History
On May 20th, 1882 at a meeting in the home of Carl Westerit it was decided to meet again on June 1st for the purpose of organizing a congregation. At that meeting a constitution for the congregation was adopted. Rev. Helsem was unanimously elected pastor for the congregation.
On September 2nd, 1882 it was decided to erect a church building 26 by 36 and 14 feet high. In the spring of 1883 the work was stared and by that fall the first meeting was held. However it was not until September 21st, 1892 that the church was completed and dedicated by Rev. Hoyme of Eau Claire.
In 1904 the Pleasant Valley Congregation joined with Eleva forming a joint parish. The building was repaired and new pews installed. ln September of 1911 Chimney Rock joined Eleva and Pleasant Valley forming a three point parish.
Around 1925 or 1926 a basement was put under the church. In 1938 the kitchen was expanded. Pastor Wichmann had learned the trade of cabinet making in Norway and contributed his time to building the kitchen cabinets.
Chimney Rock withdrew from the three point parish in June 1955. In 1958 Eleva elected to withdraw from the parish and Pleasant Valley formed a two point parish with Drammen.
An education addition was built in 1968 and dedicated in 1971. Olson Park was established around this time.
The upstairs Sunday school rooms were converted to a fellowship hall with kitchenette and a bathroom in 2002.
Pleasant Valley separated from Drammen in August of 2005.
In 2006 an addition was added on to the church to make the entrance handicap accessible.
In 2013 a lift to service all three levels of the church was installed.
Former Pastors
1881 – 1904 Reverend C.J. Helsem
1904 – 1911 Reverend J.A. Erickson
1911 – 1922 Reverend O.A. Langehough
1922 – 1924 Reverend Westberg (Interim pastor)
1924 – 1946 Reverend H.A. Wickman
1946 – 1947 Reverend A.R. Sellevold (Interim pastor)
1947 – 1951 Reverend Sven Thompson
1952 – 1956 Reverend J.P. Hulterstrum
1957 – 1958 Reverend Calvin Larson
1958 – 1962 Reverend Kjell Jordheim
1962 – 1965 Reverend Fred Masted
1965 – 1968 Reverend Alton Hillesland
1968 – 1975 Reverend Ronald Ryckman
1975 – 1980 Reverend Richard Bremer
1980 – 1983 Reverend Clifford Biel
1983 – 1984 Reverend Paul Kilde (Interim pastor)
1984 – 1988 Reverend George Schuessler
1988 – 1991 Reverend Steven McGinley
1991 – 1993 Reverend David Ernat
1993 – 1997 Reverend Carl Rosenberg
1997 – 2013 Reverend William Wendt
2013 – 2015 Intern Jason Clifton
2015 – 2024 Reverend JonPaul Dragseth
2024-
On September 2nd, 1882 it was decided to erect a church building 26 by 36 and 14 feet high. In the spring of 1883 the work was stared and by that fall the first meeting was held. However it was not until September 21st, 1892 that the church was completed and dedicated by Rev. Hoyme of Eau Claire.
In 1904 the Pleasant Valley Congregation joined with Eleva forming a joint parish. The building was repaired and new pews installed. ln September of 1911 Chimney Rock joined Eleva and Pleasant Valley forming a three point parish.
Around 1925 or 1926 a basement was put under the church. In 1938 the kitchen was expanded. Pastor Wichmann had learned the trade of cabinet making in Norway and contributed his time to building the kitchen cabinets.
Chimney Rock withdrew from the three point parish in June 1955. In 1958 Eleva elected to withdraw from the parish and Pleasant Valley formed a two point parish with Drammen.
An education addition was built in 1968 and dedicated in 1971. Olson Park was established around this time.
The upstairs Sunday school rooms were converted to a fellowship hall with kitchenette and a bathroom in 2002.
Pleasant Valley separated from Drammen in August of 2005.
In 2006 an addition was added on to the church to make the entrance handicap accessible.
In 2013 a lift to service all three levels of the church was installed.
Former Pastors
1881 – 1904 Reverend C.J. Helsem
1904 – 1911 Reverend J.A. Erickson
1911 – 1922 Reverend O.A. Langehough
1922 – 1924 Reverend Westberg (Interim pastor)
1924 – 1946 Reverend H.A. Wickman
1946 – 1947 Reverend A.R. Sellevold (Interim pastor)
1947 – 1951 Reverend Sven Thompson
1952 – 1956 Reverend J.P. Hulterstrum
1957 – 1958 Reverend Calvin Larson
1958 – 1962 Reverend Kjell Jordheim
1962 – 1965 Reverend Fred Masted
1965 – 1968 Reverend Alton Hillesland
1968 – 1975 Reverend Ronald Ryckman
1975 – 1980 Reverend Richard Bremer
1980 – 1983 Reverend Clifford Biel
1983 – 1984 Reverend Paul Kilde (Interim pastor)
1984 – 1988 Reverend George Schuessler
1988 – 1991 Reverend Steven McGinley
1991 – 1993 Reverend David Ernat
1993 – 1997 Reverend Carl Rosenberg
1997 – 2013 Reverend William Wendt
2013 – 2015 Intern Jason Clifton
2015 – 2024 Reverend JonPaul Dragseth
2024-
