It was Sunday March 11, 1900, that Charles Ora
Card and Robert Ibey drove 15 miles to Spring
Coulee from Cardston to conduct the first meeting
of the church in this area. Twenty six people were
in attendance as Homer Manley Brown was named
to be President of what was called "The Brown
Branch", since it was located on a portion of the
Brown Ranching Co. Iease.

Information regarding church activities between this
time and the late forties is unknown at the time of this
writing. It was then that Phil Proctor, an engineer at
the St. Mary's dam, and his wite Darlene Sabey, who
was teaching school in Spring Coulee, began holding
"cottage meetings" with LDS members and friends in
the area. The Magrath Second Ward was the "Parent
Ward" for this project. When the Proctors moved,
Magrath sent two Stake Missionaries to conduct
services each Sunday, from March 1950 to September
1952.

On Sunday, Sept. 21 1952, the Spring Coulee Branch
was officially organized, with Alma E. Bishop as
President and Howard Wood and Marvin Marsden
as counselors and Edward Bishop named Branch Clerk.

The first auxiliary to be organized was the Primary. In
October of 1952, Isabel Bennett was called to serve
as President, with Venna Caldwell, and Le Vaun
Thompson as her counselors and Mary Nelson as
secretary.

The Sunday School was organized in December of
1952 with Ray Bennett as superintendent. William
Bennett was secretary, and Dorothy Wood was
chorister in charge of music.

Eulalia Wood was called to be President when the
Relief Society was organized on August first 1954,
Isabel Bennett and Edna Bishop were her counselors
and Dorothy Wood was secretary.

In April 1963 Alma Bishop and his counselors were
released and Gerald F. Bennett was sustained Branch
President with Warren Harris and Laurence J. Law as
counselors and Jay Marsden as Branch Clerk.

VerDell Saxton served as Branch President from
August 1975 to March 26, 1982, with Howard Wood
and Donald Ripley as counselors. He was followed
by Dan Baker as President with Donald Ripley and
Duncan Thompson as his counselors, with Leonard
Carlson as Clerk.

Then on April 26, 1992 Kelly Wood was set apart as
Branch President, choosing Keith Still and Leonard
Carlson for his counselors, and Barry Gorham as
Executive Secretary.

1954 proved to be a memorable one for the branch
at Spring Coulee, for this was the year that they
moved from the school, where they had been holding
meetings up to this time, to a building of their own.
The former Spring Coulee Trading Co. building was
purchased, to be renovated and improved to be
suitable for use as a church. Humble though it was,
it now belonged to the Saints to make the necessary
changes as they saw fit. For the first meeting that was
held, prior to any needed changes in the building itself,
Harry Bishop and his sons built benches in time for the
first meeting. Eulalia Wood, a widowed sister in the
branch donated a piano, which added a special
dimension to the meeting. That same piano is still
used in the chapel today.

Renovations and construction on the old store were
begun in the spring of 1955. The brethren shared some
spiritual experiences during the construction work, as
well as good fellowship and a feeling of pride in being
able to work on "their" chapel. There were many
non-members of the community who also donated
their labors to the cause.

In the spring of 1960, renovations were completed, and
the exterior of the church received a much needed
coat of paint, in preparation for dedication of the
building as a chapel.

It was on April 17, 1960 that the Branch was richly
blessed when Elder Marion D. Hanks of the First
Council of Seventies from Salt Lake City, Utah, was
present for the dedication services of the chapel.
President J. Golden Snow, President of the Raymond
Stake, and his counselors were also in attendance
to share in the beautiful spirit that was there in rich
abundance. All of the visiting brethren bore their
testimonies, and gave words of advice and inspiration.
A most beautiful and humble prayer was offered by
Elder Hanks, at which time he dedicated the chapel
to serve the needs of the people of Spring Coulee.

A temporary water line connecting the school well
to the church grounds, was laid in June of 1960,
so there would be water to maintain the beauty of
the grounds, which Bill Fortner had designed,
planted and continued to maintain for years.

The people shared many precious moments and
special experiences in the "new" building .
Weddings, receptions, missionary farewells and
homecomings, parties, with invitations extended
to the community members, bake sales - well
patronized by the ladies of the area, and programs
offering local talents - to name a few of the activities
that took place. And sad to say, our little church has
been the scene of funerals, that were so well attended
that speakers were installed in the classrooms to
accommodate the overflow from the chapel area.

Up to June 1991, the Spring Coulee Branch has had
thirteen missionaries serve in the mission field, eleven
elders and two sisters. For several years Stake
Missionaries have been assigned to assist the members
in various capacities and continue to do so at the
present time.

For many years the LDS women worked along with the
members of the United Church Ladies Aid, the Women's
Institute, in Red Cross during the second world war, as
well as various community enterprises.

In 1960, the members thought it would be nice if there
was an organ beside the piano that Eulalia Wood had
so generously given, so the Relief Society women
organized a variety program. Both local and outside
talent was solicited to help raise funds to buy an organ.
The performance was superb, the community hall was
packed to capacity, and the evening was termed a very
satisfactory success. It was gratifying to share this
special event with friends and neighbors of the
community and those from outside the area who came
to be entertained.

In the spring of 1977 the needed major changes in
the building were started, and completed in the
summer of 1978. The chapel was enlarged, washrooms
installed and a kitchen added. An "Open House'- was
held in June, when many people toured the building,
amazed at the changes that had been effected on
the "Old Store".

The newly renovated building was dedicated October
22nd with Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the First Council of
the Seventies from Utah offering the prayer. A capacity
crowd of members and friends attended this thrilling
service, as well as the social which followed.

The membership of the Spring Coulee Branch gradually
increased as boundaries were extended, and more people
were attending services. Soon the leaders were talking
of expanding the facilities.. But it was decided that this
edifice built in 1907, had seen enough renovations and
was due for retirement.

Since the church had been judged as being unsafe for
further gatherings, meetings were held in the Community
Hall until November of 1990. For the next 16 months,
while the new chapel was being built the people travelled
to Welling to hold meetings in their chapel.

March 1992 was special, for it was then that constuction
of the new chapel was completed, and the doors were
opened for yet another "Open House" for all to visit to
see the structure that had replaced the 1907 edifice.

The members were delighted to have their own chapel in
Spring Coulee again. But the numbers seem to be
increasing, and it may not be long before the second
stage of this three stage building will be needed.

The Spring Coulee Branch operates the same as a
fully organized ward, though on a smaller scale. There
is the Relief Society for the Women, Priesthood Quorum
for the Men, Primary for the children, Sunday School
training, and organizations for both the Young Women
and the Young Men, including Boy Scout activities.

The members of the Spring Coulee Branch are truly
grateful for the leadership they have received through
the years, and for the fellowship enjoyed in the
community.

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