Polaris Industries First Lady ~ Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm
We’ve informed you about the journey of Gertie Hetteen in the previous two parts of our extended account of her life. You may ask “Why do you call her Polaris Industries First Lady ~ Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm?”
Well, we will tell you why!
We would like to summarize some of the prior events that occurred leading up to Gertie becoming the first lady of Polaris Industries:
- On September 3, 1949, Gertie Erickson married Allan Hetteen.
- In 1950, Gertie’s husband Allan became a partner with his older brother Edgar, and Edgar’s brother-in-law David Johnson at Hetteen Hoist and Derrick in Roseau, MN.
- 1954 Hetteen Hoist and Derrick changed their business name to Polaris Industries.
- On January 10, 1956, Orlen Johnson test-drove the Polaris Sled #1. David Johnson fabricated and designed using automobile parts and scrap material starting in 1955.
- On February 9, 1956 Sled #2 driven onto the Minnesota tundra by Allan Hetteen.
- On September 27, 1957, the first carload of Polaris Sno-Travelers departed by rail for Alaska.
- 1960: Edgar Hetteen, Erling Falk of Roseau, and Rudy and Bessie Billberg of Alaska ride three Sno-Travelers 1,200 miles from Bethel to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 21 days.
- In June 1960 Edgar left the company, relocating to Alaska. Though within a year he moved to Thief River Falls, MN and started a new company, eventually called Arctic Cat.
- June 1960 Allan Hetteen becomes President of Polaris Industries.
So now you know why we call Gertie:
Polaris Industries First Lady – Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm!
The saying, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman,” is a phrase that has been used for generations to suggest that women play a significant role in the success of men.
The Origin of the Saying: The phrase has its roots in the idea that women often provide support, encouragement, and inspiration to the men in their lives. Historically, women were often responsible for managing households and providing emotional support to their husbands, allowing them to focus on their careers or other pursuits.
Edgar, Allan, and David all had supportive wives. The men were able to spend hours at the shop fabricating, testing the product away from the home, traveling to all parts of the United States and Canada under a variety of weather, good and bad conditions.
Thank you Ruby, Gertie, and Eleanor along with your families for the support you gave these three legends of Polaris Industries!
Now we will give you an account on some of the rest of Gertie’s story.
As a young wife, and mother, Gertie supported her husband’s quest for success. Through their working relationship, Polaris Industries would eventually become one of the largest snowmobile industries in the world!
Please join us as we go on a journey to tell you about:
Polaris Industries First Lady – Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm!
Polaris Industries First Lady ~ Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm!
The Polaris Sno-Travelers had bare metal seats, which made for some “hard riding”! In 1961 Allan approached his wife Gertie to design a seat cushion for one of the Polaris Sno-Traveler snowmobiles. Allan wanted to test how having the right cushion rode for a more enjoyable ride.
This is where we again explain why we call Gertie: Polaris Industries First Lady Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm! Gertie agreed to create a proto-type. After a few days of test riding, the seat cushion proved to be an asset for a much more comfortable ride across all types of snow terrain. Allan and the test riders agreed 100% to have Gertie make the seat cushion she had designed.
Albin Erickson, Orlen Johnson, David Johnson, and Allan Hetteen participated in the testing of the new design (just to name a few Polaris employees who tried out Gertie’s product.)
… and they called it Northern Upholstery!
Polaris Industries incorporated the seat design into the production line for the 1962 production vehicles. Meanwhile, Gertie arranged for the purchase of industrial sewing machines, a foam compressor to pack the hand-cut foam, sewing tables, and other equipment to transform the family’s home basement into a small business. She hired several friends and family to assist her initial endeavor, starting in the fall of 1961.
There were seats, seats, and more seats everywhere in the Hetteen home!
Imagine living in your home surrounded by snowmobile seats stacked all over! Gertie, Allan, and their family of three boys, Stephen, Timmy, Mike all persevered and adjusted to “snowmobile seat décor” for several years.
During this new venture of manufacturing snowmobile seats, Gertie and Allan were blessed with their fourth child on April 7, 1962. They named the baby boy Donavon.
The Snowmobile Seat Proves to be a Success!
Observe the advertisement for the Polaris Sno-Traveler featured in the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin on Sunday, February 4, 1962.
The snowmobile rider is seated on a white cushioned seat.
Northern Upholstery Outgrows the Hetteen Basement 1965
The small business soon outgrew the Hetteen basement. Due to the high demand for snowmobile orders, production numbers increased at the Polaris factory, which meant snowmobile seat production was also increasing! It was necessary to build a larger facility. It was determined to construct a building east of the Hetteen home. The new facilities provided a more convenient and efficient place to work. In addition more employees were hired to help with the increased workload.
Polaris Industries First Lady Gertie Hetteen, Vitality and Enthusiasm! She Proves Herself Once Again!
The December, 1966 issue of the Roseau Electric Cooperative Volts and Views published an article about the newly expanded company stating:
“Eight ladies work there full-time, and they are busy, since they make the seats and backrests for ALL of the Polaris Sno-Travelers made by two shifts at the Polaris factory. They also make covers that are sent to the Polaris plant at Beausejour, Manitoba in Canada.”
Imagine eight ladies produced 70 seats per day all done by hand! They had a system and it worked!
The Magnificent Eight had vitality and enthusiasm!
Since Anne Strandlund was missing when the Volts and Views article was done, we’d like to share these photos with you of her working..
The final article on Polaris Industries First Lady ~ Gertie Hetteen will be published soon.
Watch for it!
To find out more about Gertie and Allan Hetteen's history visit the Polaris Experience Center and the Roseau County Historical Society
Written history and research by Carmen Przekwas
Photos and special memories shared by Mike Hetteen and Donovan Hetteen, sons of Gertie and Allan Hetteen.
History/Research: Roseau Times Region; Roseau Electrical Coop Volts and Views; Edgar Hetteen Archives; David and Eleanor Johnson’s Collection; Roseau Historical Society; Hetteen/Carter Archives