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Shelly, Minnesota Area Cemeteries
Shelly, Minnesota Cemetery
Located about 1 mile west of Shelly, MN in the NW 1/4 of Section 19 of Shelly Township. Shelly Norwegian Lutheran Church was organized on Dec. 5, 1907. Prior to this, Rev. A. Megrund conducted services in the Independence Order of Good Templars Hall on the west side of Shelly. In 1909 the four congregations of Shelly, Zion, Marsh River and Bethany formed one parish. In 1912 the Shelly congregation erected a church building. A parsonage built in 1913 served the four congregations. This parish merged with Marsh River in 1952 and are now called Shelly-Marsh River Lutheran Congregation.
Shelly, Minnesota Cemetery
Shelly, Minnesota Cemetery
Shelly, Minnesota West Marsh River Cemetery
Located SE 1/4 of Section 31 in Shelly Township. Located 3 miles south of Shelly and east 1 mile from Highway 75. The Marsh River Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first to be organized in Norman County. According to the 1918 history, it was first named Bethany Norwegian Lutheran, and was organized Aug. 13, 1872, by Rev. Hagboe at the Engel Lausnes home. Among the early members were: Peter Oien, Hon. Ole P. Oien, Magnus B. Ojen, Hans Ojen, A. Nelson, Bertinius Ronglie, Sephanius B. Ronglie, and Ole Bjorem. Land for the church and cemetery was purchased from the railroad in 1875. The church was lost by fire in 1952 and the congregation decided to merge with Shelly and become Shelly-Marsh River.
Zion Cemetery
Zion Church and Cemetery are located 1 mile east of Shelly in the SW 1/4 of Section 16. The land for the church and cemetery were donated by Peder Efteland. Early services were held by Rev. Andrew Megrund. Services were held in homes and sometimes new barns. The congregation was organized November 1880. The cemetery was dedicated in 1882 and the church was built in 1883.
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St. Petri Cemetery, Nielsville
The St. Petri Cemetery is located in Shelly Township in the NW 1/4 of Section 5. This would be 3 miles north of Shelly on Highway 75. The St. Petri Lutheran Church was first called Tresjold Nenighed of Marsh River. Their earliest members were Hans Gordon Family, Tronnes family, Johnson family, and Jorgenson family. Earliest records begin about 1883. The church originally stood at the cemetery site and was later moved to Nielsville, MN in Polk County. A History of Early Churches found at Concordia College says St. Petri was started in 1874 and in 1914 had 380 members.
Private, Unmarked Burial Sites
(1) In the NE 1/4 of Section 24 fraction township, west of Shelly. No names or dates are available, just information that there were burials here. In 1896 this land was owned by John Shelly. (2) SE 1/4 of Section 19 about 1 mile south of Shelly. There were two or three burials made on the J. T. Redland farm.