The real beginnings of Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church dates back to the early 1920's. Pastor E.J. Kallsen of Zion Lutheran Church, Ocheyedan, IA carried out mission work in the Round Lake vicinity, ministering to scattered Lutherans, preaching whenever possible and attending to their spiritual needs. It was probably due to his efforts that the Round Lake and Sioux Valley mission field was established by the Minnesota District of the LCMS, and installed Rev. O. Volz in September 1923 as the first resident pastor of the mission. Pastor Volz accepted a call in February 1926. The next 3 1/2 years the Pastor from Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster served the Round Lake church and the pastor from Okabena served the Sioux Valley church.

Rev. A.A. Schulz was ordained and installed as pastor of Round Lake and Sioux Valley on September 8, 1929. He resided at the F.L. Thompson home. During his residency there, fire consumed the home and destroyed the earliest church records. Services were held Sunday afternoons at the Round Lake Presbyterian Church. During 1930 it was decided to form a congregation. The name "Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Round Lake and Sioux Valley" was chosen. A basement church was built at Sioux Valley. Services were still held in Round Lake at the town hall. In 1936 Rev. Schulz accepted a call, and the pastor from Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster served the vacancy. Rev. Martin W. Lieske was installed as pastor in 1937. Round Lake was served with Sioux Valley until 1972.

Since the Round Lake-Sioux Valley Parish was really two separate communities, it was mutually decided to reorganize as two separate congregations, but still be served by one pastor. On January 4, 1945, the Round Lake congregation chose the name Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Round Lake. Bethel literally meaning "The House of God". On April 10th, 1947, a building committee was formed. On July 3rd, 1947 the cornerstone was laid. This was the first church building of Bethel Lutheran Church. The church was dedicated September 26, 1948. At this time Bethel numbered 99 communicants, 22 voting members, 140 baptized souls, 40 children in Sunday School, and 29 Ladies Aid members.

A new Gulbransen electronic organ was dedicated on Easter Sunday 1949 . The cost of the organ was $1,350. The early organists were paid $1 per month for their services. On April 19, 1956, only eight years after the first worship service was held in the new building, the mortgage was burned. Pastor Gerike received a call to Sioux Falls, SD in May of 1957. The Rev. W.A. Lorenz was installed as pastor of Bethel and Trinity congregations on October 27, 1957.

In late 1957 the congregation learned that the LCMS congregation at nearby Rost Township (rural Lakefield, MN) was offering to sell their church building for $1,000. It was purchased and was moved in in 1958. Pastor Lorenz received and accepted a call to another congregation in July, 1969.

The Rev. Marvin Flanscha was installed as pastor of the dual congregation November 9, 1969. The Bethel-Trinity congregations desired to each have their own pastor. An assistant pastor was installed to fill the position of pastor at Bethel August 13, 1972. On March 14, 1974, a formal separation of Bethel and Trinity congregations as signed by the officers under the authority of the voters assembly. Pastor Johnson was the first pastor to serve Bethel exclusively, but he accepted a call and left Bethel.

In August 1975 the Rev. Marvin L. Soulek was installed to serve Bethel. Pastor Soulek served Bethel until 1990.

In the 1980s many things were happening around the church: a new P.A. system was installed, a new Rodgers organ was purchased, the church was resided, ceiling fans were added, new Lutheran Worship hymnals were purchased, and women became voting members.

A parsonage was purchased in November of 1988. The trailer house that had previously served as the parsonage was sold.

On August, 1991 Rev. Kevin Werner was installed as pastor of Bethel. More things that happened during the 1990s included the church furnaces being converted to natural gas, handrails being installed going to the basement, and a new church sign was ordered.

 In the new millennium the church was re-carpeted and the hardwood floors were refinished. The parsonage was also updated. In the year 2000, Bethel has 208 baptized members and 157 communicant members. In early 2002, Pastor Werner announced that he would accept a call to Illinois. A rank of pipes was added to Bethel's organ in April of 2002. April also brought the announcement that Bethel would receive a pastoral candidate from the St. Louis Seminary. Pastor Andrew Ritchie was ordained and installed July 7th, 2002 at Bethel. Pastor Ritchie served Bethel until mid-2005.  In May 2006 we learned we would be receiving a seminary candidate, Benjamin Rucker.  Rev. Rucker was installed July 9, 2006.

Our congregation is grateful for the growth in number that we have seen over the past years. We thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings that he has richly given us in Christ Jesus our Lord.