First Lutheran Church (South Bend, Wash.)

This congregation is part of the Willapa Lutheran Parish and shares a pastor with Our Savior’s in Raymond. A merger of the congregation has been discussed in recent years, but no action has been taken. First Lutheran was formally organized on January 12, 1907. The church was erected under the leadership of Rev. E. B. Slettedahl. The first full-time pastor was N. M. Leque who came in 1919. In 1920 the church was moved from its original site at Kendrick Street to its present location. In 1951 the Augustana Church was purchased and moved to the present site, and the buildings were joined together to add kitchen and Sunday School space.