The history of the congregation goes back to 1911 when Rev. T. O. Kjos of Joplin was sent to start a congregation. Services were held in homes and a school. The congregation was called the Scandinavia Church and had 66 members. The first resident pastor was Rev. Theodore Bursett. It was not until November 5, 1928 that the congregation was organized as the American Lutheran Church of Turner.
The Great Northern Railroad had gone into the townsites of Turner and Hogeland and there were Lutheran churches organized in both of these communities, which became one parish. The Turner church started in the fall of 1927, and its basement was used until 1936 when the completed building was dedicated. Before it was finished, the main floor was used as a basketball court and meeting place. The basement also served as a public school for two years.
In 1969 the Turner-Hogeland parish joined together with American Lutheran of Harlem to form a three-point parish, which continues to this time.
From the guide to the American Lutheran Church, Turner, Montana, Records, 1928-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)
