Not ready to shelve their work

C A P.
Alexandria, MN     11/23/2009 3:09 PM

I recall when my mom took me shopping at their store when I was about 4 or 5. She had finished paying for all the items and had put away her wallet, when I shyly put my pkg of SNAPS licorice candy up on the counter. Wilbur then told her I could just HAVE the candy for free. I thought that was amazing and I will always remember that generosity from him. Thank you, Wilbur.

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heather t.
Norfolk, VA     11/21/2009 7:04 AM

WIlbur and Florence truly are a special couple. I met them when I married Don in 1973. Einar and Alice bought their groceries there, and when we bought the farm and moved to Evansville, we continued the tradition. Lars and Christian still buy groceries there. Every time we come up to visit from North Carolina, I always try to stop in the store just to see the Nelson family. This is a rare instance of small town America. Blessings. Sharon Nelson-Drakeford

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Rod P.
Fairmont, MN     11/21/2009 6:36 AM

What a neat story about such a "special couple", Florence and Wilbur.. Growing up only a mile from Melby, I have been blessed to know Florence and Wilbur all my life and have always admired thier enthusiastic attitutes and positive out looks on life.. They have been and still are an inspiration to any body who knows them.. I have so many fun memories and whenever we come back to Evansville, I always look forward to thier welcoming smiles and to reminisce about the past and present with them.... In my life , these are truely "special people", and God bless you both with many more years of good health and happiness... Rod Palmquist, Fairmont, Mn

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MARLO H.
Ashby, MN     11/20/2009 3:16 PM

Wilbur & Florence will always be "Mr & Mrs Evansville' to a lot of folks including me. What they have done for the community reaches out beyond the grocery store.Excellent story about a very special couple. Marlo H

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SARJH H.
Alexandria, MN     11/20/2009 1:36 PM

A very sweet and cute couple!!!

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Geri H.
Ashby, MN     11/20/2009 1:29 PM

I agree Mike. I, too, was a child of 5 in 1960 and I remember well going to "Wilbur's". There were many times when my family's paycheck didn't stretch as far as we needed but that didn't seem to matter when we went to Wilbur's. My mother still talks about how he helped us out many times. I hope Wilbur and Florence know how much their generosity and caring meant to families like mine and still lingers in our memories. God Bless You, Wilbur and Florence!!!!!

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Mike H.
Alexandria, MN     11/20/2009 9:40 AM

What an asset Wilbur and Florence have been to the community of Evansville! My earliest recollection of Wilbur was in about 1960, when as a child of 5, I made my first purchase from his store. I went to town with my dad that morning to bring the cream cans of milk to the creamery. Afterwards we went in to "Wilbur's" to fill the shopping list my dad had. I had a nickel in my pocket. My dad made his purchases; now it was my turn. Not quite sure of how a business transaction was handled, I had put the candy on the counter and also set my nickel on the counter and ran out to the pick-up. Wilbur came running after me, "You forgot your candy!" Just a naive little country boy! As a teenager, my dad would pay us boys more than just an allowance as we helped him on the farm. But then we were responsible for purchasing some of our own clothes. One of these articles of clothing was work shoes for wearing on the farm. Of course, Wilbur sold these. Funny thing though, when we came to pay for them, Wilbur always knocked off a few bucks from the purchase price! Thank You, Wilbur!!! Mike Hanson Evansville

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