October 11, 1894 - one acre of land in the SW¼ of SE¼ of Section 15 of Kragnes Township, Clay County, Minnesota is donated for the founding of the “North Buffalo River Cemetery” by Peder and Olgard (Grove) Tufton, Norwegian immigrant farmers who lived directly east of the cemetery.

 

1895 - A Ladies Aid Society is organized, eventually to be known as the “North Buffalo Ladies Aid” (presently known as the “North Buffalo Women of the ELCA”).

 

January 6, 1896 - The “North Buffalo River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation” is organized in the “Brendemuhl School,” a one-room schoolhouse, directly across the road to the south of the present church & cemetery. Rev. Andreas A. Oefstedal served as the first pastor, and this new congregation was in a joint-parish with nearby Concordia Lutheran Church in Moland Township. Shortly thereafter, Scandia Lutheran Church in Averill was admitted to the parish, making it a three-point parish for many decades. Charter members were H. Jacob Wentzell, Ole E. Tangen, Peder M. Tufton, John Oberg, Christian E. Tangen, Edward O. Erickson, Olaus Erickson, Ingvald Knudsen, Aslak T. Thomas, Aslak O. Houge, Hans L. Howe, Anthon Olsen, Gunder O. Gunderson, John Knutson, Jens Aggerholm, and Thore Larson.

 

February 9, 1896 - Louis Oliver Thomas and John Martinius Aggerholm are the first children baptized in the church.

 

March 27, 1896 - Niels Johnsen is the first death in the congregation.

 

August 16, 1896 - Students of the church’s first confirmation class (mixed with Concordia students) are confirmed.

 

February 25, 1897 - The congregation’s articles of incorporation are signed, and filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office on March 29, 1897.

 

March 16, 1897 - Peder Tufton & Mathilda Erickson are the first recorded marriage in the church.

 

July 13, 1897 - A building contract is signed for the construction of the first church building, in the middle of the cemetery. The building was dedicated in July, 1904.

 

Ca. 1905 - The church and cemetery are more frequently being referred to as “North Buffalo” and the word “River” is eventually dropped from the name around 1920. The church would not officially amend its articles of incorporation to legally reflect this change until July, 1990.

 

November 29, 1910 - Charles, Jr. & Hulda (Poehls) Brendemuhl family is admitted to the congregation, being the first non-Norwegian family on the roster. The second non-Norwegian family, namely the Richards family, would join a few years later.

 

November 25, 1917 - A young people’s organization is formally organized, later to be named “North Buffalo Luther League” (presently named “North Buffalo Lutheran Youth Organization”).

 

1910s/’20s - Non-Norwegian families begin to become involved with the congregation. The English language is first used in 1917, and more regularly so when Rev. Melvin G. Hagen came in the 1920s.

 

May 15, 1927 - “North Buffalo Sunday School” is organized, with Marie Nelson as first superintendent (she held that office for 20 years).

 

March 17, 1937 - The first set of English meeting minutes are written and the use of the Norwegian language fades into the church’s history.

 

January 24, 1947 - The “North Buffalo Choir” is organized by Rev. J. Walter Johnshoy, who directed it until Kenneth Sorvik was hired and Mr. Sorvik directed it for many years.

 

October 12, 1947 - The church’s 50th anniversary is celebrated with a dinner, program, and other festivities. Already at this point in the congregation's history the year 1897 is incorrectly recognized as its founding year. Nowadays we know the organizational year of the congregation to be 1896.

 

Late-1940s - The congregation begins experiencing rapid growth and during one year, 51 souls were added to the roster.

 

February 11, 1954 - The congregation votes to build a new church, as opposed to adding onto the existing structure.

 

May 5, 1957 - The new church is a finished structure and is located east of the cemetery (the original church was built in the middle of the cemetery). At the Sunday morning service, the doors to the old church were locked by John Sorby, and the congregation proceeded across the lawn to the new church where the doors were unlocked by Lettie Grinde. Just two Sundays later on May 19, the congregation celebrated the cornerstone laying and dedication.

 

March 25, 1959 - The “North Buffalo Lutheran Brotherhood” (a men’s group) is organized, only to disband several years later. It was reorganized as the “North Buffalo Men’s Group” in 1994-95, and disbanded around 2008.

 

August 18, 1963 - An addition to the east side of the church building is dedicated, adding seating for an additional 90 persons in the sanctuary, and several Sunday School classrooms in the basement. New pews were purchased and installed a year later.

 

Ca. 1967 - North Buffalo Sunday School enrollment sets a record with 157 pupils on the roll. In those days, Sunday School was taught through 12th grade.

 

December 31, 1967 - North Buffalo withdraws from the Concordia Parish and now exists as a stand-alone congregation (one-point parish). Rev. Bradley J. Enerson is called to be its first pastor.

 

September 20, 1970 - A narthex (entry way/gathering space) is added to the south side of the church building is dedicated.

 

1970 - The church’s first pictorial directory is published; many more directories are published in the coming years.

 

September, 1972 - The church’s 75th anniversary is celebrated with a picnic, church service, program, and other festivities.

 

Spring, 1976 - A Rodgers Jamestown 100 Organ is purchased for $8,600.00, replacing the old ca. 1957 Baldwin Orgasonic Organ.

 

1979 - A new well is drilled, air conditioning is installed several years later.

 

June, 1987 - The church’s 90th anniversary is celebrated with the holding of a picnic.

 

1987-88 - The church’s permanent stained glass windows are purchased and installed with memorial monies.

 

1993 - The old Oak Mound School 2 miles west of Kragnes is demolished, and North Buffalo Church becomes the new Kragnes Township Hall, where township meetings and elections are held.

 

December, 1995 - Rev. Dave V. Hyland resigns after serving North Buffalo for 20 years. He and his family have since remained members of the congregation.

 

January 19, 1997 - The church’s present constitution and bylaws are adopted, and its articles of incorporation are restated with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

 

June 28 & 29, 1997 - The church’s centennial celebration is held, complete with a picnic, talent show, worship service with Holy Communion, catered meal, afternoon program, ice cream social, and children’s carnival.

 

September 18, 2005 - A new fellowship hall, complete with bathrooms, kitchen, narthex, is dedicated by former interim pastor, Rev. Rolf Wangberg, who was bishop of the NW MN Synod at that time. The mortgage was paid off a short few years later.
 

October 23, 2005 - Rev. Mark W. Nerland is installed as North Buffalo’s pastor, and has served since that time.

 

January 25, 2015 - Disbanded since ca. 1897, the “North Buffalo Cemetery Association” is reorganized on this date and assumed ownership, management, and improvement of the North Buffalo Cemetery.

 

October 31, 2015 - A Rodgers Classic 558 Digital Organ is dedicated, the purchase and installation price being about $23,000.00. New sanctuary lighting, sound system, and pew cushions are added during the 2010s. The old Rodgers Jamestown 100 Organ was disposed of.

 

2017 - The dining room and kitchen facilities in the basement are remodeled, and two permanent Sunday School classrooms are added, paid for by a memorial donation for Wilma Jean Oberg by her family.

 

July 9th & 10th, 2022 - The church’s 125th anniversary celebration is held, complete with a cemetery walk, picnic, worship service, potluck lunch, and program. About 200 persons attended.