FISH LAKE LUTHERAN CEMETERY is located in Section 26 in Fish Lake township on the church property in Stark, MN. Like many early burials of the pioneer days, records are vague or lost altogether. Legends persist where it is said a number of unmarked graves populate the edge of the grounds, a folklore not unique to this particular cemetery. These may be burials of non-church members, transients, infants, or paupers.

Early cemetery records were destroyed in a church fire. The modern records began in 1908. Deaths and burials prior to that year have been reconstructed from cemetery transcriptions and photographs, death records, and obituaries which indicate Fish Lake Lutheran as the burial location.

Minnesota became a US Territory in 1849 and the 32nd state in 1858. Chisago County had been formed in 1851 although Fish Lake Township did not exist yet. The Fish Lake Lutheran Church was organized on February 19, 1867. Friendly Ojibwa still roamed the area.

In 1870, Lena Magnuson was the first buried in the cemetery that was officially dedicated in 1876. The following are some key dates in the history of the Fish Lake Lutheran Church:

1861 - The first white settlers arrive on the north shore of Fish Lake.
1864 - Jonas Magney gives the first sermon in the Fish Lake area.
1867 - Rev. Henengran organizes the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fish Lake with services being held in parishioners homes.
1868 - Church services begin to be held in the school house at Fish Lake.
1870 - The congregation is given 40 acres of land by the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railway Co. in which to build their church.
1873 - Construction of the church begins.
1875 - The church is completed.
1886 - The church is struck by lightning and burned to the ground, consuming all of the early church [& cemetery] records The current church building is constructed on the same site.
1889 - The newly formed Ladies Aid pay for painting the church interior.
1902 - A church resolution is passed that all those who wished to tie their horses below the church furnish their own posts, at least 6 inches square and 6 feet long.
1906 - The Young People's Society donate the money to purchase a new church organ.
1914 - The Young People's Society raise money for the installation of gas lights.
1922 - The envelope system of pledges was adopted and dues were set at 15 cents a week for men, and 10 cents a week for women.
1944 - Services in Swedish were limited to one each month.
1946 - Swedish was dropped from the official name of the church.
1965 - The congregation dedicated the new church basement.
1998 - The inside of the church was completely renovated to match the 19th Century building.
2001 - The church exterior was renovated and repainted.


43353 Cedarcrest Trail
Harris, MN 55032
Phone: (651) 674-4252

Cemetery established: 1873
Cemetery status: Active
Cemetery type: Church
Location: Fish Lake
Township: T36N
Range: R22W
Section: 26

NOTE: Inquiries about the Fish Lake Lutheran Church Cemetery should be directed to sexton, Terry Olson (651-674-4576) or the church office (651-674-4252)

Cemetery bio: [email protected]