This house in Frost was the United Lutheran Church’s parsonage, occupied by Pastor Arne Halbakken and his wife Debbie and daughter Laura. The family is now staying in another home temporarily.

A house fire in Frost on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 29, left a family homeless.

The house was the parsonage of United Lutheran Church in Frost, and was occupied by Rev. Arne and Debbie Halbakken and their daughter Laura.

Both the Frost Fire Department and Bricelyn Fire Department, along with assistance from the Easton and Rake, Iowa, fire departments, battled the blaze. No injuries were reported.

The Halbakken family lost most of their belongings in the blaze, according to reports.

They moved in temporarily with Larry and Sonja Anderson and also Jeff and Sue Loge, of Frost, after the fire. Their plan is now to be housesitting for Don Amundson while he is in Arizona until April.

Meanwhile, the congregation of United Lutheran is expected to vote on a permanent solution to the loss of the parsonage, after all the insurance numbers are available, which is expected to be soon.

It is probable the church will rebuild the parsonage, but the final decision has not been made.

The Halbakkens moved to Frost six years ago from Ellendale, Minnesota, where they had lived for 14 years. Rev. Halbakken had been the pastor at First Lutheran in Ellendale.

Debbie Halbakken and her Caring Friends Project was one of the ‘Good News’ stories in the annual Faribault County Register Good News edition three weeks ago.