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THE FIRST CENTURY: 1890 – 1990 

A Brief Summary 

The 1890’s: On March 5, 1890, twenty men, members of St. Paul’s Lutheran on Liberty Prairie, held a meeting to establish a new congregation and voted to build a church in Deerfield following years of division within St. Paul’s – and throughout the Norwegian Lutheran Church – over the doctrinal question of “election” vs. predestination. The new congregation was named Liberty Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Deerfield. The cornerstone for a Sanctuary was laid on July 6, when $4,085 had been collected. Member Gunder Anderson was chosen building contractor. The church was completed in December and dedicated in January, 1891 – the remaining debt was $350. The constitution was adopted on November 24, 1891 with 87, 93, or 106 (records vary) charter members – men and women over 21 years in age. In 1892 a two-acre parcel was purchased for a cemetery. A parsonage was built in 1898 at a cost of $3,000. The choir was established that year by a vote of the congregation. Revs. J. A. Otteson (1890-1891), M. Fr. Weise (temporary, 1891-1892), M. K. Bieken (1892-1897) and Jens Grevstad (1897-1902) served during the1890’s. Rev. Grevstad held the first worship services in English. 

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1900-1919: A Young People’s Society was organized in 1910 (in 1928 it became known as the Luther League). In 1912 the space under the church was excavated and a basement was made available for meetings; the materials paid for by the Ladies Aid, the labor was voluntary. A new pipe organ was installed in 1915 and that year the congregation joined the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. Sunday School was started in 1918, with Rev. D. J. Borge superintendent until 1926. Also in 1918, the ratio of worship services changed – two services were offered in English to every Norwegian one. Electric lights were installed. The nearby Hauge congregation was disbanded and most members joined what is now Deerfield Lutheran. Pastors during the first two decades of the 20th century included: Revs. R.O. Brandt (1902-1904), Th. Ringoen (1904-1906), Adolph Bredeson (1906-1913), R.O. Brandt (a second time, along with other neighboring clergy, 1913-1915), and Daniel Borge (1915-1926). 

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1920-1939: A fund to maintain the cemetery was established in 1920 when a committee of three raised $2,000 in one day. The constitution was translated from Norwegian into English in 1923; by the mid-to-late 1930s Norwegian worship services were discontinued, which meant “several families not Norwegian” joined the congregation. Mrs. H. F. Klein (1926-1928) and Carl Enger (1928-1938) supervised the Sunday School. Retired pastor A.J. Lee filled a temporary position for six months until Rev. A.C. Odden arrived in 1927. The following year Deerfield Lutheran and St. Paul’s Liberty joined in sharing one pastor. Joint worship services began, such as Lenten, Good Friday and Easter. In 1933 the name was changed to Deerfield Lutheran Congregation of Deerfield, Wisconsin. The first choir robes were purchased in 1936. A Junior Choir was active from 1933-1938. Rev. Odden and Mrs. Ziegelman were Sunday School Superintendents between 1938 and 1945. Rev. Odden remained at Deerfield Lutheran until 1943. 

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1940-1959: In 1941 the common Communion chalice was replaced by individual cups. Planning was initiated in 1940 for building improvements; in 1944 the first plans were rejected in favor of a more extensive remodeling project. New plans were accepted in 1950 on a bid of $36,000. The front of the church was extended 18 feet to provide a new sacristy. The chancel and furnishings – donated by parishioners – were new: altar and panels surrounding it, pulpit, Baptismal font, lectern, missal stand, pastor’s kneeler and pew, sacristy chair, communion rail and other furnishings. The pipe organ was rebuilt in Milwaukee and chimes installed, the Lions Club donated a record player, records, amplifier and three loud speakers for the church tower. There were additions to the choir loft, light fixtures, carpeting, enlarged Fellowship Hall, kitchen and heating  plant. The new Sanctuary was dedicated in 1951. The following year the congregation voted to mortgage the church for $15,000 to help build Trinity Lutheran in Park Forest, Illinois. The Junior Choir was active again from 1954-1981. In addition to worship services, the thirty young people also performed on radio and television. The New Order of Service was adopted in 1958. Rev. E.J. Tetlie was pastor from 1943-1967. Marge DeGolier (Peters) was Sunday School Superintendent from 1945-1979. In 1945, while still a Junior in high school, she also started a Vacation Bible School, which ran for two weeks in the summer. She taught the 4th – 8th graders from 9:00–10:30 and preschoolers – 3rd graders from 10:30-noon. 

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1960-1979: In 1960, The Evangelical Lutheran Church (Norwegian heritage), the American Lutheran Church (German heritage), and United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Danish heritage) merged to form The American Lutheran Church. The decade brought an ecumenical movement that reached across Christian denominations. The congregation voted in 1960 to borrow $15,000 to remodel the interior of the Sanctuary. Wainscoting was removed and replaced by paneling, the iron rods were covered and new pews purchased, among other things. Adjacent property was purchased in 1964 and used for Sunday School classrooms; acolytes began serving during worship services. A parking lot was completed in 1965. That year the Luther League began managing the Easter Sunrise Service and serving an Easter Breakfast. Rev. R. K. W. Weidenhoeft served both Deerfield and St. Paul’s Lutheran from 1967-1971, at which time each congregation called its own clergy. On February 17, 1974 the Educational Building was dedicated. Deerfield and St. Paul’s Liberty Lutheran Churches co-sponsored three refugee families, the Kim Yen Veng and Pan An families who arrived from Cambodia in 1975 and the Mike Apris family from Romania in 1986. The parsonage was sold in 1979. The same year the use of banners to coincide with the church year was begun. Revs. Joseph Nesheim (1972-1976) and Thomas Hoversten (1977-1982) were also pastors during the 1970s. 

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1980-1990: New hymnals were purchased and the new liturgy adopted in 1980. Mrs. L.S. Kleine was recognized for 26 years of service as Junior Choir director and organist. The Women of the Church paid for new carpeting in the Sanctuary. Revs. Warren Schultz and Robert Voss served as interim pastors during 1982. Rev. Floyd Olsen accepted a call in 1983 and was pastor until 1992. In 1984 a new organ console and carillon were installed at a cost of $21,000. William Peters was honored for his 35 years as Treasurer in 1986. Amigos de Christo (friends of Christ) replaced the Luther League in 1989. The constitution was revised in 1990. Major repairs were done to the church in anticipation of the congregation’s centennial celebration in 1990, including: painting the trim and exterior, tuckpointing masonery, reroofing the church and steeple, replacement of the front door, repairs to the stained glass windows, and replastering the interior at a cost of $56,000. A joyous “100 Years for Christ” celebration was held October 27-28, 1990. 

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Historical information gathered from: 

• Fortieth Anniversary Program Historical Notes, 1930 

• 50th Anniversary Booklet “A Brief Historical Sketch of the Congregation” edited by Jens Thorstad, 1940 

• Dedication Services Program for Renovation of the Sanctuary, May 6, 1951 

• 75th Anniversary Booklet edited by Dorothy Loftus, 1965 

• Dedication Services for the Educational Building, February 17, 1974 

• Centennial 1890-1990 Booklet edited by Dorothy Loftus, 1990 

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