Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Polson, Mont.)

Lutheran church activity began in the Polson area in 1912 when Rev. Halfdan Simonsen, who was pastor in Somers, held services in various homes. On March 1, 1913 the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran church was established. Services were held in various buildings and a schoolhouse until 1917 when a church was built. In 1921, the church was remodeled using much of the materials from the abandoned Valley View church, which had been part of the parish for a time. In 1938 Polson again became a two-point parish when a congregation was organized in Ronan. In the 1950s Ronan became a separate parish.

The congregation became self-supporting in 1941. A new parsonage was built during that year. The name was changed to Polson Lutheran Church and in 1960, the congregation adopted the present name of Good Shepherd.

In 1959 the youth center was built and in 1976, a new sanctuary was built. In 1976 a trust was formed from the Tanglin estate, and the Tanglin home then became the parsonage and old one was sold.

From the guide to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Polson, Montana, Records, 1913-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University Archives and Special Collections ELCA Region 1 Archives)