The Beginning 1930s
In July 1934...
The dry dusty wind buffeted the grain truck that was on a 700 mile trip from Plentywood to Rollins on rough Montana dirt roads. It was covered in plywood and there were four square windows cut out on each side. The truck was not carrying grain, but the most precious cargo of all, children, excited high school students going to a summer camp on Flathead Lake in the mountains of Western Montana. These 29 young people joined 80 other adults and campers for a week of adventure, Bible study, fun and worship that Lutheran pastors had planned at the Methodist Church Camp.
In 1934 campers came from the Montana towns of Bigfork, Big Sandy, Bonner, Columbia Falls, Chinook, Creston, Conrad, Cut Bank, Devon, Dillon, Froid, Galata, Garrison, Gildford, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Ledger, Milltown, Missoula, Oilmont, Plentywood, Polson, Shelby, Valier, Whitefish and farms and ranches in between.
From 1934 to 1941 Pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Norwegian Lutheran Church) in Montana rented the Methodist Camp on Flathead Lake for a week each summer to hold a camp for high school youth.
According to a local newspaper article in July of 1937, "over 200 campers attended the Flathead Lutheran camp week from July 25 – August 1 at the Methodist Camp, also known as the ‘Kalispell Epworth League grounds on Point Rollins.' Young people came from Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington. The faculty included Dr. J.C. K. Preus, and Rev. A. B. Swan of Minneapolis, Rev. E. R. Jacobson of Missoula, Miss Leona Seaver of the University of Wisconsin and Rev. Arne Nelson of Dillon. The curriculum included Bible study, Sunday school and Lutheran League methods, Christian ethics and nature study. Classes were held in the morning. Afternoons were for boating, swimming, hiking, games and trips. The evenings were devoted to inspirational addresses, campfires and beach songs."
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1938 Ready for Sunday Worship at campArnold Lindberg, Conrad MT
“In the early 30s a bunch of us from Conrad went to the Lutheran camp at the Methodist church camp in the back of Alf Matheson’s grain truck. I have fond memories of my camp experience. It was meaningful to me. It’s a special ministry that I have supported through the years.”
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1936 Speakers: Dr. Lawrence Field and his son and Dr. Stanig and his sonEmma Bucholz Kulbeck, Big Sandy MT
“In 1936 my sister and I went to the Methodist camp with our Lutheran Church. My father brought a tent and set it up for us. At age 93 I still remember that attending camp was an awe-inspiring experience."
