Obituary: Marge Gerten, matriarch of the garden mart, dies at 89

Over the years, there would be those customers who wanted to talk only with Marge Gerten's son Terry, wanting to hear "from a man" about a lawn chemical or garden need.

But those customers would eventually realize that it was his mother who was the most knowledgeable and they'd turn to her for advice, Terry Gerten said.

"She was a staple for many, many years," he said of his mom's work spanning three decades at Gerten's Farm Market, a small family operation in Inver Grove Heights. It's now owned by Terry Gerten and family, cousins to the larger Gerten's garden empire.

"She was really well known throughout the community," Terry Gerten said of his mom's work at his family store at 2900 65th St. E.

Marge Gerten died Aug. 28. She was 89.

People would not only seek out her advice on everything from weedkillers to seeds — talk would often turn to kids. A mother of 10, she always had a helpful hint.

She ran the register up front, advising patrons on yard chemicals and more. Her home turf was near the pots, with glazed, terra cotta and plastic planters, and lawn statuary of all sizes.

"Mom loved working at the Farm Market, seeing many family, friends and customers from year to year," said daughter Lori DeLong.

"She loved sharing stories of her days and how people had changed from year to year — because, of course, she never changed. She truly loved working there, except when it was too hot and humid, and she loved controlling how things were done."

Her son Terry had started the store in 1983 as a place to buy fresh produce. By the end of his first season, he was also selling flowers and shrubs. The store still focuses on spring bedding plants and has an array of vegetable and herb plants.

At 18, Marge married Leonard Gerten. The two could dance the partnered schottische so smoothly it looked like they were flying across the dance floor. Later, after his legs began to give out, she'd dance the polka with anyone who would join her.

Her kids grew up listening to Lawrence Welk, Tiny Bubbles and Christmas songs year-round. Marge Gerten couldn't carry a tune, but she could keep a beat, and she'd rock her kids to sleep singing "You Are My Sunshine."

She doted all the more on her grandkids, stocking her cupboards with 20 kinds of sugary cereals.

Marge Gerten always made time for those whom she cared about, said daughter Peg Hill.

"My mom never lacked for friends and always told me how important it was to have good friends," Hill said.

"She had friends who were relatives, church friends, farm market friends, bingo friends, bowling friends, golf friends, card-playing friends, shopping friends and casino friends."

In the past four or five years, Marge Gerten had cut back on her hours at the store. Her eyesight was failing and she couldn't run the register. Her son set her up in a chair at the front of the store, where she recognized many regular customers by their voices. Even then, she loved to talk and to give helpful garden advice.