St. Stephen, King of Hungary, Catholic Parish was established in 1900 and is 17 miles south of Richardton on Highway 8. The church sits on a small rise on the peaceful prairies surrounded by pastures and a cemetery to the north where the meadow larks serenade.  The parishioners are mostly Germans from Hungary. Since 1894, priests from the Benedictine Abbey in Richardton would stop by now and then to provide for the spiritual needs of the people.

At present, St. Stephen has 45 households with close to 110 individuals. It has an active Knights of Columbus Club and a Christian Mothers Society which provide service and social activities.  The choir helps support congregational singing and children are taught to love and serve their parish from youth and so help as altar servers, lectors, choir members and at parish events.  

Being a rural parish the children attend school and Religious Education classes at Richardton or Mott.  We enjoy a lot of youth at this time in our history and have been able to resurrect the annual children's Christmas program at the Christmas Eve Mass.  The church which seats approximately 120 people is usually full for this Mass.  

The members of St. Stephen are farmers or retired farmers and are a very social group (including monthly coffee/rolls after Mass), often visiting 30-45 minutes after Mass. The parishioners are known for their friendliness, working together, delicious funeral luncheons, Lenten Fish Fry, Bingo party, Card party and annual parish picnic. 

They see to it that the cemetery, grounds and church building are maintained and kept neat and clean.  In preparation of its 120th parish anniversary the church interior was repainted, the statues repaired/repainted and the 100+ year old altars gilded with gold.  New sanctuary furniture was also made and the kitchen and dining room received a major facelift.

A huge lighted crucifix marks the cemetery and is especially stunning at night. 

The pastor is from St. Mary Parish, Richardton, ND and the parish records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths are kept there.  A book containing the baptismal, marriage and death records is available at the parish office at St. Mary, Richardton for $20.00 or through the mail for $23.00.  (Make checks payable to: St. Mary Parish.)  It also contains the same records from Sts. Mary (Richardton), Thomas (Gladstone) and Philipp (Hirschville).