The Esther Lutheran congregation was organized on January 18th, 1893, at the home of David Nelson at which Pastor Louis Johnson presided. Pastor Johnson became the first pastor, along with his serving First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie.
The men included in the organizational meeting were David, Nelson, Lewis Larson, Lewis Peterson, Henry Sjobeck, Peter Anderson, Andrew Nelson, Andrew Anderson, Peter Erikson, Ola Johanson, Olaf Pehrson, Jons Westlund and Per Wiberg.
The first church building was completed in 1897, while the present structure was completed in 1921, following a fire in 1920 by lightning, which destroyed the first building.
We celebrated our 125th Anniversary in 2018!
Pastors that have served Esther Lutheran Church’s congregation over the past 125 years are as follows:
Pastor Louis Johnson…………………… 1893-1895
Pastor J. P. Leaf…………………………….1897-1910
Pastor Olaf Wallin…………………………. 1911-1916
Pastor J. H. Ford……………………………. 1917-1921
Pastor J. Edor Larson……………………. 1921-1930
Pastor Lambert Engwall………………..1931-1944
Pastor C. E. T. Peterson…………………1944-1948
Pastor J. E. Tretheway…………………. 1957-1960
Pastor Maynard O. Hansen…………….1961-1968
Pastor Gene Schipper………………….. 1968-1972
Pastor Steven Streed…………………….1972-1979
Pastor Roger Tornes……………………. 1979-1984
Pastor Roger Prescott, Interim…………………….1984-1986
Pastor Obed “Duke” Lundeed …………………….1986-1991
Pastor Kenneth Thiele …………………….1991-2007
Pastor Katherine Rothman…………………….2003-2007
(One Point Parish)
Pastor Don Reisig, Interim…………………….2007-2008
Dawn Reisig, Synodically Authorized Minister…………….2008-2011
Pastor Jeanette Bidne …………………….2011-2017
Pastor Tom Kolden, Interim Pastor…………2017- 2018
Pastor Scott Hoecker…………………………….2018-Current
ESTHER LUTHERAN CHURCH 