ELS Ottesen Museum

09/01/2026

On September 1, 1844, Rev. J. W. C. Dietrichson preached in Amund Hornefjeld’s barn at Koshkonong, Wisconsin. This was the first worship service conducted in the United States by a Church of Norway ordained pastor. The Koshkonong parish was later established in this area.

08/27/2026

Part of Holy Cross Lutheran Church's 100th anniversary celebration.

Celebrate our 100th anniversary with a hymn sing and organ recital! 🎶

Saturday, September 26, at 2:30 pm, guest organist Bruce Bengtson will perform solo organ works on our beautiful Holtkamp organ and lead us in singing favorites like "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and "Holy, Holy, Holy". A cake reception will follow.

All are welcome for this joy-filled afternoon of music!💙

08/26/2026

Rev. Guttorm Pederson Nesseth was born in Minneola (near Zumbrota), Minnesota, on August 26, 1867, to Peder N. and Ingebor (nee Nustad) Nesseth. He studied at Luther College from 1882 - 1887, St. Olaf College in 1887, Luther College from 1889 - 1890, and Luther Seminary from 1891 - 1894 (C.T.)

Nesseth served the Immanuel congregation in Duluth, Minnesota from 1894 - 1895, in Weme (near Fosston), Minnesota, where he served seven congregations from 1895 - 1913, and Cross Lake, Minnesota from 1913 - 1937. He was one of the thirteen pastors who attended the meeting in 1918 at Lime Creek, Iowa when the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed.

In 1899, Nesseth married Bertha O. Moen. They had four children, Noble, Inge, Palma, and Valborg. Bertha died in 1956.

08/26/2026

Rev. Raymond M. Branstad was born August 26, 1916, in Lake Mills, Iowa, the son of Elmer and Anna (nee Peterson) Branstad. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, in 1943. Later, after studying journalism at the University of Wisconsin and further study at Harvard University, he earned a Masters in education administration from the University of Minnesota and his M. Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Branstad was ordained at Central Lutheran Church, Duluth, Minnesota, in June of 1943. He served congregations in Duluth, Minnesota (1943-45), Suttons Bay, Michigan (1945-49), Eau Claire, Wisconsin (1949-57), Minneapolis, Minnesota (1957-69), and Mayville, North Dakota (1978-87).

From 1970-78, Branstad served as the President of Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary. During his presidency, Bethany first became a fully accredited institution. Later, he served for 20 years on the school’s Board of Regents.

Rev. Brandstad and his wife Lois (nee Bayer) had five children: John, Nancy, Margaret, Kirsten, and Judith. Lois died in 1989.

08/20/2026

Rev. Sophus Lee died August 20, 1973 in Madison, Wisconsin.

During his vicar year, Lee helped to organize Holy Cross Lutheran in Madison, Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1927, and organized and then served Emmaus Lutheran, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1928-1952); Immanuel Lutheran and Our Savior’s Lutheran, Audubon and Hawley, Minnesota (1952-1966); and St. Paul’s Lutheran and Newport Lutheran, Lewiston (Portage) and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (1966-1973).

Rev. Lee was a member of the ELS Trustees, on the Board of Regents for Bethany Lutheran College, and Treasurer of the ELS for 23 years.

On July 20, 1927, Lee married Ruth nee Meyer in 1927. They had two children: Marilyn and David. Ruth died in 1998.

08/19/2026

Rev. Paul G. Petersen was born August 19, 1923, to Rev. Justin and Nettie (nee Knutson) Petersen in Rembrandt, Iowa. After serving in the European theater in World War II, he attended Bethany Lutheran College, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, and Eau Claire State College.

Petersen was ordained July 6, 1952, at Richland Lutheran Church, Thorton, Iowa, where he served until 1956. He then served Bethany Lutheran, Luverne, Minnesota (1956-1965); Pilgrim Lutheran, Waterloo, Iowa (1965-1975); and St. Andrew’s Lutheran, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1975-1979). From 1979-1981 he was the Development officer at Bethany Lutheran College and 1981-1983 he served as the ELS Missions/Stewardship Counselor. He the returned to parish work serving at Faith Lutheran, Oregon, Wisconsin (1983-1988) and Holy Cross Lutheran in Madison, Wisconsin (1988-1992 and 1996-1997).

On August 21, 1949, Petersen married Lois (nee Bergum). Their marriage was blessed with five children: Steven, Elizabeth, Marilyn, John, and Emily. Lois died on January 4, 2022.

08/16/2026

Adolph Marius Harstad died August 16, 1988 in Parkland, Washington.

After his ordination on June 20, 1926, Harstad served Richland Lutheran Church, Thornton, Iowa and Bethany Lutheran Church, Story City, Iowa (1926-1930). He then served Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin (1930-1946), and then Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, rural Princeton, Minnesota (1946-1953). While in Princeton, he established Bethany Lutheran Church, in Princeton. From 1953-1970 he served as chaplain at Bethesda Lutheran Home, Watertown, Wisconsin, and from 1970-1984 he served as visitation pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin.

Harstad served as the 9th president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1946-1950.

On August 12, 1931, Harstad married Martha Karina (nee Tjernagel). They were blessed with ten children: Mary, Margaret, Peter, Grace, Elizabeth, Lydia, John, Herman, Adolph, and Mark. Martha died in 2000.

08/13/2026

President Jacob Aal Ottesen Preus II died August 13, 1994, in Burnsville, Minnesota.

During the years 1946-1958, Rev. Preus served as a professor at Bethany Lutheran College, and pastor in St. Paul and Luverne, Minnesota. In 1958 he became a professor at Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois and became its president in 1962. In 1969, Preus was elected president of the the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a post he held for twelve years. He was also the author of several publications.

On June 12, 1943, Preus married Delpha Mae Holleque. They had eight children: Patricia, Delpha, Carolin, Sarah, Idella, Mary, Jacob, and Margaret. Delpha died in 1996.

08/12/2026

Lauritz Seman Guttebø died August 12, 1947, in Tripoli, Wisconsin, and was buried at Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church.

Guttebø was ordained in 1904 and served as pastor at St. Mark’s, Chicago, Illinois, 1904-1906, Story City, Iowa, 1906-1908, East and West Paint Creek, Waterville, Iowa, 1908-1917, Western Koshkonong, Wisconsin, 1917-1932, Concordia, Eau Claire, 1932-1947 and Pinehurst, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1940-1945.

Guttebø was one of the thirteen pastors who was present at the Lime Creek, Iowa, meeting in 1918 when the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed.

In the Norwegian Synod, Guttebø served on the Board for Foreign Missions 1919-1920, the Board of Church Extension 1920-1923, and the Board of Education 1923-1924.

In 1905 Guttebø married Anna Emelie (nee Vangsness). They had one daughter named Helen. Anna died in 1966.

08/10/2026

Our sympathies to the family of Barb Theiste, widow of the late Rev. Victor Theiste. Blessed be her memory.

View Barbara Louise Theiste's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.