The following articles are used with permission by Linda Kuntz Sailer.  Linda is the daughter of the late Tom and Tina Kuntz.

Sts. Peter and Paul church celebrates centennial
By: Linda Kuntz Sailer

The Sts. Peter and Paul mission of Grant County has stood as a beacon of faith on the North Dakota prairies for 100 years. Constructed by immigrant families, the church has served as a place of worship for generations of Catholics.

The church which closed about 1985, continues to hold fond memories for those who worshipped there.  Descendants gather today, July 3, 2004 [Saturday] to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the church with a Mass and potluck dinner.  The meal followed at Hebron’s St. Ann’s Catholic Church.    

The members celebrated jubilees commemorating the church’s 50^th, 75^th and 90^th anniversaries.  With excerpts compiled for those celebrations, the following history is suggested:  Sts. Peter and Paul Mission is located 17 miles south of Hebron.  The legal description is NW1/4 Sec. 4-137-90 Grant County.

The first two settlers came from Romania on the Black Sea to the Sts. Peter and Paul community in 1890.  In 1898, a small sod church with a sod roof was built. The church was visited once a month by the Rev. Ambrose Lethert and the Rev Adolph Dingman, O.S.B., who lived at Glen Ullin.  This church was destroyed by fire.  After the church burned, Mass was held in an abandoned sod house.  In Dingman’s memories of 1935, he wrote, “We had Mass in an abandoned sod house.  Sometimes before Mass, we had to clean the house because cattle had used the building for shelter and sometimes part of the roof had fallen in.  So, we decided to build a church.”

Dingman said the farmers hauled sandstone from a nearby quarry.  While the church was under construction, he drove out every day for three weeks to say Mass.  He would stay until all the people left for the day.  “They quarreled so much among themselves that they would not do anything unless I was there,” he noted.

Dingman said the mortar was made with water from the Heart River; chopped hay and straw.  The mortar was mixed by a team of horses who walked around a patch of gumbo until they were knee deep in mud.  Dingman said the building was 40 feet by 60 feet.  It had three-foot walls with a frame roof, windows and two doors.

“I and the men built the alter and pews and confessional.  When we had it completed, we had $125 in debt.  The walls were plastered inside with gumbo and stuccoed outside with dirt.  With two barrels of lime the inside and outside was whitewashed,” he said.

Dingman blessed the church and members celebrated with a picnic.  $6 was left over after expenses.  “The people wanted me to have it for the work I had done.  Three week of work and every day driving 17 miles, fasting, and late to bed,” he noted.(Note:  Discrepancies emerged in the historical research.  One document reported the church cost $1,000 and was constructed under the supervision of Rev. Stephen Landolt.  The oral history of Dingman is suggested to be the more accurate.)

In other documents, it was recorded the membership stood at 25.  When the small church was destroyed by fire, the present church as erected in 1904.  The church property consists of 10 acres donated by Philip Judt.

Since the spring of 1904 the mission was visited one Sunday a month (when roads were passable) by the Benedictine fathers of the Assumption Abby.  They administered to the spiritual needs of the people until 1924 when Hebron’s St. Ann’s parish got its first residential pastor.

In the early days of the mission, the priest would come to Hebron by train from Richardton on Saturday.  One of the families would drive him out by team.  For some time, the Rev. Vincent Amann, O.S.B., took care of Sts. Peter and Paul from St. Placidus [Stark County 1903-1971].  For a while, it was under the supervision of St. Joseph’s parish, rural Glen Ullin.
German-Russian families began arriving in the area.  The early families included Philip Judt, Christian Kuntz, Mathias Jantzer, Peter Renner, Philip Dinius, Adam Schlosser, Marcellus Gartner and Joseph Braun.

The Tom Tkach family came to the area in the fall of 1904.  He was followed by the families of Steve Tambra, George Yusko, John Kolibaba and John Tibor, who were Slavic in origin and came from the coal mine area in Pennsylvania.

The first baptism was conferred on Philip Lanz, son of Henry Lanz and Anastasia Schafer on Aug[ust] 25, 1904. The baptism was officiated by Rev. Stephan Landolt.  The last baptism was of Donna Berger, daughter of Dave and Diane Berger.

The First Communion class was held in 1906. The class members included[:] George Gartner, Ingnatius Jantzer, Leo Kuntz, Adam Schlosser, Cecilia Braun, Elizabeth Braun, Elizabeth Jantzer, Florentine Judt, Anna Tkach and Frances Schlosser. 

