. In September 1900 the Reverend O.J. Lundy came to serve the congregation and remained until May 1919. During that time a church building was erected 9 miles west of Niobrara and dedicated in 1908. Services were conducted in Norwegian until 1918 when both English and Norwegian were spoken. The Riverview Cemetery is located near the former site of the church.
In 1936 families in town formed a Lutheran Church and by 1937 the minister served both the town and country churches. The town church met in the Episcopal Church until the building was no longer available. Services were then held at Niobrara State Park until 1941 when a church was built in town that was known at Bethany Lutheran Mission. Those people who did not have transportation to the park were given rides in trucks. In September the Norwegian church and the Bethany Church joined to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niobrara.
In 1948 the Niobrara Congregation together with Good Shepherd at Lindy formed 1 parish with the pastor residing in Niobrara.
In 1962 a parsonage was constructed.
In 1974 the congregation transacted negotiations with the U.S. Government for relocation to the new town thus the current church was constructed and the parsonage was moved up on the hill. The 1st worship service was held, with Holy Communion in the new church on August 7, 1977 eventhough the building was not done and pews had not arrived.
Ben Isackson made a gift of a new fellowship hall.
The bell from the Episcopal Church that had been in Niobrara was purchased for $300 with the stipulation that it be used to call people to worship. It was placed in the bell tower in 1981.
In 2015, we joined with the Niobrara-Verdel Presbyterian Church and formed the Faiths United Parish.