IMMANUEL CEMETERY

LIME LAKE TOWNSHIP

In the beginning, Beaver Creek Lutheran Congregation covered a territory running 18 miles east and west.  Several years later it was divided into East and West Beaver Creek Churches.  West Beaver Creek became Immanuel Lutheran at Avoca with territory between making up Slayton Lutheran.

The distance involved and the lack of transportation caused the two congregations to divide.  By previous agreement, lots were drawn and the East congregation was to build the church and the West was to provide $100 to the project.  The Kristofer Lokker farm, east of Slayton, the NW1/4 of Section 18 of Lime Lake Township, was the sight chosen and the name Immanuel “God with us” Norwegian Lutheran Church. 

In March 1875, all who owned ox teams made their way to Heron Lake to bring back lumber for the building. On the homeward journey, at Lime Creek, Knute Smestad divided his load among the other sleds and went back for yet another load.  He and Brede Toner were overtaken by heavy snow fall and reached home late at night on March 14, 1875, as a severe blizzard struck.

Work on the church building began in the spring of 1875 with Knute Smestad in charge and members of the congregation furnishing the labor. 

A cemetery was established at this location.  There are still a few graves there but most have been moved to other cemeteries.  Among those who still sleep beneath the sod of the first cemetery are two pairs of twins, children of Kristofer Lokker and Frederick Knapper, an old German lady from Dovre named Mrs. Syvert, Garan Nilsson (1878), and Mrs. Anderson, and daughter of Paul Svenskar.  Arnt Smestad recalled that Mrs. Anderson was buried the day after (September 6, 1876) several of the James brothers’ gang rode their horses through this territory following the famous robbery of the Northfield Bank.   

In 1880 the church building was moved by thirteen yoke of oxen to the Ole Oppen farm, a more central location.  Land for the present cemetery was donated by Kristofer Braaten.  John Finstad was the first person laid to rest in the new cemetery. 

In 1886 the church location was changed again.  However, this time the church was dismantled and reassembled in Avoca.  The last service at Immanuel was the funeral service for Hans Nelson on December 18, 1952.