This is a copy of the Vikur Cemetery Burials storyboard panel that you can find in Mountain, North Dakota.
Photos and a Brief Introduction of Vikur Through the Years
The Vikur Lutheran Church and cemetery are testaments to the rich Icelandic heritage in northeast North Dakota. The church stands as the oldest surviving Icelandic church on the continent. Erected in 1884, this historic edifice has been meticulously preserved by the Mountain community, earning its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Its architectural beauty and cultural significance have made it a cherished landmark.
The origins of this sacred space can be traced back to the spring of 1878, when the first wave of Icelandic settlers left Canada for the Dakota Territory. Among them was Séra Páll Þorláksson, an ordained minister who longed to establish a spiritual home for his fellow countrymen. That same year, he delivered the first Icelandic sermon in the region, laying the foundation for the Vikur Lutheran Church. Over the following years, the community rallied around the construction of a permanent house of worship, culminating in the completion of the church in 1884.
The two paintings above are by Johanna Sigurros "Rose" Benedictson. The second one shows the church and the small house owned by Silvia Johnson (Sólveig Kristjánsdóttir 1882-1967). Silvia is an important person in our story - especially for the Vikur church as she gave the land so a basement could be built under the church when it moved to the north. She was a teacher, a community leader, and the the first woman and first Icelander Superintendent of Pembina County Schools.
Today, the Vikur Lutheran Church serves as a testament to the enduring faith and cultural legacy of the Icelandic immigrants who shaped the Mountain Community. The preservation of this historic church and the historical significance helps the people of today and those in our future to understand the Icelandic heritage.