All through Bethel's 150 years women have played an important part in all aspects of the church's life. Those before us were very faith-filled, industrious women who saw a need in the church and the world, and set about fixing that need. We are in that same spirit today.

From The History of the Ladies Aid by Louise Torgerson, historian, 1941: "The history of the Bethel Ladies Aid goes back to 1879. Our church was then called the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. At that time there was a Theological Seminary in the city located in the 900 block of Spaight Street. One of the students, Mr. A.C Anderson, induced the ladies, with whom he had become acquainted, to start a Ladies Aid to help the needy students by mending their clothes and giving them a little pin money.

"The first Aid then met in 1879 at Mrs. O.Torgerson's, 814 Jenifer Street, with six ladies present. At the meeting, they decided to meet every other week on Thursdays, with a dues of 10 cent per meeting. Mr. A.C.Anderson, the student from the seminary, conducted all the meetings. The devotions and the singing were in Norwegian. Coffee, sandwiches, and cake were served At these meetings the women decided to do work for the theological students by knitting their stockings and doing their mending. Rev. Herman Preus, our minister at that time, was very much opposed to the Aid. He said "Det ble bare en sladre forening" Translation –"It would only be a gossip society." But the society had a steady growth and took in new members right along.

"In 1882 the Rev. Gunderson became our minister and he then conducted our meetings. It was getting rather crowded to meet in the homes but there was no other place to meet. The church basement consisted of a school room with desks. And a wood shed with a mud floor. In about 1886 our church was enlarged and we then had a room in which we could hold our meetings. We also had a small kitchen with a wood cook stove, some open shelves for dishes, a few dishes, tin spoons, and coffee pots. The Ladies Aid at that time had a very few ways to make money so they adopted the penny bags. Each member received a bag and put her pennies and nickels in them and returned them the first of the year. They also had the 10 cents dues. In 1888, the seminary moved but the Ladies Aid continued to work for the church.

"Among the other Lutheran Churches in the city was the Conference Church which united with Bethel in 1890. This church had had a Ladies Aid since 1874. Now the united societies meet every Thursday with the same 10 cents dues. The society was organized to help pay the minister's salary and the church budget.

"In 1896 the church was named Bethel, and the Aid was growing fast. When the church was built in1902, the members felt they had much to work for. With this church they could serve dinners and suppers. Before that time some meals had been served, but at much inconvenience since chairs and tables had to be borrowed from members who lived near the church.

"In 1906 Rev. Siljan became our pastor and both he and Mrs. Siljan were diligent and faithful in their guidance of the Aid. The Aid continuously helped to pay off the church debt besides buying individual communion cups, financing the redecorating of the church parlors, raising money for the choirs, and paying part of the Junior Choir Director's salary.

"While helping its own congregation, the Ladies Aid lent its support to many other projects and institutions. In 1917 the society became a member of the Women's Mission Federation and used the mission boxes, the Self-Denial and Thank Offering boxes. The Penny-a-Meal containers, and later gave it support by per capita dues.

"Beneficiaries of the Ladies Aid were: Red Cross (during the war), Wittenberg Indian Mission, Orphanage at Wittenberg, Skaalen Old People's Home, Martin Luther Children's Home, Lutheran Deaconess Hospital and Training School, Seamen's Missions, Book Mission, Jewish Mission, Madison Community Union, and the Lutheran Welfare Society. The Alaska Mission is supported by our Cradle Roll. (Each child born to a Bethel family was enrolled in the Cradle Roll and a monetary gift was sent to this mission in Alaska).

"In 1922 the congregation purchased a site for a new church and the Ladies Aid contributed more than $22,000 for that purchase. The Aid earned its money in countless ways. One of its most successful projects was its annual lutefisk dinner. The first one was served in1926. For these the Aid earned a well deserved reputation for culinary excellence.

"The Ladies Aid did much to foster friendship in the congregation by the planning of an annual New Year's Eve party which fast became the major social affair of the congregation. The evening came to include, besides the dinner and program, a sacred concert by the choir followed by Holy Communion services to usher in the new year.

"Rev. Wee challenged the Ladies Aid in 1939 to pledge $20,000 to be paid in two years. Though this seemed a staggering sum the Ladies accepted the challenge and when the two years were up, they had fulfilled their pledge plus $500 extra. On June 4, 1941 we are holding our first meeting in our beautiful new Bethel Lutheran Church."

So ends the report of Mrs. Torgerson. I would like to add some highlights from the archives of the church.

October 1918 - Because of the serious influenza epidemic, all meetings of the Aid were cancelled.

1920's – English, not Norwegian, was used for some worship services. The Sunday School had been taught in English since the 1890's. By the 1930's all the services were in English.