The first confirmation class was confirmed by the Most Rev. Vincent Wehrle, O.S.B., in 1911.  The class included[:] Cari Braun, Michael Bran, Philip Braun, John Tibor, Michael Tibor, Wendlin Dinius, Marcells Gartner, Frank Gartner, George Gartner, Frank Jantzer, John Jantzer, Math Jantzer, Aloys Renner, John Tkach, Monica Renner, Anna Tkach, Eva Barth, Barbara Barth, Elizabeth Judt and Mary Kolibaba.

The first marriage was that of John Fleck and Anna Marie Gratz on Feb[ruary] 5, 1906 by the Rev. Boniface Simmon, O.S.B. The last marriage (a double marriage) united Joe and Florence Berger and Andrew and Josephine Kuntz on June 12, 1950.

The first death was of Adam Schlosser who died Nov[ember] 6, 1905, with Rev. Simon officiating.
Five women and two men entered the religious life as sisters and brothers.
Throughout the years, the church was periodically white-washed outside and painted inside.  An organ provided music for the services.

Life-sized states of Jesus and Sts. Peter and Paul graced the altar. Statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph stood at the side.  The statues are now stored at St. Ann’s Church.
The church meant more than a place of worship to the families it served.  It represented the center of a community. Prior to the days of the telephone, the church served as a gathering place for families to meet on the monthly basis.

A highlight of the year was the annual mission picnic.  The picnic fell on the Sts. Peter and Paul fest day of June 29.  Families packed baskets and headed to picnic grounds of the banks of the Heart River.  While the children waded in the river and climbed the cliffs, the women prepared lunch and the men and older boys played baseball.

The church continued to prosper through the 1950s into the 1980s.  The community included the families of Victor and Paul Tibor, Joe, Jake and Pete Berger, Thomas Kuntz, Steve Tibor, Peter Tkach, Toby Magstadt, Lawrence Renner, Mike Kuntz, Jake Messer and Matt Kuntz.
The community still includes the families of Denis Tibor, Joe, Pete and Jake Berger and Jerry Kuntz [and David Berger].

The families celebrated births and shared sorrows together.  The nearby cemetery is testimony to their shared community.

Life-long members of Sts. Peter and Paul Church have a collection of memories that reflect typical Sundays in the parish.

Ann Tibor recalls Mass was held once a month or twice if the month had five Sundays.
“We heated water and took hot and cold water up there to scrub and clean the church.  We also kept the alter linens clean,” she said.

Ann said they always had a lot of company on Sunday.  Mother Tibor would invite the priest down for a meal.  He also went to other families for meals. She said, “I usually prepared a big meal by getting up early to get the meat and potatoes ready so when we got home from church, it wouldn’t take so long to eat.”

Ann recalls in the winter time, Mike Kuntz (a nearby farmer) would build a fire to warm the church before Mass started.

She especially remembers the picnics held at the Tibor place on Sts. Peter and Paul feast day. “We had a potluck lunch and I would make coffee. We even had Kool Aid for an afternoon snack.  We had ice cream brought out in a big container from town.  We played games, horseshoe, baseball, etc. We had a great time.”

She looks fondly bac at the days spent in the Sts Peter and Paul community.  Both of her husbands are buried there.  She gave credit to her son Denis and wife, Sarah, and anyone else willing to help, with the upkeep of the cemetery. 

Mary (Tkach) Bingert has memories dating back over 70 years.  She arrived in the community as a bride in 1931 when she married Pete Tkach. The reared six children.  The eldest, Susan was baptized in the church.  “It was a very big parish.  We had a full house upstairs and downstairs,” she said. “We had quite a few families with lots of children.”

She appreciated attending Mass so close to their farm because they couldn’t always afford to drive into Hebron for services.  She fondly remembers long-time priest, Fr. Lawrence Hereth.  “He was just like family.  I still miss him,” she said.

Tom Kuntz’s memories date back to the days when he was an altar boy.  When he grew older, he moved upstairs to join the choir.  A favorite song was “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.” “Margaret Tibor used to play the organ as long as I can remember,” he said.  He mentioned the church frequently was home to a visiting skunk.  “Boy sometimes, it was pretty putrid,” he said.
Denis Tibor remembers how the boys would sit toward s the front of church.  It didn’t matter if their parent or a neighbor was sitting behind them.  If the boys misbehaved during Mass, they’d have their ears pulled.

