Your support is needed to preserve this prairie treasure. Thank you for your prior support, which has been used to shingle and repair the roof.

These donations will be used to pay for the new gutters, painting of the siding, exterior doors, basement windows, basement restoration, cleaning and more.

The church has been used recently for weddings and other community events.

2025 marks 151 years since the church began, and 126 years since it was built.

The Willow Lake Preservation Society is a 501(c)3. All donations are tax-deductible and will go towards the preservation of the church and the history of the area. Thank you to Plum Creek Aerial for the photo.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/friendsofwillowlakechurch or at willowlakechurchandcemetery.com. Thank you in advance.

Interesting Facts:

Willow Lake Church was organized in 1874 as Lake Shetek Congregation. The building was built in 1899 for $2,000 on land donated by Paul Mickelson.
Pews were planks of wood over nail kegs. Children would kick their feet against the nail kegs during the service.
Services were held in Norwegian.
On the funeral day of a deceased loved one, it was customary to toll the church bell once for each year that the deceased person had lived.
The women sat on one side of the church, and the men sat on the other.
An addition on the back of the church was added in 1926; the Ladies Aid paid for building materials.
Candles were lit on the Christmas tree, and the members arrived with their horses and sleighs.
The Ladies Aid purchased pews, a baptismal font, and an altar for $246 in 1902. The bell rang for the first time in 1911 and was purchased for $202.25. They also bought the altar painting for $51.
In 1947, the members installed electricity. The gas lamps on the walls of the church were removed.
It was decided in 1956 to hold church every Sunday in fair weather, and in the winter, it was held every Sunday, weather permitting. Until then, it had been twice a month, weather permitting.
The last service was held on October 22, 2006. The fuel barrel that heated the church ran out of fuel just as the service was ending.

Fundraising Goals:

Basement Window Repair: $500

Dirt (so it slopes away from running into the basement): $1,500

Gutters: $4,000

Exterior Doors: $5,000

Painting siding: $11,000

Steeple Shingle: $20,000

Basement Improvements: $5,000

Cleaning: $5,000

Front Steps with ramp: $15,000

Preserving Willow Lake

The Friends of Willow Lake are interested in preserving and restoring this historical treasure for weddings and community events. Join us in this effort. 2025 marks 151 years since it began, and 126 years since it was built. Thank you in advance.