This website was established to remember the pioneers who founded Trysil Lutheran Church in Holmes City township, Douglas Co MN, tilled the land, lived their lives and raised their families here. Now those names that filled the ministerial records with baptisms, confirmations, marriages and deaths lie in the ground where the church once stood. Many of their descendants still own parts of the ancestral farms and the stories still abound along with many pictures and diaries that give us glimpses into the past.
Of course, much of the history of Trysil church also involves its pastors throughout the years. The first pastor called as minister to Trysil was Rev. Christian Tollefson Saugstad born in Ringsaker, Hedmark, Norway 13 Jun 1838. He immigrated to America in 1858 and took up studies to become a “prest”. When called to Trysil congregation in July 1872, he was still a student and though counseled by his superiors not to accept the pastorate, he did. The congregation settled on a salary of $100.
Services were in the school house until the church was built and dedicated in August 1875. Described as a very “joyful day”, pastors and people were present from all the neighboring congregations “ and the church could not seat them all but the weather was pleasant and the people sat on the church lawn and listened to the word of God through the windows. Dinner was served in a lean to by the church.”
Rev. Saugstad helped the parish through its early steps, began a reading society, often filled the pulpit in other congregations and was part of the fabric of the community along with his wife Randienne and large family. Randienne died giving birth to twins in April 1877. The deaths of his wife and one of his children can be found on this website.
A year later, Christian married a local woman, Gunil Myhr at Trysil church. March 10, 1888 Rev. Saugstad tendered his resignation. He had faithfully served the congregation for eight years. “He had with rare capability served for 8 years and I don’t wonder that he would like to try a change. In daily rounds and conversations one learned to love Saugstad. He was never strict unless maybe to his horse. In the pulpit he spoke with authority.”
In the early days of church congregations there were many troubles due to doctrinal disagreements resulting in splits, the Synod and the Conference. Saugstad affiliated with the Conference.
The next few years Saugstad served congregations in Neby and Crookston, MN before his friend, the railroad man, Jim Hill invited him to establish a colony on the Pacific in British Columbia. In 1894, Saugstad assembled a party and headed west to begin the colony of Bella Coola.
Trysil Church
Enjoy reading about my great-great grandfather Saugstad (mother’s side: Lorraine June Morken, daughter of Idella Bangen Morken, whose mother, Martha, was a daughter of Christian and Randienne).
Hi, Rev. Saugstad was also my great-great grandfather. Idella was my grandmother Georgia’s sister. Do you know anything about Idella’s other siblings? I’m intrigued by them. Do you know anything about Olivia in particular? She was divorced and lived in San Francisco.
Also my Great Grandfather. My grandmother was his daughter Camilla and my father is Clifford.
My grandfather, Christian Carlson, accompanied Rev. Saugstad to Bella Coola in 1894 and became leader of the Norwegian colony there upon the death of Rev. Saugstad. My father, Alfred Carlsen, was born there in 1910. Obviously Saugstad’s influence extended beyond Minnesota because Christian Carlsen and his brothers had settled in Wisconsin, near Eau Claire and therefore weren’t part of Rev. Saugstad’s congregation.
MmI
I am trying to locate any relationship between the Rev. Christian Saugstad and my great-grandfather, Nels E. Saugstad (born at Ringsaker, Hedemarken, Norway, Nov. 24, 1847). According to family lore, was a cousin either to my great-grandfather or my grandfather, Edward Tilman Saugstad. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
27 April 2018
I have been looking over family tree information that my grandfather John Saugstad assembled and decided to visit your web site. John was a son of Rev. Christian T Saugstad and Randine. I visited your site some years ago but I don’t remember the picture of Christian and Randine.
I will make copies for my tree.
Thanks for the information.
Gary B. Saugstad
Thanks for the info re my great grandfather Christian. My grandfather was Johannes, my father Randolf C, and I am lois saugstad-bruce-pierce( born in crookston in 1929) My father was Johannes eldest son born in 1896.