When you need a packer wheel on your drill repaired in the midst of seeding your crop in the spring—where can you go?

When your rockshaft for your cultivator has to be straightened—who do you find to fix it? What about a hydraulic pump repaired, a new or rebuilt spindle for the tractor, or a truck hoist cylinder rebuilt? For more than 95 years now, the name that comes to most area farmers’ and truckers’ minds is "Mollers."

In the first decade of the 20th century in Naasaker, Sweden, John Mahler (naturalized to Moller) was there for people to have their wagons and plows repaired. He decided to find a new life in North America, landing in British Columbia and working as a lumberjack before moving to Blackduck, Minnesota. In 1913 he moved to the York area in northwest Benson Country of North Dakota. In 1914, he bought the local farm repair shop known as the York Blacksmith Shop. He purchased an arc-welder and borrowed from his life insurance to pay for it. In 1927, he purchased his first turning lathe.

John and his wife, Victoria, a British native, became the parents of 2 sons, John in 1925, and Thomas in 1927. Both boys began at a young age to carry on the tradition. John (Melvin) moved to Bisbee where he operated a shop until his death in 1985.

Tom started in the shop at the age of 9 and except for a couple of years in the Air Force from 1945 to 1947 has been at it ever since. Tom and his wife, Gwen, bought the York business from John, Sr. in 1953. Gwen had worked with the office part of the business throughout the years, as have all of 3 of their children at various times—Greg, Peggy, and Tom Jr. The business was renamed, Mollers Inc. in 1973 when it was incorporated.

A new building was erected in 1965, a fertilizer and chemical storage warehouse in 1972, several additions were added to the main building throughout the years. An addition was constructed in 1994 with large doors to accommodate combines, semi-trucks and other large equipment.

Tom Jr. came back to the shop in 1997 and bought the business in spring 2002. Tom Moller Jr.’s wife, Mamar, is co-owner and is working as the bookkeeper. Greg Moller works in the shop full time and is an excellent welder and fabricator. Tom, Sr. still lends his expertise, but now works shorter days than in the past. In September of 2008 Victor Wurgler joined the Mollers Inc. team. Dwayne Erie has been driving the fertilizer truck and delivering chemicals since 2004.

New machinery has been added through the years: wire-feed welders, iron cutting shears and punches, turret lathes, vertical milling machines. surface grinders, newer turning lathes, air arc and plasma cutters, a 6 ton Kraus fertilizer blender, bulk chemical distribution, and hydraulic hose crimpers. In 2009 the newest addition to the equipment inventory was a computer controlled (CNC) plasma/gas torch cutting machine.

The above tools have greatly enhanced our business but through it all; the most important aspect of our business is our "commitment to provide the best service and quality to our many valued customers." Moller’s Inc. has always concentrated on personal service and will continue to do so in the next millennium.