Friday, March 29, 2024
Gene and Sharon Gulbransen in their service station in Oslo, Minn.

Gulbransen still offers full-service at Oslo gas station

Gene Gulbransen grew up a half-mile south of Oslo with a brother and sister and went to country school for six years and then on to Hayfield school where he played football. Sharon lived on a farm about three miles northwest of Oslo with four siblings and was one grade behind Gene at Hayfield.

Gene went one year to Rochester Junior College but decided that was not for him. He and Sharon were married in 1965. He started working at different jobs such as at the Vernon Creamery, Midland Coop in Hayfield, a construction company building bridges and a Rochester construction company for three years.

Sharon worked at a Rochester bank for several years and then for the Koestler Lutheran Brotherhood Agency, now Thrivent Financial, near Dodge Center. She worked at a flower shop in Hayfield and then moved to Ruth Sinnwell’s flower shop on Main Street in Kasson for a number of years where she made many floral arrangements.

Since they were married, Gene had made arrangements to join the 205th Army Medical Reserve Company in Rochester but also received his draft notice. He was ordered to report Dec. 7, 1965, to Owatonna for military induction but it was also the same day he was scheduled to be sworn in at the Reserve Unit. The Reserve Unit sergeant was able to make arrangements and Gene was in the reserves for the next six years. He spent his basic and AIT training time at Ft. Bliss and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas plus the monthly and annual training sessions each year

The property deed where the Gulbransen Oil Company in Oslo is located was signed in 1890 and in 1896 the Vernon Township Hall was built at that site. In 1925 a tornado struck Hayfield and in June 1930 a tornado stuck Oslo and damaged the township hall, which is now located south of Highway 30 and behind the former Tiegen Store.

The gas station opened in 1930 and in 1948 Ernest Aakre operated the station and Ernie Ness hauled fuel for 15 years. Aakre later leased the business to others including Joe Senjem, Verlyn Senjem, Bob Senjem, Ralph Thoe and Earl Johnson, who later owned the Mobile Station in Kasson for over 20 years & was located where the present Legion parking lot is now. After Gene and Sharon purchased the station they leased it to Dale Ness, Les Iverson, and Steve Fjerstad.

Gene took over the bulk fuel route from Ernie Ness and at that time all dealers were considered Sinclair Agents. In 1972 the company eliminated the company agents so he became a distributor and purchased the inventory and bulk plant. At that time all the gas and diesel were shipped in by rail to Hayfield so he would pick up his supplies there.

In 1974 he moved the tanks to Oslo to eliminate the haul to their site and in 1976 they took over the station and managed it on their own. Sinclair will stop by to check his station quarterly to make sure they are operating according to their requirements.

When they started in 1972 the gas price was 25 cents/gallon but when the 1973 oil embargo began the price soon jumped at least 50 cents more. People were saying hopefully it doesn’t get to a dollar a gallon! The gas price was $1.84/gallon in 1984 and the Gulbransen’s remodeled the station at that time, adding additional storage space.

Many farm homes in the area were heated with fuel oil and Gene would fill their tanks and barrels during the winter months. After natural gas and LP gas came available in our area, people converted over to these sources but they still deliver fuel oil to a handful of customers at this time.

The majority of their business is delivering bulk premier diesel fuel to farmers plus 87 octane gasoline. They do handle barrels of oil and grease. Gene said he delivers bulk fuel to a 15-mile radius area from Oslo. They get their fuel supplies from Eyota, Clear Lake or Pine Bend depending on which has the better price at the time.

Gene said he used to do some service work on cars but now cars have become so computerized that he does very limited repairs on vehicles. He also used to do more tire repairs but now limits repairs to tires under 16” size.

Their station is open 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday  Friday and 6 a.m. - noon on Saturdays. Dave Johnson operates the station, Monday  Friday, and Ron Hannenberger on Saturdays.  Sherman Simonson worked for the Gulbransen’s for 43 years until he retired.

One thing they do, which is rare today, is to pump customers gas and will clean windshields if needed. Many will remember the time when that was a common thing as stations would pump the gas, clean windshields, check the oil and tires, but self-service stations are almost all you will see now.

They have kerosene on hand, which is something that most stations do not carry so they have customers come by to pick some up. They were unable to put on their customer appreciation day at the station this past year to celebrate 50 years in business because of the virus issues.

Gene said some customers will drive to their station since they don’t want to fill their vehicles themselves and also they do take checks from customers they know. Yes, they have gotten stuck with a few bad ones through the years.

Gene said they have had some experiences with break-ins at their store but they have very good cooperation with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department. One time someone broke in and stole the safe. The next day someone notified the authorities in Olmsted County they had found it and Gene was then contacted. The safe had been opened but the checkbooks, billings, receipts, etc. were all there as apparently the thieves were only looking for cash which was a relief to the Gulbransen’s.

They did experience a drive-by shooting one time and bullets hit jugs of oil on the shelves and caused a mess in the station entrance area but fortunately, there were no injuries.

Since they are located right on the intersection of Highway 30, Gene said there have been accidents that have caused eight deaths and he witnessed the crash of four victims of a family while he was working at the station.

Teigen's store operated for decades just across the road from them and people would stop by for some of their supplies and of course pick up Lutefisk and herring at Christmas time. Gene said when the Tiegen store closed they did carry some pails of herring for a short time but do not now.

Gene brought out an article from 1996 when a writer from Norway stopped by as he was excited to see another Oslo. The community was even featured in a Norway newspaper.

On a personal note when we had Norwegian relatives stay at our place, they also found visiting Oslo as a unique experience and were surprised to see some of the items such as UFF DA, lefse on caps, aprons, etc., Ole and Lena joke books that they never would see in stores in Oslo, Norway.

Sharon volunteers on many projects at the West St. Olaf church they attend, such as the WELCA board and the auxiliary at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield plus other various local boards. Sharon continues to make floral arrangements for special occasions when requested. Gene is the treasure for the West St. Olaf Cemetery Association.

When I asked if they had some special hobbies, Gene said he likes to work but for some reason, he just doesn’t have quite all the same moves he had 50 years ago when they started the business! They have taken some shorter trips to New Mexico to visit family members and also to Florida in the winter. They were planning a trip to Norway last year but the virus canceled those plans.

Each year they take a seven-day fishing trip vacation in the Alexandria area with family members. Gene did say since they both do the mowing he did buy a very nice riding lawn mower last year for a great practical present for their anniversary!

The Gulbransen’s have four children with one living in Byron while the others live in the cities and they have 11 grandchildren.

Stop on by and relive the experience many of you growing up did at gas stations and say hello to Gene and Sharon when you visit the huge city of Oslo, Minn.!

 

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Dodge County Independent

Dodge County Independent
Dodge County ADvantage
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

Dodge County Printing
301 S. Mantorville Ave.
Plaza 57 • Suite 200
Kasson, MN 55944

507-634-7503
 
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