This file consists of separate recordings done by Rose Buse (1981) and Lt. Col. Leonard Axtman (1975) and held at the GRHS Library.
Leonard Axtman wrote: Saint Maria Church of Strassburg was built in the summer of 1900 under the direction of Rev. James Buehler.  The rectory was built in 1905 and Rev. Gerard Wilkes was appointed resident pastor.  In 1908, Fr. Wilkes was reassigned and, there being no German-speaking priest available, the church became a mission serviced out of Harvey, ND.
In 1910, Saint Maria Church was attached to Saint Boniface Church of Odessa, ND with Rev. J. A. Kern as pastor.  At this time, Saint Maria of Strassburg had 105 registered families.
In the fall of 1916, Rev. Anthony Neusbaumer and Rev. Ambrose Johanns from Odessa directed the construction of Saint Anthony's Church of Selz, ND.  This church was completed in the spring of 1917, and at that time, the churches of Strassburg, Odessa and Esmond became missions of Saint Anthony's of Selz.
In 1975, a review of existing records showed that there are 139 grave sites in Saint Maria of Strassburg Cemetery for which there were entries in the church record.  A number of old timers who at one time attended the Strassburg church claim that many more people died and were buried in the church cemetery than those recorded by the church.  This disparity is attributed to the fact that the church was at most time a mission church and serviced by numerous visiting priests.  Church records were poorly maintained or sometimes lost.
Rose Buse noted 22 crosses, mostly iron, that had been painted over, including the nameplates, making them illegible.