In the early years, the cemetery was known as the Mennonite Public Burial Grounds. The Bethesda Cemetery Association was formed in 1921 "to better care for God's little acre." It was not owned by the church. Until 1930, small family plots were surrounded by picket fences. After that, a Plat for Registry was made to provide a system for burial by rows. In 1976, the cemetery deed was conveyed to Bethesda and named Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery. Services have been held here every year on Memorial Day since 1934.