1922-The Ladies Aid petitioned the church council for the right to vote on church matters. In the December 27,1922 council meeting "Mr. Herman Loftsgorden moved (seconded by Mr. H.T. Lerdahl) that an amendment to the constitution allowing suffrage in the congregation be adapted. Mr. Lerdahl, after discussing the subject at some length concluded that there was no valid reason why women members should not be given the privilege of taking part in the administrative affairs of the congregation. Rev. Siljan spoke briefly on the subject expressing the opinion that as women desired such privilege their request should be granted. The motion carried unanimously. It was then moved, seconded and carried that said amendment is not to be construed as implying that the congregation approves of women's eligibility to the ministry. Also moved, seconded, and carried was the instruction that the secretary strike the word "male" in the copies of the constitution.

1925 - The ladies was divided into four circles depending where they lived.

1928 - The Ladies Aid contributed $5 toward the purchase of a cow for an Indian family in Wittenberg. Each member also donated one can of food for the Children's Home at Wittenberg. The first woman was elected to the church council: Mrs. Oscar Olson became the recording secretary.

1920's - Minutes of the church's annual meeting would say, for example, 150 present - 30 women.

1932 - The first Mother Daughter Banquet was held in May.

1935 - Mrs. Wee organized the Ladies Aid Quartet.

1930's - Those members who were unable financially to pay the 10 cents dues could still be members.
December 1941 - The last lutefisk dinner was held. They were discontinued because of the war (hard to get supplies). They served 1846 people (80 were turned away.). Amounts used were: 1800 lbs. of fish, 10 lbs of sugar, 10 lbs. of salt, 300 lbs of cabbage, 225 lbs. of meat for the meatballs, 1600 lbs. of potatoes, 1800 pieces of lefse were made, 69 lbs. of coffee, 191 lbs of butter, 3 gals.of vinegar, 40 qts. milk, 35 qts. cream, 349 lbs. flour, and 18 loaves of bread.

1941 - The Aid pledged $2,000 a year for five years for indebtedness of church.

1942 - A ration card for sugar was obtained. Ladies made cookies for the U.S.O. Center cookie jar. It took 750 dozen cookies to keep the cookie jar filled.

1943 - Hostesses were asked to serve only one thing and coffee for meetings for the duration of the war.

1946-47 - Sunday School Teacher dinners and Church Bazaars were started again. Circles divided into 23 groups. A memorial gift instead of flowers for the family was given to the church when a member of the Aid died.

1947-1952 - $3,000 was given to the church building fund.

1952 - Circles were given names instead of numbers and the Ladies Aid decided to meet only once a month.

1959 - The Bethel Parish Shoppe and Sales, dealing with antiques, collectibles, and clothing on consignment was purchased and operated by Bethel Lutheran Church.

1952-1967 - $25,000 was given to the church, and some of it was used for a new kitchen.

1961 - The name of the organization was changed to Bethel Lutheran Church Women.

1962 - Ann Landers was the featured speaker at a special meeting. 900 women attended.

1967 - Women sewed pajamas and assembled Klenli Kits for children of Viet Nam. Twenty-four circles adopted 22 families from the Lac Courte Oreille Indian Reservation near Hayward and helped provide them with food and clothing for many years.

1968 - BLCW made hundreds of Christmons (special ornaments) for our Christmas trees.

1969 - BLCW gave $1,000 toward the purchase of land for Bethel Horizons

1969 - A major project of the BLCW was the making of blankets for Lutheran World Relief. Two hundred-twenty-two blankets were made that year.

1971 - First women students were admitted to our seminaries.

1974 - The XYZ (Extra Years of Zest) was chartered.

1976 - The March meeting cancelled because of ice storm which paralyzed the area for several days. However, the BLCW Stress Seminar which was held that weekend went on as scheduled and proved to be a successful venture.

1970's - Women became Deacons at Bethel

1978 - BLCW sponsored an ecumenical dialogue between Bishop Wirz, Auxilliary Bishop of the Madison diocese, and Pastor Borgwardt.

1987 - First woman pastor was hired, Pastor Kathleen Panning.

1988 - Harriet Thiele Statz was elected as our first woman council president; Mary Gulbrandson elected president the following year.

1980's - First girl acolytes and women ushers.

1993-96 - Pastor Laura Nelson joined our staff.

1998 - Pastor Lisa Nelson hired.

2002 - Pastor Katie Baardseth and Pastor Gretchen Weller joined our staff.

2002 - BLCW became the Women's Coordinating Council, which incorporates all of the women's groups into one organization.

As of 2005, Bethel has ten women's organizations in the church and 19 circles.

The organizations are Bethel Book Women, Bethel Mom's Club, Bethel Women's Archives, Bethel Women's Art, Blanket Workshop, Church Ladies Ministry, Latino Women, Lydia's House, and Women's Choir. The Circles today are Abigail, Bethel Guild, Beth Keyes, Celebration, Dinah, Dorcas, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Grace, Hope, Inspiration, Joy, Miriam, Peace, Rejoice, Renew, Ruth, Seekers, University Hill Farms, and Westmorland.

We can be proud of our women's heritage. We are the oldest auxiliary organization of Bethel Lutheran Church. As we look to the future let us remember the statement of purpose for Women of ELCA: "As a community of women, created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world."

Alice Hansen & Lynne Krainer April 2005