It was in the 1880's that the parish, comprising a group of Lutherans near Jessie, North Dakota, and another group near what is known as Binford, was established and served by pastors of the Ohio Synod.
In 1900 the group near Binford transferred to the Missouri Synod. The church was served by neighboring pastors until their own pastor was installed on September 1, 1901. The services were held in the Church schoolhouse, which is one mile east of the present church. At the first service ten adults and three children were present.
Among the charter members of this congregation were Fred and Albert Wilke, Karl Rothert, Albert Retzlaff, Fred Lucht, Carl Behm, and William Steffen. The first children baptized by the new pastor were Esther Retzlaff, and Clarence Steffen. Carl Behm and Maria Todtz were the first to be married, August 30, 1902. The first pastor was Reverend C. H. LUEKER who lived in Courtney, and also served that congregation.
During the winter of 1906-1907, which was very severe, with snow many feet deep on the level it made the roads impassable. The pastor, knowing travel by team was impossible, attempted to get to Binford by railroad. Several times he succeeded in making the trip, but on January 16 of that winter he left Kensal only to find himself snowbound in Rogers, where he had to remain until January 26, because no train could get through to Binford, or back to Courtney.
The congregation continued to grow, and in 1907 the church was organized with Albert Retzlaff, Carl Retzlaff, Charles Rothert, Carl Behm, Fred Lucht, Fred Wilke, John Bruns, M. D. Leininger, and John Leininger signing the Constitution.
In 1907 Reverend F. H. Reininga was installed and he served until 1909 when he accepted a call to Kansas, because he could not stand the sharp wind in his eyes.
The Congregation was incorporated June 19, 1908, with Charles Retzlaff, Albert Retzlaff, and John Leininger as incorporators. The church building was finished in the spring of 1909 at the cost of $2400.00. During the summer of 1938, the church building was enlarged and completely remodeled at a cost of $2400.00.
Because of the depression in the 1930's, the congregation was served by neighboring pastors. In 1935 the congregation decided to combine with the Wimbledon-Courtney parish. In 1936 L. J. Mehl became the pastor, and in 1941 he was granted a leave of absence to become an Army Chaplain. His brother, Reverend C. H. Mehl, took over his pastoral duties. In 1944 he asked for a year's leave of absence to serve as pastor in a Lutheran Service Center at Santa Ana, California.
In 1947 a new parish was formed in the Binford-Cooperstown area. In 1960 another parish was formed including Binford, Hope and Cooperstown.
Other pastors who have served Zion Lutheran Church besides those mentioned are:
Reverend Paul Siegal
Reverend William Gierke
Reverend E. Wille
Reverend G. Haaz
Reverend W. Ringstorf
Reverend W. C. Laatz
Reverend George Schubarth
Reverend V. Knight
Reverend John Krueger and the present pastor,
Reverend Ronald Nichols.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 page 254