I make an effort to shop local. It seems to be more challenging with each passing year. Sadly, it is harder for small businesses to make a go of it nowadays.

My parents always said you get what you pay for. Small businesses usually need to charge more, but in exchange, you receive better customer service and you support your neighbors in the process.

Husband and wife, Jim and Diane Bergstrom, have been operating their family owned lawn and garden business in the area for several decades. Forty years this week, to be exact!

The Bergstroms opened their first shop in 1981 in Albertville. In March of 1985, they moved the business to St. Michael and finally moved to their current location in rural Becker  in September of 1985. 

The Bergstroms live near our family farm - as the crow flies - maybe two or three miles. They have always been really good, honest,  hard working Christian neighbors.

My parents relied on the Bergstroms’ business for lawn and garden repairs when I was growing up. 

Jim and Diane raised three children, who attended Becker Schools (Bridget, Josh and Deanna). 

The Bergstrom children grew up helping with the family business in a variety of ways (dusting, organizing parts and tagging along on pick up and delivery days). It taught them valuable lessons such as a great work ethic and how to relate with people. 

Jim has always been the face of the business, yet Diane has always played a crucial role, faithfully working behind the scenes doing the bookkeeping and other  important duties such as baking cookies for their annual open houses. 

For many of their years in business, they offered repair service and parts. In more recent years, they have transitioned to specializing only in parts. 

Jim is old fashioned. He operates without the internet. His records are all cataloged by a card/number system using microfiche. I find it refreshing.  

Jim has always enjoyed helping people find the parts they need and getting to know his customers. 

The Bergstrom family has created lifelong friendships with many clients in the past 40 years. 

Owning a small business is so much more than just providing a service to local residents. 

Jim and Diane have four granddaughters: Sydney, Lila (Deanna), Kailee and Kaia (Bridget).

Jim and Diane’s grandchildren have grown up around the shop and love spending time at the business, marking the third generation of Bergstroms that have worked together in their Santiago township lawn and garden business. 

Many years of dedicated, honest hard work and commitment have taken place there. 

As my family also experienced on the family farm, working alongside your parents at home builds a strong work ethic and forms a very special bond among family members. Working with your family is a blessing many people never get to experience when they work outside the home.  

There have been challenging times throughout the past 40 years, but Jim and Diane have remained committed. The couple has overcome adversity to reach this milestone.  

Bergstroms are still enjoying helping people at their lawn and garden business. They had a love of working with people when they started their business 40 years ago and that affection for people continues to this day. 

Jim no longer does repairs, but the business remains open limited hours selling parts to the local community. 

Instead of going online to find Bergstrom’s Lawn and Garden business, give them a call on their land line at 763-263-3680!

We wish the Bergstroms many more years of successful business. 

Shop local. It helps everyone!