A group of Norwegian Lutherans living in and around Malta got together for worship services in 1911 and pastors from nearby communities came and conducted services a few times each year. The parish was formally organized on September 8, 1918 in the home of their first pastor, Rev. S. G. Nelson. In 1919 the congregation decided to build a church under the leadership of carpenter Ed Lohmeyer, one of the members. The church was completed that year. The present church was started in 1959 and dedicated on July 2, 1961. On September 25, 1967, Whitewater became a part of the parish, and it was decided to add a full-time parish intern annually so that services could be held in each church every Sunday. Since 1983 there have been two full-time pastors in the parish.
In addition to the Malta church, the parish includes: Dodson Lutheran, Dodson, MT, organized in 1934, located 18 miles west of Malta; Loring Lutheran, Loring, MT, organized in 1911, located 35 miles north of Malta; and Whitewater Lutheran, Whitewater, MT, organized in 1930, located about 30 miles north of Malta.
From the guide to the Malta Lutheran Church, Malta, Montana, Records, 1918-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)
