.Church History (The first 100 years 1902-2002)
Palestine Lutheran Church near Huxley was the first Norwegian Lutheran church in the area. It was founded about 1855. As the Norwegian community grew west toward Slater and Sheldahl, a second church, called Bethlehem Lutheran was established in 1878 just east of Slater.
In 1892 the Bethlehem congregation decided to remodel its church and to build a new church located one mile south of Kelley on land owend by Erik Cleveland. This church was called North Bethlehem and was served by Pastors Holm, Thvedt, and Huus. The Kelley area was being built up, settlers having started to arrive about 1853, and a town had been established in 1875. In 1891, Kelley was bigger than either Ames or Slater.
On December 18, 1902, a meeting was held for the purpose of re-organizing North Bethlehem into a separate congregation that would just share a pastor with Bethlehem. Rev. T.T. Heimark presided at the meetings and was called to serve the congregation temporarily until a regular pastor could be secured. The pastor's salary was $175 a year. It was decided to call the church Betania Norwegian Lutheran Church and to become a member of a group of churches called the United Norwegian Luthan Church. "Betania" is the Norwegian version of the name "Bethany."
For the first 60 years Bethany was a two-point parish with Bethlehem of Slater. Services were conducted in the Norwegian language until the year 1911 when it was decided to have 10 English services during the year.
In 1916 a basement was dug and the church building was moved to it's present site in the town of Kelley. George Holland donated the land.
Bethany was a part of the merger when the Norwegian Lutheran Church merged into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1917. Changing the name, however, did not mean a change in Norwegian influence. In 1928 it was decided to hold only one Norwegian service a month, the rest being in the English language. In 1937 the motion passed to conduct all moring worship services in English.
It wasn't until 1936 that the women of the church were allowed to vote.
In 1941, Lowell Accola began as choir director and his wife Marge, became the organist. Lowell served for 51 years until his health would no longer allow him to continue. Marge served a few additional years until her health also failed.
Extensive church improvements were made in 1949 and the church was re-dedicated with District President Astrup Larson officiating. In 1952 additional land was purchased for needed parking space. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which Bethany was a member, merged into the American Lutheran Church in 1960. Bethany voted in 1962 to add some Sunday School space, an expansion of the sanctuary and a new narthex. New pews were purchased and improvements were made in the sanctuary.
Upon the resignation of Pastor Bjorlie in late 1962, Bethany voted to hire its own full-time pastor and discontinue sharing one with Bethlehem. Under the guidance of interim Pastor Olaf Holen, the church improvements were completed and a parsonage was built in 1966-67 next door to the church. Charles Raker of Slater was the contractor for both projects and with his crew and supervision the work was completed. Men and women members of the congregation assisted with much of the work. The parsonage was dedicated June 25, 1967, and Bethany's first full-time pastor, Gordon Kruse was installed in July. Office equipment was purchased and a secretary was hired to do part-time clerical work for the church.
The altar was totally refurbished in 1975; the oil painting was repaired and discovered to be a Sara Haugland original.
Along with a cluster of other Lutheran churches in the area, Bethany was privileged to help sponsor a refugee family from Southeast Asia in 1979, The Sars.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed in 1987 by a merger between the American Lutheran Chuirch and two other Lutheran bodies. Bethany became a part of this new organization.
Carol Gustafson began as choir director in September of 1993 and continues as our organist.
The Church building has seen continual improvements over the years. In the last couple of decades we've added maintenance-free siding, air conditioning, new ceiling and carpet. In 1999 the entire nave and chancel were refurbished. The old walls were replaced with wood wainscoting and wallboard. The ceiling was paneled with wood and the chancel wall painted red. Dedication service was in September of that year with Bishop Philip Hougen as speaker. There has been a new entrance to the front step allowing easier handicapped accessibility.