Settergren Hardware Furniture and Undertaking was founded by Will and Gus Settergren in 1895, with stores in Grove City and Litchfield. There is an antique wagon on display at the Litchfield Museum that was purchased at Settergren Hardware in 1903. These stores were open until 1922, when Will decided to move to California. Two years later, Will missed the hardware business and asked Carl Settergren, Mark’s grandfather, to go into business. They open Settergren Hardware on 27th and East Lake Street in 1924. Will died one year later. Dale, Phil and Jim Settergren, Carl’s sons, grew up working in the East Lake Street store with their father. In 1947, Dale and Carl became business partners at the East Lake store. In 1948, a fire destroyed the store. Six months later, they reopened a brand new store in the same location, with new fixtures and inventory. They worked in that store together until 1957, and Carl stayed there until it closed in 1969. On September 1st, 1957, Dale and Phil opened Settergren Hardware on 54th and Penn. Mark Settergren was on the payroll by age 13, learning the hardware business, and family tradition of superior customer service. After graduating, Mark purchased Simms Hardware in Dinkytown, the oldest hardware store in Minneapolis, in 1986. Four years later, while Mark still worked at Simms, Mark and Dave Svobodny purchased Richfield Hardware on 54th and Nicollet, then they changed the name to Diamond Lake Hardware. In 1995, Mark sold Simms Hardware, and Mark and Dave purchased Settergren Hardware from Dale and Phil Settergren. Dale and Phil are still employed by Mark and Dave today. The 5th generation, including Mark’s children Jenny and Carl, have been working in the store for many years already. Jenny is now a teacher and works part time at the store and Carl has plans and hopes to continue the family legacy someday.