Looking to the future, Denis and Sarah share their dream of building a small chapel by the cemetery.  Because the church is in a continuing state of disrepair, the chapel would offer a quiet moment for visitors.  It could include several pews from the existing church. Construction would be financed with memorial contributions.

The little 'stone' church on the prairie: Sts. Peter and Paul church to be taken down
Written By: Linda A. Sailer | Feb 12th 2018

HEBRON --Songs of praise and prayer have filled Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for generations of worshippers. The little mission church, located south of Hebron, was constructed in 1904. Having closed in 1984, the decision was made to pull it down for safety concerns.
A handful of members and friends recently met to remove the altar, pews, railing, cross and windows.
“It was sad, for me it was kind of tough deal,” said Denis Tibor, who grew up a few miles south of the church. “All of your neighbors would get together for Mass. Everybody sang. It held the community together.”
The last Mass was held at the church’s Centennial celebration July 3, 2004.
“We called people together to clean the church and paint the statues,” said Denis’ wife, Sarah. “That’s what community was about back then. All the people came together to hold one more service there.”
She appreciates the history of the church.
“It’s pretty cool history when you have the original altar from the original church sitting there.”
The statues of Sts. Peter and Paul, Jesus, Joseph and Mary are being stored in St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hebron. The ceiling and roof will be burned, and the stone walls will be collapsed. Because the walls are leaning, there’s the issue of liability, and it’s no longer safe to enter the church. Hence, a no-trespassing sign has been posted until the church is gone.
Florence Berger, one of the oldest members of the church, remembers how she and Joe Berger were married in 1950 in a double wedding, along with Andrew and Josephine Kuntz.
“The church was the nucleus for all the families,” said Bob Tibor, who also grew up there. “I remember serving Mass. I remember was there always was the smell of skunk.”
Jerry Kuntz, who lives 1 ½ miles (as the crow flies) from the church said, “Real estate is very emotional; and for me, especially because of one of my great-grandfathers donated the land. I’m 71 years old and have grown up with the stories out there. Every time I will drive by and see the church is gone, it’s a big void -- so it is emotional for me.”
The church wasn’t safe any longer, said St. Ann’s Council President Francis Tibor.
“It came to the point when it became a danger and pretty hard to fix. The bishop said it had to go down -- the walls were falling apart,” he said.
Was it a difficult decision to take down the church?
“Absolutely, but by the same token it was hard burying my parents and brothers -- that’s part of the life cycle. Whether its humans or buildings, there’s always an attachment to certain things,” Francis said.

Sarah Tibor is compiling a book filled with memories and pictures of the church. It will eventually be placed in a Sts. Peter and Paul chapel room at St. Ann’s Church. She welcomes former parishioners to write their down their favorite memories or to submit a photo for print in the book. Letters and photos may be sent to the Tibors at 5250 77 ½ Ave., Hebron, N.D. 58638.
The pews and windows are all spoken for. If interested in making a donation, contact Denis Tibor.
Their eventual goal is to use a few of the stones to build a memorial near the cemetery.
The first two settlers to the community arrived from Romania in 1890. They were followed by German-Russian families and Slovak families.

A small sod church was constructed in 1898. It was served by two priests from Glen Ullin. After the church was destroyed by fire, Mass was held in an abandoned sod house that sheltered cattle.
The decision was made to build a stone church in 1904 just inside Grant County. Ten acres of land were donated by Philip Judt.  Fr. Adolph Dingman drove out everyday for three weeks to say Mass and stayed until all the people left for the day.

He wrote that sandstone was gathered from a quarry. The mortar was gumbo mixed with chopped hay and straw by team of horses until they were knee-deep in mud. The walls were three-feet in width and plastered with gumbo. Two barrels of lime provided the whitewash.

Rev. Stephen Landolt and men of parish built the altar, pews and confessional.
When completed, the church was blessed and members celebrated with a picnic.

Benedictine fathers at Assumption Abbey ministered to the spiritual needs of the people. In 1924, St. Ann’s got its first residential pastor, who took over monthly services. Records document the first baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages and funerals. Five women and two men entered the religious life.

Prior to the days of the telephone, the church was the gathering place for families to meet on a monthly basis. The yearly highlight was the annual mission picnic on the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29. Families packed their baskets and headed to the picnic grounds on the banks of the Heart River. The church closed in 1984, and a final Mass was said for the Centennial in 2004. The nearby cemetery stands as a testimony to the faith of the community and its way of life.