Small Town News

Conklins receive Chamber honor

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Dean and Marilyn Conklin were honored by the Winthrop Area Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet Saturday evening for their dedication to Winthrop and the business community.

For 30 years, the duo owned and operated Conklin Nursery.

The Conklins moved to Winthrop in 1964. "Dean was looking for a teaching job and there happened to be a vacancy in Winthrop," Marilyn said

Dean had spent time in the military before going to college and getting his degree. After getting his education, he spent a few years as a farm manager of a 2,000-acre farm at the state hospital in Rochester.

"With five children of our own, we found Winthrop to have an excellent school system," Conklin said. "The park impressed us too. The town is just full of friendly people."

The "imports" from Iowa quickly became entrenched in the Winthrop community.

Dean taught vocational agriculture at Winthrop High School for 18 years. After a leave of absence, he taught three years of science in the middle school before retiring from teaching.

Five years after taking the teaching job, Conklin began growing trees and shrubs to keep their children busy.

What started out as a hobby would soon grow into a booming business.

A few years later, the Conklins purchased land behind First Lutheran Church to expand their hobby. In 1978, they put up a new building and added a hoop house in 1990.

"We had three boys that needed employment," Dean said. Two of the boys are still involved in horticulture in some fashion.

Marilyn enjoyed her time working the retail end of the business. "You got to know a lot of people, not just in Winthrop, she said.

"We were blessed," Dean said. "We had a ready supply of local high school kids that were tremendous workers and were willing to work.

We had four permanent employees that were just great, one of which is still local. Patti Ramirez was just a walking encyclopedia of the plant world. The business was really good to us."

The Conklins were long-time members of the Chamber with Dean serving two terms as president. He has been active in the Masonic Lodge and Shriners for several decades. He was a Sunday School teacher and served on the church board. He was a charter member of the local Lions Club. In the 1980s, he was a state appointed mediator during the farm financial crisis and is now a mediator between National Guardsmen and employers, working under the auspices of the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor. He served on the Fair Board for 15 years and also taught snowmobile safety courses.

Dean also served on the Winthrop City Council and is still active on the Winthrop Economic Development Authority board.

Marilyn has been strongly involved in First Lutheran Church, serving a long time as the financial comptroller and is a member of the Eastern Star. She belonged to the Study Club at one time and was active in school activities.

Being involved is something that has been important to the Conklins.

"Everybody has ideas on what could be done," Marilyn said. "I would sooner have some input in something rather than sit back and do nothing but criticize and complain. Not everybody is going to like your ideas but at least you will be heard."

Added Dean, "I am a community-minded person. It is the composite of positive ideas that make a community go."

The award is a special one to the Conklins. "We are very proud and happy to receive it," Marilyn said. "I didn't believe it. I thought Dean was telling me a story."

"There are a lot of people that this award would fit. It is very humbling," Dean said. "It will go on the wall with pride."

Dean commented that many families have come from other places and remained in the city to raise their children but most times those children go off to other communities. "The influx of new people is very important to a community," he said. "We do an excellent job here of exporting talent but that also benefits other communities."

The Conklins are proud to have been involved in the Winthrop community for over four decades.

"Winthrop has been a home for us," Dean said. "This has been a friendly, friendly, friendly town."

Everybody has ideas on what could be done. I would sooner have some input in something rather than sit back and do nothing but criticize and complain. Not everybody is going to like your ideas but at least you will be heard.

Marilyn Conklin

There are a lot of people that this award would fit. It is very humbling. It will go on the wall with pride.

Dean Conklin



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© 2010 Winthrop News Winthrop, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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