320.963.3592
7809 County Road 35 W
Middleville Township
Annandale, Minnesota
1941 -1976
A call was sent out to Pastor John H. Klausmeier (42 years old) of Little Falls, Minnesota. He was installed August 24, 1941.
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In a special meeting held on December 14, 1941 the matter of buying a church flag and U.S. flag was discussed. The congregation purchased the USA flag and the church flag was purchased by an individual member. In January 1942, the new Lutheran Hymnals (known as TLH) were introduced. On February 9, 1942, the pension plan of synod was adopted.
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In 1943, it was decided to move the school to the southwest corner of the unfenced land in Albion Township. It was stipulated that the school should be as close to the road as possible and that a basement be built under the school. Four school teachers served under Pastor Klausmeier. In the summer of 1946, Pastor Klausmeier accepted a call to Convoy, Ohio.
On September 2nd, 1974, Pastor John H. Klausmeier passed away at the age of 75.
Pastor John H. Klausmeier
Pastor Herman E. Bentrup
Although the number of members somewhat declined, stewardship (by the grace of God) had advanced and the considerably greater financial needs had been met. The goal of calling a permanent teacher was finally realized.
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Our Ladies Aid joined the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) on August 11, 1949. Stained glass windows were donated as memorial gifts by various members. A Lutheran Laymen's League was organized.
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Improvements to the church and grounds were made. Surfacing the parking lot on the land was donated by Victor Miller and indoor plumbing was added to both the church and school.
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Bethlehem congregation celebrated its 75th Anniversary on September 27, 1953 with an estimated crowd of 900. Not much of this celebration was recorded.
In the fall of 1946, Pastor Herman E. Bentrup (51 years old) of Winona, Minnesota R. F. D. No. 2 was called. He was installed December 8, 1946. President Robert Heyne of Waconia preached the sermon during the Installation Ceremony.
In 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ney donated $1,000 to set up the Robert E. Ney memorial fund in memory of their son, Robert, who was killed in action during WWII (October 1943) at only 22 years old. The fund was set up for the training of ministerial students. In all, the Neys have contributed $7,000 for the principal. The income has grown and can be used by young men from Bethlehem and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Silver Creek, Minnesota to help finance their schooling at seminary. There have only been a few that have used money from the Ney fund. Lyle Klemz of Silver Creek was a recipient of the Ney fund. He served congregations in Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, and North Dakota throughout his pastoral career before passing away in 2007.
Pastor Bentrup accepted a call to Elk River, Minnesota and left in June 1955.
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Pastor Herman E. Bentrup passed away on July 3rd,1961 at the age of 66.
Pastor Berthold Hein (67 years old) of Hancock, Minnesota was installed on October 2, 1955. In December of that year the starting time of the English services was set at 9:30 a.m. The communion rail was made and installed by Mr. William Jans.
Poor health forced Pastor Hein to resign on October 15, 1956. At this time it was decided not to have any more services in the German language. Pastor Berthold passed away on June 23rd, 1958 at the age of 70.
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Pastor Martin F. Rische (60 years old) of Mayer, Minnesota was installed on July 28, 1957. His Pastorate was cut short due to a heart attack resulting in his death on March 18th of the following year. He was 61 years old.
Pastor Berthold Hein & his wife Anna Hein
Pastor Werner C. Barlau (52 years old) of Lester Prairie, Minnesota was installed in October of 1959. He wasn't a stranger to Bethlehem as he had filled the
Pastor Werner C. Barlau
In June of 1968 Pastor David A. Likeness accepted our call from the seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was installed on July 28, 1968. The very popular Ebenezer Thank Offering, collected all year long in 1967 on birthdays, brought in $3,192 for missions.
vacancy pastor's duties after Pastor Hein's resignation and again after Pastor Rische's death.
The stained glass windows were releaded. In 1965 new shingles were put on the church building. Smoke damage necessitated a new interior paint job in 1966.
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The cemetery fund was started in 1966 to provide funds for the perpetual upkeep of the cemetery.
Pastor W. C. Barlau accepted a call to Elgin, Minnesota in October of 1966, leaving a vacancy until June of 1968. This was the longest period of time that Bethlehem was without a full time pastor.
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Pastor Barlau passed away in July 1974 at the age of 67.
Prior to Pastor Likeness' arrival, extensive repairs were made to the parsonage, necessary in part, because of vandalism which occurred while the parsonage was empty. The ladies aid purchased gold carpeting for the altar area and aisle in the spring of 1969. The chimney was shortened as well that year. In July of 1969, the Cascade Pictures of California, Inc. came with their TV motion picture camera to film a commercial for Land O' Lakes Ice Cream Company. Many of our members were seen on TV in this commercial.
Pastor David A. Likeness
In April 1972 Pastor Likeness accepted a call to Washington, Illinois where he preached at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Pastor James Shears, from the seminary, accepted our call and was installed on July 23rd, 1972.
At this time the north porch of the parsonage was remodeled. The church steeple was fixed and new siding was put on the bell tower. In February 1974, the constitution of our church was revised and clarified. Vacation Bible School was also started when Pastor Shears served our congregation.
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The parsonage was insulated, the cemetery fence was removed and a projector and loud speaker system were purchased
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Pastor Shears resigned in May of 1976 to go into the chaplaincy of the United States. Pastor Ronald Stehr of Immanuel, Silver Creek filled the vacancy.