Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Townsend, Mont.)

This congregation was organized by pastor I. C. Gronneberg of Helena, who was approached by a group of people interested in getting a congregation started. Beginning June 2, 1963, services were held in St. John’s Episcopal Church. On January 24, 1964, ten families met with ALC church leaders about the possibility of forming a congregation. To begin with several interns served the congregation. In 1967 the church was erected and services were held with Terry Anderson as the first full-time pastor.