The following article is from the booklet:
“Fjalla Lutheran Church, Milton, North Dakota, 1886 - 1967’

The first name given the Fjalla Church was ‘Íslandska Luterska Kirkja á Pembina Fjöllonum.’ It was also known as ‘vestur á fjöllunum’ or west on the mountains.

The land where the church stands was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Olafur Einarson. The slanted cross symbolizes the carrying of the cross.

The earliest settlers came to the Fjalla community in the early 1880s and as soon as any organization was possible they arranged to have religious services in their homes whenever a minister was available. Since these ministers were generally located at Gardar or Mountain and had several other communities to serve, Fjalla often had to be content with weekday services.

In 1886 a meeting was called for the purpose of organizing a congregation. Sera Fredrick Bergman was present to give advice. A constitution was drawn up and was accepted by the Icelandic Lutheran Synod in June of 1887 at the annual meeting of the Kirkuthing.

While the community went about plans to build a church, they organized a Sunday School and a Ladies Aid. All organizations met in homes or in the school building after it became available for this purpose.

Assembling money and material for the church building took several years and in January, 1894, it was decided that work on a church should begin. Rocks for the foundation were to be hauled on frozen ground and the construction would begin immediately after seeding of the fields was completed. It was decided that Neils Wium, a carpenter from Mountain, would be hired to supervise construction and that all other labor would be donated. The building was to measure 22 by 30.

Work, was carried out on schedule and although the inside of the building was not finished and the entry was not built, the first service was conducted in the present structure in June of 1894 by Sera Fredrick Bergman.

The church was not dedicated until 1902. By that time, the structure had been completed and furniture purchased. Minutes of congregational meetings indicated that most of the furniture was purchased by the Ladies Aid. One entry shows that  the altar, pulpit, and pulpit chairs were purchased at a cost of $125.00.

On June 22, 1902, the annual Kirkuthing was being held at Gardar and several pastors, delegates, and other visitors came to Fjalla to attend the formal dedication of the Fjalla Church.

Records of the annual congregational meetings which were held in homes in early January of each year are now kept in the office of the Milton Lutheran Parsonage. Except for the last few years, they are written in Icelandic.

The following paragraphs are a translation of an entry in the church record in 1937:
“The Fjalla congregation was organized in 1886 with 70 members and was accepted by the Icelandic Synod in June of 1887 and is thence 50 years old this year.

The largest number of members at any one time was 110 and the lowest 60.

Several members have held offices during this time:  presidents, Gunnlaugur Jonson, Haraldur Pjeturson, S. J. Benson, J. J. Thordson, S. S. Grimson, Olafur Einarson, and Helgi Finnson; Vice-presidents were not enumerated. Treasurers:  Sigfinnur Finnson, Olafur Finnson, O. O. Einarson, and Arman Bjarnason. Secretaries: B. F. Holm, Haraldur Pjeturson, J. S. Johnson, E. J. Snydal, S. J. Benson, and Herman Bjarnason (1901-1952).

The congregation has been served by only three pastors:  Sera F. J. Bergman, Sera K. K. Olafson, and Sera H. Sigmar. Other pastors who have given ministerial service on occasion are Sera Hans Thorgrimson, Sera N. S. Thorlakson, Sera Jon Bjarnason, Sera J. A. Sigurdson, Sera Runolfur Martenson, Sera O. V. Gislason, Sera Sigurdur Kristoferson, Sera Johann Bjarnason, Sera V. J. Eylands, Sera Octavius Thorlakson, and Sera Carl J. Olson.

About 300 church services have been conducted, twenty-three marriages performed. (ONLY one marriage in the church, which was Glenn and Inga Laxdal.) Eighty-seven children baptized, sixty-two young people confirmed and seventy-eight funerals conducted.

Sunday school was organized in the late 1880s and the Ladies Aid has been active in support of all church activities.

The present count of members in 51 confirmed and 21 unconfirmed members. The value of the church property is $1000.00 (this is in 1937.)

In conclusion the congregation asks God’s blessing on their activities during the next fifty years as he has blessed them in the past.” - H. Bjarnason, Secretary.

The Fjalla congregation, however, only continued its activities for another 30 years and became inactive in 1967. During these 30 years, the pastors who served were Sera Egill Fafnis, Sera Olafur Skulason, Sera Hjalti Gudmundson, and Rev. Claude Snider.

In the summer of 1967, a farewell service was conducted in the Fjalla Church. The several pastors in attendance and representatives from neighboring congregations paid tribute to the church for the eighty years of service it had given to the community.

Since that time, one service has been conducted each summer under the direction of the Fjalla Cemetery Association which assumed proprietorship of the church and cemetery when the congregation became inactive. Occasionally funeral services have been conducted in the church and interments continue to be made in the cemetery.

The former members who are still in the area were accepted into the Milton Lutheran Church as a group in 1967.

Only five of the original farm sites are now occupied by descendants of the first owners. They are Thorduyr Finnson’s by the families of Helgi Finnson, a son, and grandsons, Thord and Sigurjon. Haraldur Peterson’s by grandson, Paul Peterson, and Mrs. O. W. Peterson. Snaebjorn Grimson’s by son, Franklin Grimson. Stephan Goodman’s by grandson, Glen Goodman; Herman Bjarnason’s by great-grandson, Otto Sperling. The farm of Helgi Peterson is occupied by Mrs. Jons Goodman, who with her son, Bruce, operate the farm of Steini Goodman.

Some of the original homesteads stand vacant and others have disappeared altogether or are occupied by non-Icelanders.

End of the article written in 1967.

2009 - Now, Only three of the original farm sites are now occupied by descendants of the first owners. Haraldur Peterson's by grandson, Paul Peterson. Stephan Goodman's by great grandson, Bernie Goodman and Herman Bjarnason's by great-grandson, Otto Sperling.   The descendants of Thordur Finnson and the descendants of Thorstein Goodman retain ownership of the property south and west of the church once occupied by Helgi Peterson, Petur Jonsson, and Thorstein Goodman.