Fairview Cemetery history

In 1903, a family from Arne Township needed to baptize their baby in their home, as there weren't any churches in the area at that time. Rev. J. A. Pederson from the St. Petri and Bethany parishes in Harvey conducted the service.

While in the area, Rev. Pederson noticed that some Christian work was needed in this rural area, so he made arrangements to preach at the Arne Schoolhouse. Rev. Pederson conducted the first worship service on record on September 13, 1902 with a good attendance. Julius Fossen was baptized at this service.

On November 27, 1903, a meeting was held to discuss organizing a congregation, as the nearest church was in Viking. Fron was not established until later and the Klara congregation didn't have a church, only a cemetery plot. At this meeting, temporary officers were elected. Mr. John Vikander moved that the new congregation be named Fairview Lutheran Church, which would run concurrently with St. Petri and Bethany in Harvey. The secretary was allowed 15 cents for expenses, Mr. Ole Bergoust was the organist for the first couple of years.

In the summer of 1905, August Peterson, secretary and one of the founders of Fairview, died very suddenly. This was the first death of the Fairview Congregation; however, since there was no church, nor cemetery, he was buried at the Klara Cemetery.

On November 19, 1907, the Fairview Congregation purchased two acres of land from John Vikander for $50, to be used for a church lot and cemetery plot. The first burial at the Fairview Cemetery was for another founder, Theodore Martin Thompson, on April 5, 1908.

Rev. J. A. Pederson served the congregation from September 13, 1903 until the spring of 1913. In October 1913, Rev. J.P. Leeland came to serve Fairview. He left the parish in November 1921.

In April 1918, plans to build a church for $1,922 were in order. This did not include the basement. The Young People's Society and the young people worked and provided the funds to build the basement. They also bought a piano and gas lights for the church and made a sizeable contribution towards the parsonage in Harvey, as Fairview is still combined with the Harvey churches, St. Petri and Bethany. The basement was added between 1922 and 1936, during the time of Rev. Albert Gilbert. Kermit Fossen was the first child to be baptized in the official church. The first service in the new church was held on on July 28, 1918. Five young people were confirmed in the new church on December 15, 1918.

Rev. Albert Gilseth from Donalda, Saskatchewan, Canada, came in May 1922, and served until the end of 1936. On November 24, 1928, a 25th anniversary service, with the laying of a combined cornerstone was held. At this time, the Ladies Aid provided the church with an altar and other church items.

Rev. G. J. Bretheim was called to serve the parish from the summer of 1938 until early 1945. Rev. Oliver Sidney came after, in 1945, and stayed until the end of 1950. In July 1948, lightning struck the church, but insurance made it possible to reconstruct it by October 31, 1948.

Rev. I. M. Norman came in 1951 and served the church until its closing in 1968.

In 1981, the church was taken down. The steeple was removed and placed on a concrete base. In the summer of 2016, boards were added to the openings of the steeple. In October of that same year, Cindy Schuster, Darla Hagen's daughter, drew and painted pictures on each board. Maintenance and improvements will continue as needed.

Harley and Elmer Guskjolen did a lot of the maintenance of the cemetery grounds and steeple until their deaths, making sure each and every grave received flowers. Elmer's daughter, Darla N. Hagen, her son, Randy, and others who are on the board, including Carla and Jeff Newman, Curtis Larson and Marion Larson, continue to keep it up. Every Memorial Day will continue to show there are flowers on every grave. No one is forgotten. We would like to express appreciation to everyone who donated.