Trinity Lutheran Church, Adams 
During the war years of 1944 through 1948, Reverend John 
Kohl served as pastor of the small congregation. The next 
minister to serve St. Luke's Lutheran Church was Reverend 
Robert Ehlers. He came in 1948 and stayed until 1951. He left 
after he was in a serious car accident at the railroad crossing. He 
wrote a column for the county paper titled "Dear Joe" while he

served as pastor. In his column he talked about various spiritual 
and Christian topics. 
In July of 1951 Reverend A.M. Bachanz came to serve the 
church's needs. He decided to close St. Luke's Lutheran Church. 
The" members continued in their faith by transferring their 
memberships to Westfield, Adams, and Quincy. 
Trinity Lutheran Church, Adams 
Trinity Lutheran Church, Adams, is a member of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The congregation 
was founded in 1921 with the formation of the Ladies Aid. The 
church building was built in 1887 and stood originally in 
Arkdale. The building was obtained from the congregation in 
Arkdale and moved in pieces by wagon in 1921. The 
congregation is in partnership with Zion Lutheran Church of Big 
Flats, sharing a pastor and several ministry programs. 
In the summer of 1921, the Arkdale church building was 
torn down and moved, wagon load by wagon load, to its new 
location. On September 11, 1921, a cornerstone was laid. By 
1922, the church was ready for occupancy, but it was not until 
1924 that it was dedicated. Meetings and services those first 
three years were held in the Adams Congregational Church or in 
the homes of members. At last, on June 1, 1924, the rite of 
dedication was celebrated, with Bishop J. Nordby preaching. 
 
The pastor of Trinity at the time of dedication was the 
Reverend Ingvald Hustvedt, who had become pastor in 1923 
when Trinity's first pastor, Reverend A.J. Rafsthol, was 
compelled by ill health to retire. Since 1925, when Pastor 
Hustvedt moved to another parish, Trinity has been served by 
the following pastors: Reverend Torbjorn Saetveit (1925- 
1930); Reverend Henry Solberg (a seminary student who served 
briefly, and was never formally installed as pastor); Reverend N. 
A. Stubkjaer (1931-1936); Reverend L.W. Halvorson (1936- 
1939); Reverend Norman A. Nelson (1939-1942); Reverend 
Robert L. Otterstad (1943-1944); Reverend Richard 0. Johnson 
(1944-1951); Reverend A.M. Rusten (September 1952-June of 
1956); Reverend Peder Lerseth (April 1957-May of 1961); 
Reverend Dale Rasmussen (June 1961-1965); Reverend 
Carmen 0. Thronson (August 1965-June 1969); Reverend Les 
Paulson (July 1969-1986); seminary student Ms. Kristen 
Soltvedt (serving in the Summer of 1986); Reverend Miriam 
Hull (1987-April 1990); Reverend Mark Manning (1990-1993). 
The Summer of 1993 was covered by visiting pastors and 
member Ms. Janez Kutzke, who entered Seminary that year. In 
July of 1993, the current pastor, Reverend Kris Ann Zierke 
arrived. 
Prior to 1952, pastors of Trinity in Adams also served the 
Arkdale parish. From  1952-1990, Trinity  was a solo 
congregation. In 1990, Trinity entered into partnership with 
Zion Lutheran Church of Big Flats. In 1952, the parsonage at 
172 South Walker was purchased. Pastors of the congregation 
lived there until 1993, when the current parsonage at 116 South 
Grant was occupied. 
There have been many recent renovations to the church 
building. In 1991 the refurbishing of the altar to its natural wood, 
building of the handicap ramp and painting and recarpeting of 
the sanctuary. It was during this project that the Norwegian 
phrase on the altars was rediscovered. Years earlier, it had been 
painted over with white paint. It was decided to restore it as 
nearly as possible to the original. The altar now reads Jeg er 
Opstandelse og Libet which means, "I am the Resurrection and 
the Life", reminding worshipers of the promise of eternal life. In 
1993, a new sound system was installed and in 1994, new front 
doors and outdoor carpet, as well as landscaping was done. In 
honor of the seventy-fifth anniversary, the stained glass 
windows, which are original to the building, have been 
renovated, as well as the steeple. 
The formation of Lutheran Ladies Aid in February of 1921 
marked the beginnings of the congregation. The Women of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is still an active and 
vital ministry of the congregation. 
There are no longer any charter members of the 
congregation with us, but Mr. Charles Fallos was baptized in 
Trinity's church building when it stood in Arkdale. Years later, 
when he and his family moved to town, they joined Trinity 
congregation. 
Members of Trinity's Council at the time of the seventy- 
fifth anniversary include Greg Kobs, president; Mike Baer, vice 
president; Roberta Ebert, treasurer; Harriet Dehlinger, 
secretary; Robert Garnett; Myrna Garnett; Dennis Jacobs; Sue 
 
Polivka; Helen Johnson. Ruth Ann Fritz is president of the 
Women of the ELCA. 
 
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