About Our Business
About Us
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Before the De Jong family owned Baxter Oil, Ruit Buitenwerf from Sully purchased the
business from Walt Hamilton, a farmer from Baxter who sold machinery in the back of the
building. In the front and off to the side of the driveway stood what was known at the time as
a grease pit. The grease pit was used for oil changes and greasing when the weather
allowed.
Ruit hired 26-year-old Louis De Jong to operate the business on a commission basis, and
the DeJong family's long history with the station began Jan. 1, 1928. It was a Shell Oil
station at that time.
Hard times fell upon Louis and his wife Ada during that first year. Louie lost an eye while
repairing a truck tire. Things did improve for the family the next year when their first son was
born in April of 1929. Soon after, they purchased their first home which was located just
one block west of the station.
During the early 1930's, Louis purchased the oil and accessory inventory from Ruit. Later,
Louis bought the gasoline inventory and the building, becoming the new owner. Virgil Jontz
worked for Louis as one of the first tank wagon drivers. Later Louis hired his nephew,
Lawrence Van Rees, who was well liked in the community and served on the fire
department. Lawrence worked for the company for several years until 1947.
The family wrote of their experiences during those early years. "Those early years, although
in the midst of a great depression and time of unemployment, were the most relaxed of the
entire life of this business. The owner and employees had time to fly kites, inflate balloons
with some kind of gas formed by dropping some liquid in a pop bottle and releasing them
into the atmosphere, and to sit in the shade of a great cottonwood tree on the premises,
eating ice cream and watermelons. Unbelievable in this time of hurry, hurry, they had time
to walk the half block or so to the restaurant for a cup of coffee or a block and a half to the
pool hall for a quick game of pool. Louie began playing too much pool when they got to
sending his youngest son Darrell to the pool hall after him when he was needed…
"During the 25 years he was in business, Louis served on the town council and school
board while enjoying an annual fishing trip, usually with the family and sometimes with a
group of other men."
Rationing began in the US in 1942 in order to preserve resources, such as gas and food,
for the war. Americans were given ration tickets to control the amount of gasoline, meat,
sugar, butter, even shoes they bought.
"The World War II years were tough ones for a gas dealer, what with rationing and
shortages. Louis was entrusted with the care and custody of most of the ration coupons of
his customers. Returning servicemen were usually issued a coupon for five gallons of gas
while on leave from the war. Louie would not accept these coupons from the men and
furnished them with all they required to make their leave or furlough a happy one, usually
sneaking a coupon from one of his faithful customers to cover the shortage. They did not
seem to mind this small contribution to the war effort."
Dwight De Jong worked for his father during his teens waiting on the driveway, sweeping
floors, emptying wastebaskets and doing general clean up work. After graduating high
school, Dwight joined the Marines in 1946, committing himself for three years of service.
After his term was up, Dwight returned to Baxter in 1949 and worked for his father as a tank
wagon salesman. In 1950, Dwight was recalled to service in the Korean War. After being
discharged from service, Dwight leased a Richfield station in Santa Ana, California.
Back in Baxter, Louis was trying to sell his business, but could not find a buyer. He visited
Dwight in California where they decided that Dwight would purchase the business from
Louis for $12,000 plus $4,000 for the inventory. Dwight returned to his home town and
became the owner and manager of the company on July 1, 1953.
The next spring Dwight met the woman who would later become his wife, Elna Mae
Damman, and married her that September after a whirlwind courtship. Together they ran
the business, hauling fuel oil and gasoline to the R.B. Birch Construction Company to help
build the first hard surface road into Baxter (Hwy. 223 East). During the early years of their
marriage, Elna Mae and Dwight also worked other jobs, she at Maytag and he as a school
bus driver.
From 1953 to 1962, they made several improvements to the business on Station St. They
added a lube room, a repair room and increased the driveway space. The station changed
from Shell Oil to DX in the early 60's. The family decided to change locations in the spring
of 1962, and by the fall they moved to the south end of town on the highway where the
business is still located to this day. Like their father before them, Bryan and Alan worked for
their parents during their teen years. Bryan said, "I grew up at the station washing head
lights and windshields and sweeping driveways."
As the 60's passed and the 70's came, challenges arose when they were faced with the
gas shortages of the 1970's. They wrote, "Several nervous moments were spent during the
shortages of petroleum in the early 1970's, but we survived. Our new facility had a three bay
service department, offering complete brake service, front end alignment and repairs, tune-
ups and other minor repairs. In the 1970's this repair and service department was leased
to Larry and Rita Milligan, former employees, and Dwight and family concentrated on their
wholesale ice business."
The ice business grew throughout the 70's. Dwight and Elna and sons Alan and Bryan
worked manufacturing, bagging and storing 800 bags of ice daily. The 800 bags of ice and
40 blocks were sold and delivered within a 60 mile radius of Baxter to many businesses
including Hy-Vee stores, Dairy Queens, gas stations and bait shops from Story City to
Oskaloosa, Brooklyn and Des Moines. The business grew to a point where they would
need to invest significant amounts of money for new facilities, and the family decided to sell
this arm of the business.
The next few years they concentrated on the bulk delivery of farm fuel tractor gas and diesel
fuel to area farms. This was a successful part of the business that their grandfather had
started in the 20's and that continued into the 90's.
New fiberglass tanks and piping were installed in 1986, bringing the facility up to EPA
standards. They also built a self serve car wash in the 80's. In 1987 Bryan and Alan
purchased the business, and Dwight and Elna retired. Changes continued as DX became
Sunoco.
