In the early 1940’s, the Catholic members of the farming community, in and around the Menoken area, approached the Reverend Robert A. Feehan, pastor of Bismarck’s St. Mary’s Church, inquiring about the possibility of building a church east of Bismarck. The Benedictine Sisters taught Catechism classes at the Menoken School; occasionally Mass and confession were held.
In October 1946 Bishop Vinent J. Ryan appointed the Reverend Elwood E. Cassedy, an assistant of St. Mary’s parish and St. Alexius hospital chaplain, to provide ministry to the Catholic families in the communities of Menoken, McKenzie, Sterling, Driscoll, Wing, Arena and Regan. In December of that same year, a Christmas Mass was held at the Menoken Hall. A census also revealed that there would be enough parishioners to warrant a church in the area.
In 1946 Mr. Ed Rogstad, a resident of Wisconsin, was the superintendent of the construction of the north wing of St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck. Widowed and alone here, he would often accompany Father Cassedy on his trip to the missions. Father Cassedy’s desire to build a church for the mission attendees continued to grow. Mr. Rogstad had a dream to help build a church in memory of his deceased wife, Hildegard. Father Cassedy asked Mr. Rogstad to draw up the proposed plans and challenged the people in the area that if they raised $1000, he would match it so they could start with the building.
The location of the church became somewhat controversial. Local members, John Richter and Lawrence Doppler each made a pledge of $500, on the condition that if there was to be a church that it be built in the Menoken area. Father Cassedy began exploring the possibilities for the site of the proposed new church. Mr. Clem Casey agreed to give the church a corner lot where the church now stands.
The parish women began serving church suppers at the Menoken hall to raise additional money. This was not an easy task as everything including water, wood, lights, utensils, and donated food had to come from individual homes. Theresa and John Richter brought their first tub of homemade country sausage to the second church supper of 1947 and the family recipe has become a traditional menu item for the annual St. Hildegard fall dinner held every year the first Sunday after Labor Day.
On October 7, 1947 on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, the land was staked out and Bill Jahner broke ground with his tractor, in the presence of Fr. Cassedy, Ed Rogstad, Alfred Born and John Richter. Ed Rogstad volunteered coordination and supervision of the construction, with the help of his son Harold. Local companies contributed free construction materials and services, including Dlzer construction, Wachter Sand and Gravel, Dray Line, Klein Lumber and Hutter Construction. Area residents donated labor and services, including the wiring of the church by Jake Schmidt. The first altar and communion railing were built by Ed Rogstad; church pews were obtained from the church of St. Joseph, in rural Linton, by Adam Braun and John Richter.
The church bell was donated by George Wachal of Menoken. It came from School #2 five miles north of Menoken. The furnace was donated and installed by a company in Bismarck, who summed up the attitude of the entire undertaking by declining payment because, “This is all for the glory of God.”
In June of 1948 the cement pouring for the main floor began. Fr. Cassedy announced that the official name for the new church would be “Saint Hildegard,” after the patron saint who was a fearless visionary of her time. The church officially opened with the celebration of the first Midnight Mass and on October 26, 1949 the church of St. Hildegard was dedicated by the Most Reverend Vincent J. Ryan.
Other important dates in the history of St. Hildegard: