North Prairie Lutheran Parish was established in 2023. The parish consists of two rural, county churches: Banks Lutheran Church and Garden Lutheran Church, located just north of Watford City, North Dakota off of Highway 1806.
Banks Lutheran Church was established in 1907.
On June 18th, 1911, four acres of land sixteen miles north of Watford City were dedicated for the church site and cemetery. In 1914, the basement of the church was constructed. By the fall of 1927, the main structure of the church building was constructed and completed enough to be used for services. In 1931 the church building was finalized and dedicated. With the similarity of names between the Garden, Garden Valley, and Tobacco Garden at the time, the church changed its name to Banks Lutheran Church in December 1927. The last sermon given in full Norwegian was recorded in 1945. From 1979-1985 the Banks Lutheran Church participated in the intern program through the seminary, along with guidance of the First Lutheran Church of Watford City. This was where an intern came in August, stayed a year and then went back to seminary to finish his/her schooling and then another intern would come to serve them. From 1983-1985, renovations were done to the basement of the church, including bathrooms being added and a well being drilled. In 1990 Banks Church along with Garden and Farland churches joined with First Lutheran Church and Spring Creek Church to form the Watford City Area Parish.
The 100th anniversary of the Banks Lutheran Church was celebrated in July of 2007, with many former pastors and members attending in celebration. In 2013, the church received all new windows and a new white fence and gate around the premise of the Church. As the years have progressed, changes continue to occur to keep the little rural church in worship.
Garden Lutheran Church was established in 1909.
The official name of the church is Garden Norwegian Evangelist Lutheran Congregation of Tobacco Garden. In the beginning of the churches' history, services were held in the homes of the members of the church and also held in Norwegian--just as Banks services had been held. In April of 1909, land was donated for the construction of the church. In 1913, money was raised to begin building a church on the donated land. The first service was held there on August 23, 1914. Parishioners took the seats from their wagons inside to use as pews. There was no pulpit or any other furniture. Through the years the Garden congregation joined various other churches to form parishes. The longest lasting of these was the Banks Parish and the Banks and Farland Churches. In 1990, the Banks Parish joined with First Lutheran and Spring Creek churches to form a new parish.
On June 21, 2009, Garden Lutheran Church celebrated its 100th anniversary. Just as with Banks Lutheran Church, Garden Lutheran Church has gone through various physical/structural improvements. Today, services continue to be held the last two Sundays of each month.
The mission of the parish is to provide a working relationship among its members to better carry out the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Banks: Believe in Christ, Grow in Faith, Belong to a Family.
Garden: United in Christ, serving our community, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Blake Wold
Whitney Wold
Marit Frick
Zach Frick
Cassie Haak
Marna Frick
Calli Thorne
Fallon Leiseth
Ann Johnsrud
Cheryl Faulkner
Clarice Judkins
Kari Korslien
Marit Frick
Jayden Leiseth
