By 
Ahead of South Shore’s 125th Anniversary, the Current is pleased to publish a special section on the community’s history.
The first church services in Leola Township and the South Shore area were held in private homes. Traveling missionaries conducted services and helped organize congregations.
The Congregational Church, later known as the United Church of Christ, was incorporated on April 23, 1892. The congregation was organized by Rev. C.M. Daley, who was a member of the Congregational Missionary Board. It was the first church built in South Shore, and members of other denominations also worshipped at this church.
The Congregational Church, later known as the United Church of Christ.
The Congregational pastor also served at Troy and Mazeppa. A new parsonage was built in 1901.
Centennial Jubilee celebrations held on August 30, 1992, marked the closure of the Congregational Church.
Holy Name Catholic Church was formed in 1898. A church building was constructed in 1913-14. The church never had a resident pastor. At various points, it was a mission of Watertown, Milbank, Revillo, and before becoming a mission of Waverly beginning in 1924. The church closed in 1942, with the congregation being absorbed into Saint Joseph’s Church in Waverly.
In 1947, the former Holy Name building was purchased and renovated for use as a chapel by members of the Evangelical Free Church in Stockholm. Rev. Oscar Leander was the pastor at both locations. The last pastor, Rev. August Bertsch, also served at the Baptist Church in Marvin.
South Shore resident Hilda Stenstadvold served as a missionary nurse in Africa for over 30 years.
The first service in the newly refurbished South Shore chapel was on Tuesday, October 28, 1947. Congregant Hilda A. Stenstadvold was commissioned for foreign mission work in Africa. Stenstadvold would go on to serve a total of 36 years as a missionary in Zaire, also known as the Congo, where she specialized in nursing and dental work. Trainings and education also took her across Europe and Central America. On furloughs home, she would often visit area churches to discuss her work and collection donations.
Immanuel Lutheran Church was founded by 10 families in South Shore, and the church building was dedicated on October 29, 1905. Rev. Paul Hinderer was the first pastor. Services were held in German until 1937.
The Evangelical Free Church was built as Holy Name Catholic Church.
Immanuel shared a pastor with St. Luke’s in nearby Germantown Township. St. Luke’s was dedicated in 1888. The two congregations built a new parsonage in South Shore in 1963.
The two congregations merged into Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on January 17, 1967. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building, on the same site as the former Immanuel Lutheran Church on the east side of town, were held on March 17, 1968. The church was dedicated on October 27, 1968, with 700 people attending a morning service and 600 people attending the afternoon service.
Currently, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has 110 members with the Rev. Ken Nelson as pastor. The Rev. Randy Ott is a retired pastor and congregation member. He also assists in worship services and writes a blog.
