ELS Ottesen Museum

09/07/2026

Rev. Eivind Gerhard Unseth was born September 7, 1910 to Rev. Joseph and Alice (nee Bye) Unseth, in Edmore, North Dakota. He attended Bethany Lutheran College and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.

Unseth served First Lutheran and Holton Lutheran, Suttons Bay and Holton, Michigan (1936-1945); St. Paul’s Lutheran, Chicago, Illinois (1945-1953); Our Savior’s Lutheran, Albert Lea, Minnesota (1953-1965); and St. Timothy Lutheran, Lombard, Illinois (1965-1974). He also served on various boards and committees of the ELS and was vice-president 1964-1966 and 1968-1969.

On February 26, 1937, Unseth married Lorna Gyda Jaastad in Dayton, Ohio. They were blessed with four children: Allan, Vivian, Kären, and Theodore. Lorna died in 2004.

09/06/2026

September 6, 1911: Bethany Lutheran Ladies College opened in Mankato, MN. It was founded by Rev. F. Winter, the pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato to give young ladies a broad education to prepare them for the vocations they would have as adults, especially in nursing, teaching, music, and home economics.

09/02/2026

Sunday, September 2, 1844: Rev. J. W. C. Dietrichson preached for his second service in the Koshkonong, Wisconsin, area. A make-shift altar was erected under two large oak trees and it was from here that the service was conducted. Rev. Dietrichson’s sermon was based on the text Matthew 11:28, : ”Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He also gave a preparatory address with the text “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78:19). Both texts were fitting for emigrants who, in some cases, had lived for years without church services or the sacraments. About 60 people received the Lord’s Supper at this service.

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.