Bethany Lutheran Church-Wabasso

For 106 years, Bethany Lutheran Church was a fixture of the Wabasso community.  Due to decreasing membership, with sadness, a closing service was held in April 2023.  Long after the last plate, spoon, and pew were auctioned off along with the church building, we were left with only our meaningful memories of weddings, memorial services, the many potlucks and fellowship with the friends we made.

With many of these once special structures being torn down, we were fortunate that new memories will be made in what was once our church, with it being remodeled into a new home for a local family. It helps in knowing it will remain a fixture in Wabasso.

The remaining members voted to preserve the cornerstone from the most recent church building (1953) as well as the 1966 bell tower and it’s most defining characteristic, the beautiful bell. After being modified, painted and polished, the Tower and Bell were installed at Bethany Lutheran Cemetery (now given to the City of Wabasso) just last week.  With this piece of history preserved, it will continue to be enjoyed, giving us a connection to our former spiritual home.

Sincerely,

Shirley Appel

Former Bethany Lutheran Church member

 The tower was just installed September 19, 2024.  Salfer Welding & Manufacturing were hired to remove, modify, paint and install the tower.  The cornerstone is embedded in the concrete base of the project.