Satre has helped to lead services at Camp Nidaros

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Retired Pastor Stan Satre, after this year’s general election, displayed signs on his lawn on the west side of Fergus Falls with the words, “Please work for the future.” This was part of Satre’s effort to urge people to come together and tackle problems that need to be addressed.

Satre said there needs to be agreement, on many issues, with conservatives, liberals and independents coming together. He and others point out that most people want to adequately support healthcare, education and various programs of benefit to our society as a whole.

In an interview with the Daily Journal, Fergus Falls, he said close to his 92nd birthday that he’s confident that his message of cooperation will resonate with people. 

“Hopefully, we’ll take to heart what needs to be done,” Satre said, “not only nationally but also on a local level with people working hand-in-hand for the best interest of fellow residents.”

Satre, in recent months, has been featured in area newspapers as the main summer chaplain at Camp Nidaros near Walker Lake, north of Otter Tail Lake. This lake neighborhood has its roots in the purchase of property back in 1909 by the original founders of Camp Nidaros. They were mainly involved with the ministry, built cabins and formed an association.

The camp is located six miles west of Ottertail city on a peninsula between Otter Tail Lake and Walker Lake. Of the 16 cottages, 14 are owned by family members of the original owners.

Satre’s late wife Bev’s great-grandfather, Martin Soelberg, was the builder of the first four cabins more than a century ago. Her parents, with help from Stan and Bev’s brother, built their current cabin back in 1956.

Stan and Bev met during their collegiate years at St. Olaf College in Northfield and were married in 1954. Stan, ordained as a minister at Luther Seminary in St. Paul in 1958, served in the ministry at several locations across the United States. He retired with Bev in Fergus Falls in 2006, serving local churches on an interim basis.

This past summer outdoor worshipers honored four family members of Camp Nidaros including Pastor Stan’s wife Bev and his daughter Rebecca who both died in 2023. He takes solace in being close to their other four daughters and families and Rebecca’s family members.