By the 90's, ownership shifted again as Bryan bought out his brother's share and he and
Karen became the owners. Even though many locals still call the station DX, it is now
unbranded primarily because the major companies want bigger stations. Today Karen
runs the station many days while Bryan installs Lennox heating and air conditioning,
continuing the long standing family tradition of keeping the business up to date and
growing with new ventures.
The latest remodeling project began in February of 2002. Where once there was a garage
with three lube bays, a Kountry Korner store now stands offering normal convenience store
items and an ample supply of food. The wall separating the garage and the gas station
has been torn down giving them three times as much space.
This space is filled with a Taco Depot with hard and soft tacos, chicken and beef burritos,
nachos, refried beans and the Taco Depot version of Potato Ole's called Cactus Crisps.
The ice cream choices include sundaes, floats and banana splits, and a new ice cream
freezer displays the products inside.
A Short History of Baxter Oil
Bryan DeJong was born July 2, 1959 at Skiff Memorial Medical Center in Newton, raised
in Baxter and graduated from Baxter High School in 1977. He then came to work for his
father at Baxter Oil Company. He married wife Karen in 1987, they have 2 boy’s Gabriel 19
and Dylan 16. Bryan and Karen bought out his father’s business in the early 90’s and
continue to operate the enterprise today, which consists of a convenience store with food
service operation and car wash and they also provide some mechanical contracting
services as they are a Lennox dealer and have been recently concentrating on
geothermal heating and cooling.
Bryan served for 10 year’s on the volunteer fire department, and as past president Dollars
for Scholars, also has served as a Baxter Economic Development Corporation board
member, is currently serving his third term on Baxter’s city council. He regularly attends
service at the Baxter United Congregational Church where he serves as vice moderator
on the church council, and chairman of the stewardship committee. He is currently
serving on the board of directors for Partner Communications a local cooperative
providing cable television, Internet, and telephone service to surrounding communities.
Over the past winter Bryan is proud to have tested through the City of Des Monies Class B
Mechanical Comfort Heating requirements and now holds a Masters License #OCC2007-
00446.
Recently he has attended the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
training held at the Iowa Energy Center and obtained installer accreditation by scoring
90% or higher on the review test.
Also recently completed ClimateMaster factory training and scored 100% on the review
test.
When time permits Bryan enjoys motorcycle touring, fishing, snowmobiling, attending his
son’s activities, and family time.
in Baxter and graduated from Baxter High School in 1977. He then came to work for his
father at Baxter Oil Company. He married wife Karen in 1987, they have 2 boy’s Gabriel 19
and Dylan 16. Bryan and Karen bought out his father’s business in the early 90’s and
continue to operate the enterprise today, which consists of a convenience store with food
service operation and car wash and they also provide some mechanical contracting
services as they are a Lennox dealer and have been recently concentrating on
geothermal heating and cooling.
Bryan served for 10 year’s on the volunteer fire department, and as past president Dollars
for Scholars, also has served as a Baxter Economic Development Corporation board
member, is currently serving his third term on Baxter’s city council. He regularly attends
service at the Baxter United Congregational Church where he serves as vice moderator
on the church council, and chairman of the stewardship committee. He is currently
serving on the board of directors for Partner Communications a local cooperative
providing cable television, Internet, and telephone service to surrounding communities.
Over the past winter Bryan is proud to have tested through the City of Des Monies Class B
Mechanical Comfort Heating requirements and now holds a Masters License #OCC2007-
00446.
Recently he has attended the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
training held at the Iowa Energy Center and obtained installer accreditation by scoring
90% or higher on the review test.
Also recently completed ClimateMaster factory training and scored 100% on the review
test.
When time permits Bryan enjoys motorcycle touring, fishing, snowmobiling, attending his
son’s activities, and family time.
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About Bryan DeJong
About Karen DeJong
Karen was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota and raised in Brooten, Minnesota going to
grade and high school there. She has a big family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters, with mom
still residing in the area near the boys. Karen moved to Iowa to work at Principal Financial
Group shortly after high school (her sis' coaxed her down here) and she met Bryan at a
coworkers birthday party in Baxter, they dated for a few years and then married. Karen
resigned from Principal Financial Group when she became pregnant with Gabe so she
could be close to the family, and started helping Bryan with Baxter Oil. These days Karen
keeps busy with bookkeeping, shift scheduling, ordering, and just general managing of the
store.
Karen is also regular attending the Baxter United Church of Christ and is currently serving
on the diaconate and having taught Sunday school there when the boy's were younger.
Karen enjoys being with the boys and attending their events. She has been a good sport
with Bryan over the years by going fishing, snowmobiling, and motorcycling with him even
though she would prefer to vacation somewhere warm and sunny.
grade and high school there. She has a big family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters, with mom
still residing in the area near the boys. Karen moved to Iowa to work at Principal Financial
Group shortly after high school (her sis' coaxed her down here) and she met Bryan at a
coworkers birthday party in Baxter, they dated for a few years and then married. Karen
resigned from Principal Financial Group when she became pregnant with Gabe so she
could be close to the family, and started helping Bryan with Baxter Oil. These days Karen
keeps busy with bookkeeping, shift scheduling, ordering, and just general managing of the
store.
Karen is also regular attending the Baxter United Church of Christ and is currently serving
on the diaconate and having taught Sunday school there when the boy's were younger.
Karen enjoys being with the boys and attending their events. She has been a good sport
with Bryan over the years by going fishing, snowmobiling, and motorcycling with him even
though she would prefer to vacation somewhere warm and sunny.
| Bryan is proud to have obtained installer accreditation by testing through a course at the Iowa Energy Center at the DMACC campus in Ankeny recently |
Call Today! 641-227-3105