Swede Valley Celebrates

The quaint country Swede Valley Lutheran Church located 4 1/2 miles south of Ogden on Hwy. 169 is celebrating its Sesquicentennial Sunday, June 24, 2018. A worship service will be held at the church at 9 a.m. followed by an authentic Swedish dinner served at 12 noon at the Leonard Good Community Center, 208 W Mulberry Street in Ogden.

The beginning of Swede Valley 150 years ago

The immigrants who came from Europe in the last half of the 19th Century were men, women and children who had high regard and love for the spiritual values in life. They brought with them hope for a better life and a willingness to work hard. They brought their Bibles and their hymn books and used them in their homes and churches.

The years between 1867 and 1872 saw a great immigration from Sweden. They were factory workers, farmers and miners. These people wanted the preaching of the word of God and administration of the Holy Sacraments in their adopted country.

On Sept. 5, 1868, they called a meeting to organize a congregation. Pastor Malmberg from Swede Bend, which is now Stratford, was invited to preside over the meeting. C. J. Damstrom was elected to act as secretary. At this meeting, 50 communicants and 49 children joined to form the Swede Valley Church in Moingona, Iowa.

The first churches were held in the home of Mathis Honstrom. In April 1869, the congregation decided to rent the Honstrom house from April 1 to October 1 of that year to be used as a church and school house. It was also during this time that the first confirmation class was held by Pastor Malmberg.

Read more in the June 20 issue of The Ogden Reporter.