Church tradition dates back to the 1930s

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

People again came from near and far, on Friday, Oct. 25, to mark the 90th year of the Richland Lutheran Church lutefisk feed near the town of Walcott, north of Wahpeton. The day-long feast, which also included meatballs, ran from lunch to evening supper.

Church members have been proud to serve lutefisk at their church since the 1930s. The exceptions were two years during World War II and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Richland Lutheran Church, in recent years, has annually ordered 950 pounds of fish for close to 1,000 lutefisk lovers, 4,000 pieces of lefse, 600 pounds of hand-peeled potatoes, 400 pounds of ground beef for meatballs, 140 pounds of cabbage for coleslaw, 65 pounds of cranberries, 80 pounds of sugar and lots of butter.

Church men’s club members take pride in people coming to Richland Lutheran Church for the traditional Scandinavian comfort meal of lutefisk, meatballs and all the fixings. The lower level dining room has a capacity for 120 guests, 10 each at 12 individual tables where the food is served family style. Attendees appreciate second helpings.

The menu has not changed much over the years. Guests can still expect what church volunteers describe as “flaky lutefisk, mouthwatering meatballs and creamy hand-peeled mashed potatoes.”

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Barnesville holds its annual lutefisk feed on the Thursday evening one week before Thanksgiving. Many families and some restaurants in Otter Tail County serve lutefisk between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

One thing is for sure. You like lutefisk or you don’t.