“Old” Vangen Lutheran Church
(erected 1869)

The immigration of white people to the (Yankton) area of Dakota Territory began in 1859, of which most of the settlers in the area around “Old” Vangen Lutheran Church, as it is affectionately called, came from Ringsaker, Norway.
In 1861, a Theology student, Abraham Jacobson, of then the Lutheran Augustana Synod, came with some settlers from Iowa, and held a number of services in people’s homes who were members of then the Norwegian Synod. After Jacobson’s journey to the Yankton area, a (Lutheran) pastor was sent to the area of Union, Clay and Yankton Counties twice a year.
In 1864, the Rev. J. Krohn arrived from Chicago to perform pastoral duties among the Norwegian settlers of which, the parish records at Vangen date back to Pastor Krohn’s ministry, with records of pastoral acts with settlers all over the southeastern corner of Dakota Territory. It was also in (October) 1864, after baptizing 22 children on the 8th of the month, that the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Dakota Territory was organized by 67 dedicated pioneers. This organization took in all Norwegian Lutherans in Union, Clay, and Yankton Counties.
The first resident Lutheran pastor in Dakota Territory, the Rev. Emil Christenson, came to the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in August of 1867 and served the geographic area from the Big Sioux River (Union County) to the east, to Niobrara, NE in the west (west of Yankton County), and as far north as Moody (Madison area) and Davison (Mitchell area) Counties.
Sunday worship was held in homes and schools for several years, but the parishioners in and around Mission Hill yearned for a church home. In their memories, they could still hear the church bells of their home valleys of Norway, and remembered the vision of people heading to church on Sunday mornings. That yearning ultimately led to building Vangen (which means “green meadow”) in 1869, and was the first Lutheran church built in all of Dakota Territory. Bergen Lutheran Church (south of Meckling) was built next in 1871. “Old” Vangen was erected thanks to the Gulbrand Levorson family, who donated the land as a gift to the congregation. Lumber used to build the church was hauled in by ox teams from Sioux City, IA.
As you enter this unique church you will notice at the base of the altar screen, written in Norwegian, the proclamation by Jesus in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest..." You will also see an old pump organ, the original baptismal font and pulpit. The altar frontal (in delicate condition) is original to the church. There is a military service banner on the wall behind the pulpit. As near as can be determined, it represents members of Vangen who fought in WWI. A blue star on the flag signifying hope and pride, represents a member serving in the Armed Forces. A gold star, signifying sacrifice to the cause of liberty and freedom, indicates that a member was killed or died during the war.
There is no electricity into the church. There are kerosene lanterns hanging from the wall rods in the sanctuary. The room behind the altar has a pot-belly stove, the only heating provided for the church; and the room was used for confirmation instruction.
The first three pastors who faithfully served Vangen were, Rev. Christensen from 1867-1876, Rev. H. B. Hustvedt from 1876-1881, and Rev. P. H. Dahl from 1881-1918. The first Vangen choir – "The Symphonia" – was directed by Pastor Dahl, who served his entire ministry at Vangen.
The first "klokker" (bell ringer), Peder Freng, would meet on Saturday morning with those that loved to sing and rehearsed the hymns to be sung on Sunday. On Sunday morning Mr. Freng would faithfully ring the bell, which has the inscription, "I to the church the living call and to the grave do summon all." The bell is rung at every graveside service held at the cemetery. And every year on Memorial Day, the bell is tolled before worship, reminding us of our loved ones and the early settlers to this area of then, Dakota Territory, and who, for many still at Vangen today, are their ancestors.
This lovely white church, with its green roof, still stands on the hillside where it was erected, one mile east of Mission Hill on County Road 308th St, surrounded by a well-kept cemetery thanks to the dedicated work of the Vangen Cemetery Board, who are carrying on the legacy of the late Mel Severson, who passed away in 2006. There is a state historical marker on its site, and the church is still used for special worship services (i.e., Memorial Day, and Father’s Day worship services) as well as baptisms and weddings. (An interesting sidelight is that when worship is held at the church, even today men, and women and children are seated separately – men on the pulpit side; women and children on the pump organ side!)