Skip to content

The Amazing First Lady of Polaris Industries | Gertie Hetteen

A Trailblazer for Working Women and Polaris Industries  Introducing Gertie Hetteen!

The Amazing First Lady of Polaris

Women Polaris Trailblazer - Gertie Hetteen

If Allan Hetteen was the first President of Polaris Industry, then his wife Gertie was the First Lady.

“Soon I learned there was something very special about him.” stated Gertie Hetteen after she met Allan Hetteen, future President of Polaris Industries,  while attending Roseau High School.

Gertie Erickson, a vivacious, freckled-face child of dairy farmer Albert Erickson and his wife Esther, was born March 30, 1930. The family lived in Falun Township approximately 20 miles from Roseau, Minnesota. Gertie attended a one-room, one-teacher country school until she graduated from the eighth grade. She attended Roseau High School in Roseau, Minnesota, graduating in 1948.

In 1954, Allan, his brother Edgar Hetteen, and his childhood friend David Johnson founded

Polaris Industries.

To learn more about Polaris’s history and how it started, open this blog lin

https://goroseau.com/polaris-how-it-all-began-the-story-of-a-company-in-the-making/

Middle age man
Edgar Hetteen
Navy man during WWII
David Johnson, U.S. Navy 1944-1946. He served on the LSM 339 in China. He sent $11/month from his navy salary to help the company financially, thus becoming the 2nd partner.
Allan as a new partner with Hetteen Hoist and Derrick
Allan Hetteen

At the age  of thirty-one Allan Hetteen became President of Polaris Industries in 1960. After a controversial promotional tour across Alaska, his brother, Edgar Hetteen left Polaris  and later founded Arctic Enterprises, which would eventually become one of Polaris’ major rivals, Arctic Cat.

During Hetteen’s tenure, he led a 10-year period paving the way for Polaris’ success into the 21st century.

If Allan was the President of Polaris, that made his wife Gertie Hetteen the First Lady of Polaris. A position she worked long and hard at while making it all seem effortless.

In the 1960s,  cultural changes were altering the role of women in American society. More females than ever were entering the paid workforce! Through Gertie’s efforts, she made a difference in many people’s lives. Her commitment to building a business, creating, and designing quality products and initially hiring women had an impact in the northern Minnesota rural community economically.

Gertie was the founder of Northern Upholstery, and  partner with  her husband in establishing  several businesses such as Amco, Inc.,  Gallant Outdoor Apparels in a time when not many women were in leadership roles in the work force let alone to have the initiative in starting up new companies which would employ many people.  The love  these two people had for one another, their family,  and others is evident in many aspects of their lives. Their faith in God was strong! 

With Gertie and Allan’s combined talents and  strengths, many people, industries, small businesses, and communities became stronger as well. People and communities experienced growth, unity, self-confidence growth, pride and financial security.

Please join in as we focus on, and share some of Gertie’s journey.

A baby girl is God's way of saying, "I thought you could use a lifelong friend."

Alma Gertrude Erickson was born on March 30, 1930. She grew up on a farm in Falun Township in Roseau County, Minnesota. She didn’t care for her first name, so her parents, Esther and Albert, called her Gertrude or Gertie. Gertie attended a one-room school in Falun until the eighth grade,  transferring to Roseau High School her freshman year.

While attending high school as a freshman, she met a shy, tall, handsome classmate named Allan Hetteen. Allan Hetteen was soon to be a name that would forever be associated with Polaris Industries—a company he co-founded in 1954.  

Toddler Gertie

Alma Gertrude Erickson, born March 30, 1930.

Little girl playing outside

Gertrude as a toddler was always ready to blaze a trail to start the day with gusto!

Gerties Elementary Photo

Gertie’s elementary school photo.  

Gertie and Allan became friends much to the dismay of Allan. His wish was to date her as a girlfriend, but Gertie had other ideas. They did hang out together with a group of friends for several years. Finally, much to Allan’s delight, she FINALLY said yes to go on a date with him! The couple drove to Crookston to a softball game…with four of Allan’s friends.

Gertie wrote in her memories about her husband Allan,

“Soon I learned there was something very special about him. We attended different churches with our families. Allan eventually  invited me to the Young People activities at his church. He worked with first grade boys  and would take “his boys” out to the Malung School to play games on the softball field. Sometimes I went with BUT the first-grade boys wanted Allan’s  full concentration  to pitch the softball rather than having him  pay attention to some silly girl!”

A look of a First Lady and her Husband

Her 1948 Roseau High School graduation portrait and Allan in his courting suit looking very presidential

Gerties Graduation Photo
Allan Hetteen as a young man

Allan Eldore Hetteen was born on July 17, 1929 to Mae and Emanuel  Emanuel on a dairy farm  in Malung Township, Roseau County, Minnesota. He had a brother, Edgar, nine years older.

Allan moved with his family to Roseau, Minnesota when he was in elementary school. 

Allan enjoyed the outdoors, taking photographs, being involved in his church, working with the youth, and working off and on in his older brother’s shop. He graduated from Roseau High School in 1948. He met and fell in love with a  freckled-face, beautiful classmate. He loved her radiant smile from the moment he met her.

 

Allan as a young man, loved being outside. He did not like his picture taken on that day!

 

Allan as a young boy
Allan as a teenager 1
As a teenager Allan loved to take outdoor photos.
Gertie and Allan Hetteen
Allan waited patiently for Gertie almost two years! Patience is a virtue as finally they were a couple!
Allan graduation pic 1948 bw
Allan’s graduation portrait from Roseau High School in 1948.
Shy Gertie Hetteen

Gertie and Allan continued dating after graduation. “Hey Gertie! Who is the shy one now!?!” He eventually proposed.

Of Course she said, “YES!
Gertie would eventually become a trailblazer in the business world, but first and most of all she was a passionate, loving wife and mother!

In 1949 ...."Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married! Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married! Gee, I really love you..."

Allan and Gertie Hetteen Wedding Photo

Allan Hetteen married Gertrude Erickson on September 3, 1949, in Roseau, Minnesota.

Here is their Christmas card sent to Allan’s brother Edgar and family.

The 1st Christmas card as a new couple

Shown below is a photo of  their first home together.

Their first home was 16′ x 6′ trailer. 

Allan stood six-feet 3 inches tall. The only place he could stand straight up was with his head in the vent located in the middle of the trailer.

Gertie stated in her Memoria, “It was so cold in the winter the blankets and sheets would freeze to the wall.

Nine months later, the trailer was gone!

Gertie and Allan's First Home

The First Home of Allan and Gertie’s!  

Polaris logo sets you free transparency

Join us next week to find out what the future “Power Couple”  are up to and why Gertie is called “The First Lady of Polaris and a “Trailblazer”?

To learn more about the history of Polaris and where it all began, visit the Roseau County Museum and Historical Society for a digital library roseaurosroseauhttps://roseaucohistoricalsociety.org/

Written and Researched by Carmen Przekwas

Memories shared by Mike Hetteen 

Digital Creator Sinnamon Krings Roseau Promotions Director: All Rights Reserved Carmen Przekwas

Photos Hetteen and Przekwas Personal Collections

Â