In the small Norwegian immigrant Lutheran churches along the Iowa-Minnesota border, the ladies aid organizations could be counted on to organize their congregations’ social lives, raise money and carry out ministry to the wider community. From fundraising to cooking to janitorial services, whatever a congregation needed, the ladies did it.

“The work of these women made it possible for us to have it all,” said Dot Radius Kasik, co-author of the book, “Actions Mightier Than Boastings,” along with her sister, Ann Aalgaard of Lake Mills, Iowa.

“I don’t think they would have called themselves feminists,” Kasik added.

Kasik said in doing all these tasks, the ladies aid became repositories for the traditions of their Lutheran faith. They also kept their churches going through the Great Depression and World War II.

“The era of these women and the things they did is moving on and we wanted it to be remembered,” added Aalgaard. “I think it will stir a lot of memories.”

Kasik and Aalgaard tell the story of the ladies aid from 1930 to 1960 through the history of four small local congregations — Trinity Lutheran in Bricelyn, Bethlehem Lutheran in Buffalo Center, Iowa, Emmons Lutheran Church and Lime Creek Lutheran on State Line Road.

The sisters have connections with all the churches. Emmons Lutheran is their home church. Their mother, Agnes’ family, the Opdahls, grew up going to Lime Creek Lutheran. Trinity Lutheran is Aalgaard’s husband, Perry’s, home church, and Bethlehem Lutheran is where the Aalgaards now worship and where Perry serves as pastor.

Aalgaard said the book was a five-year project. Because Kasik lives in New Hampshire, Aalgaard scheduled interviews with church women during the four to six visits Kasik would make back to the area each year during the project.

They also spent a lot of time picking through boxes, secretaries’ minutes and “whatever we could find,” Aalgaard said. “We e-mailed a lot.”

Chapters in the book outline how the ladies used food as a vehicle for ministry, how arts and crafts expressed their spirituality, and how the social structures of the aid kept them connected to community. In the process, they found their place in the wider Christian world, nationally and internationally.

Kasik said the last chapter is her favorite. “In my thoughts, things come together. It’s hopeful,” she said.

This is Kasik’s first book that is not a textbook. She is an academic writing consultant and the author of numerous journal and magazine articles. She has served on the writing faculties of Salem State College in Massachusetts, the University of New Hampshire in Durham and, most recently, Tumaini Lutheran University in Tanzania.

Aalgaard teaches English as a second language at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea. She previously served as director of ESL at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa.

The book, which is published by Back Channel Press, costs $15. It is available at Cup of Faith in Albert Lea and The Main Attraction in Lake Mills, as well as on Amazon.com.

It is also for sale during today’s lutefisk dinner at Emmons Lutheran Church.

In addition, Kasik and Aalgaard will host a reading and book signing at the Lake Mills Historical Society at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 28.