We believe:
… in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy, and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
… in One God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
… in our Lord Jesus Christ, God, manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His personal return in power and glory.
… in the salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, apart from works, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
… in the Holy Spirit, who indwells the believer and enables them to live a holy life, to witness, and to work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
… in the unity of the Spirit of all true believers, the Church, the Body of Christ.
… in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to eternal life, the lost to eternal judgment.
Our Roots
On September 15, 1949, a group of people from the communities of Deadwood, Greenleaf, Triangle Lake, Blachly, and Horton gathered at the home of Harold (“Hap”) and Blenda O’Flying. They were members of the Deadwood and Blachly churches, meeting to discuss the need for a centrally located church. At the time, the pastor of both churches was Henry Peck, along with his wife Thelma.
During the meeting, brothers Julius and Nils Hult shared that Hult Lumber Company was willing to donate land along the shore of Triangle Lake—formerly the site of the Triangle Lumber Company owned by the Bauman Brothers. This generous donation would help fulfill the dream of the late Carrol G. Hult, with support from his brothers and their father, Julius P. Hult. The first monetary donation for the new church also came that night—a $100 gift from Beulah Goldstrand, earned through babysitting.
That donation and the promise of land set everything into motion. Committees were formed, donations of time and money began flowing in, and the Articles of Incorporation were officially filed on November 9, 1949. The church was formally organized at the home of Mrs. Carroll G. (Winifred) Hult on August 7, 1950. The church was given the name Memorial Community Church.
The land had to be cleared and prepped for construction. Hult Lumber Company offered their equipment, and building plans were drawn by Philip Hult. Frank Sanders oversaw the project, which relied heavily on volunteer labor from the community.
Despite delays from rain and winter weather, construction slowly progressed. After the roof was finally installed, volunteers moved on to plumbing, wiring, and installing a furnace. The women and girls of the church took on the detailed task of hand-finishing every sheet of plywood with a cloth and special oil to preserve its natural look.
The first service in Memorial Community Church was held on August 26, 1951, in a small upstairs chapel. At that time, the main sanctuary still wasn’t ready—it was still being used to store lumber. Once finished, Winifred Hult and her daughters, Karen and Nancy, donated a beautiful organ in memory of her late husband, Carrol G. Hult. Winifred played the organ for many years to follow. Tile was added, and for Christmas, Julius and Freda Hult gifted rich dark red carpeting for the sanctuary. After final painting and finishing touches, the church was officially dedicated on April 27, 1952.
