ELS Ottesen Museum

06/23/2026

06/23/2026

Saving photos of your church is just one way to help preserve its history.

Bethany’s original building!
A log cabin church built with love, faith and a lot off hard work!!
Let us know if you worshiped here and share your memories!!

06/22/2026

Rev. Milton Elmo Tweit died June 22, 2005, in Mankato, Minnesota.

Tweit taught Christian Day School and served as assistant pastor at Our Savior’s, Princeton, Minnesota (1935-1937). He served as pastor at Norseland and Norwegian Grove, rural St. Peter, Minnesota (1937-1958); Saude and Jerico, rural Lawler, Iowa (1958-1971); Bethany and Rose Dell, Luverne, Minnesota (1971-1974); and East and West Paint Creek, Waterville, Iowa (1974-1981).

Tweit served as the twelfth President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod 1957-1962 and Vice-President 1950-1954 and 1956-1957. He served as a member of the Board of Regents of Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary for 32 years.

Tweit married Delphine Sonstegard on October 23, 1937. They were blessed with six children: David, Paul, Jonathan, Naomi, Ruth, and Elizabeth. Delphine died in a car accident on May 30, 1961. On October 21, 1962, he married Dagny (Hoyord) Dale. She died January 13, 1998.

06/21/2026

For 100 years, God has blessed Bethany Lutheran College through faithful founders, dedicated faculty, remarkable students, and generations of alumni. Now, as we begin our Centennial Celebration, you’re invited to explore the stories, events, milestones, and memories that make this anniversary so special.

Visit our Centennial website and join us as we celebrate A Century of Blessings. ⤵️ Link in comments ⤵️

06/21/2026

Rev. Carl Johan Quill was born June 21, 1878, in Dodge County Minnesota, to Gudmund and Ingrid Quill. He attended Willmar Seminary, Willmar, Minnesota; Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating in 1907.

Upon his ordination, Quill was assigned to Bowden, North Dakota, where he served ten congregations. He then served in Grove City, Minnesota, serving three congregations; Concordia Lutheran, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the congregations in Renville, and Bird Island, Minnesota.

In 1923, Rev. Quill joined the reorganized Norwegian Synod and accepted a call to Our Savior’s Lutheran, Albert Lea, Minnesota. From there he also served congregations in Volga, South Dakota and Hayfield, Minnesota. He then served Western Koshkonong Lutheran, rural Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

Quill served as the Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod 1929-1934.

On June 30, 1907 Quill married Bolida Braaten. They were blessed with four children: Idella, Stella, Marvel, and Grant. Bolida died in 1948.

06/21/2026

Rev. Theodore E. Aaberg died June 21, 2015.

Aaberg served Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minnesota (1978-1979); and as a professor at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minnesota (1979-1982). From 1982-1985, he served as the Synod’ archivist.

06/20/2026

Rev. Bjug Aanondson Harstad died June 20, 1933.

Harstad was ordained in 1874 and served in Mayville, North Dakota 1874-1891 and Parkland, Washington 1891-1895, San Francisco, California, 1895-1896, and Parkland again, 1896-1898.

In 1898-1899, Harstad went to the Yukon to find gold to help Pacific Lutheran Academy. From 1899-1900 he served as a temporary professor at Luther Seminary. He then returned to Parkland where he served for the rest of his life.

Harstad was the founder of several schools: Franklin School, Gran Boarding School, Bruflat Academy and Pacific Academy (now Pacific Lutheran University).

In 1918, Harstad was one of the thirteen pastors who met at Lime Creek, Iowa, to form the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served as its president from 1918-1921.

Harstad married G**o Svendsen Omli(d) in 1877. They had eleven children: Aanond Theodore, Torbjor Marie, Turi Marie, Aanond Theodore, Sven George, Dorothea Louise, Oliver Berhard, Oscar Theander, Ingvald Timotheus, Lydia Naomi, and Adolph Marius. G**o died in 1933.

06/20/2026

Prof. Christopher U. Faye died June 20, 1967.

Faye served as a professor at Bethany Lutheran College (1952-1962) and as co-editor of the “Lutheran Sentinel” (1924-1925).

In 1925, Faye married Alice Josephine (nee Jenson). Alice died in 1986.

06/19/2026

Rev. Sven Olaf Michaelson Gullerud was born June 19, 1876 to Michael G. and Karen (nee Lunde) Gullerud in Goodhue County (near Zumbrota), Minnesota. He attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; Valder’s Business College; Lutheran Normal School, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota (1906).

From 1903-1906, Gullerud taught school at Fish Creek Lutheran Church, Leon, Wisconsin. After his ordination, he served as pastor at congregations in Tracy, Minnesota; Princeton, Minnesota; Nicollet, Minnesota. While at Princeton, he helped to establish the Our Savior’s congregation when he and others in the congregation decided that they could not enter the 1917 merger of Norwegian Lutheran Churches. From 1930 to 1934, Gullerud served as the Vice-President of the Norwegian Synod.

On September 12, 1906, Gullerud married Sarah Marie (nee Tyssen). She died in 1977. They were blessed with five children.

06/18/2026

June 18, 1978: Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary’s first building is dedicated.