The Union of Our Savior’s and St. Petri Congregations

St. Petri church was located in the south center area of Saugstad Cemetery  

St. Petri Lutheran Church was organized in the year 1868, twenty years before the founding of Our Savior’s Church. This congregation was a member of the former Norwegian Augustana Synod. It is to be regretted that no records from this congregation can be found, and since all of the members of its congregation have passed away, little is to be found of historical value.

The first pastor of St. Petri Congregation was the Reverend Peter L. Asbjørnsen. Reverend Asbjørnsen was born August 30, 1824, in Stavanger, Norway. He was pastor at several places in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. He served the parish at Westby from his parsonage at Rushford, Minnesota.

The second pastor to serve St. Petri Congregation was the Reverend Andreas Wright. Reverend Wright was born September 13, 1835, at Nærø, Ytre Namdalen, Norway. He came to America in 1860. He worked as a tailor and as a farmer for about ten years and in 1870 was called to the St. Petri Congregation. The following year he moved to Rushford, Minnesota, evidently to succeed Reverend Asbjørnsen in that parish, but continued to serve St. Petri Congregation from there for about ten years, or until 1881. Pastor Wright became quite a figure in the Augustana Synod in later years, becoming its secretary and later the president of same. He was for many years editor of “Luthersk Kirketidende,” the official organ of the Augustana Synod.

The third and last pastor of the St. Petri Congregation was the Reverend H.L. Haakenson, who was called in 1881, and remained the pastor until the dissolution of the congregation in 1889. Reverend Haakenson was born in Stavanger, Norway, on February 16, 1845, and came to American in 1870. He was pastor at Neenah and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at Newburg, Minnesota, and at Spring Valley, Minnesota before coming to Westby.

Though the congregation as organized in 1868, the church was not built until 1878. The church was located on the ground which is now Our Savior’s cemetery. Lumber for this church was hauled, so it is said, from La Crosse during the winter months. Members of the congregation would drive to La Crosse one day, load, and return the next. Nils Knaien, one of the members of the congregation, was in charge of building the church, assisted by members of the church who donated their labor. Those who remember, state that the pulpit was a beautiful piece of hand work, being made from a great number of small pieces.

The first “klokker” in the congregation was J.P. Flugstad, later precentor and school teacher in Our Savior’s Congregation. Theodore Saugstad was the organist. The first children baptized in the congregation were Clara Saugstad and Even Messenlien. This was in 1868.

As has been noted above, the pastor usually came from quite a distance to serve the congregation. When here he always made his home at the Even Saugstad home.

At the first official meeting of Our Savior’s congregation, on November 9, 1888, a union of Our Savior’s Congregation with the St. Petri Congregation was mentioned. Many of the members, together with their pastor, the Reverend H.L. Haakenson, were present and were made advisory members of the meeting. A resolution urging Pastor Haakenson’s congregations on Coon Prairie and his congregations in La Crosse to join with Our Savior’s in one or more congregations, was passed. At the various meetings of Our Savior’s Congregation in 1888 and during the first part of 1889, many of the members of St. Petri, and at times their pastor, Reverend Haakenson were present. Reverend Haakenson also conducted services for Our Savior’s in the Smith School house. An offering was given Pastor Haakenson for his services. Later pastor Haakenson, at the instigation of Our Savior’s Congregation, conducted worship for both congregations in the Westby Temperance Hall. Members were urged to call on Reverend Haakenson for their pastoral services. It was not, however, until July 1, 1889, that a union between the two congregations was perfected. 

At the meeting of Our Savior’s Congregation on July 1, 1889, both St. Petri and Our Savior’s congregations declared their organizations to be dissolved and a new constitution which had been worked out by the two groups together was adopted. The members of St. Petri Congregation at the time of the union were Johannes Flugstad, Sigbjørn Constalie, E.T. Saugstad, Ole Kilen, Just Olsen, Ole Melby, Johannes Kolbo, Jacob Lovaas, Mathias Messenlien, Christian Skaug, Emert Berg, Morton Rasmussen, Hans Jørn Rasmussen, Nils Gyland, Olaie Kjelland, Tom Swiggum, Hans Messenlien, Nils Knaien, Ole Messenlien, Ole Justin, Iver Lium, Johannes Lium, Klemit Gulbrandson, Christian I. Smerud, Johannes Smerud. This group was not so large in numbers in comparison with the number in Our Savior’s Congregation, but their union with Our Savior’s was of great value, especially because of the deep spiritual life many of these people brought with them. The members of the old St. Petri congregation are all dead, but their works do follow after them, and their influence is still felt in many of the homes in Our Savior’s Congregation.

Already at the first official meeting of Our Savior’s congregation, the organization meeting held on November 9, 1888, a union of Our Savior’s Congregation with the St. Petri Congregation was mentioned. Many of the members, together with their pastor, the Reverend H.L. Haakenson, were present and were made advisory members of the meeting. A resolution urging Pastor Haakenson’s congregations on Coon Prairie and also his congregations in La Crosse to join with Our Savior’s in one or more congregations was passed. At the various meetings of Our Savior’s Congregation in 1888 and during the first part of 1889, many of the members of St. Petri, and at times their pastor, Reverend Haakenson, were present, each time being made advisory members. Reverend Haakenson also conducted services for Our Savior’s in the Smith School house. An offering was given Pastor Haakenson for his services. Later Pastor Haakenson, at the instigation of Our Savior’s Congregation, conducted worship for both congregations in the Westby Temperance Hall. Members were urged to call on Reverend Haakenson for their pastoral services. It was not, however, until July 1, 1889, that a union between the two congregations was perfected.