Bill Harmsen
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Dorothy Harmsen and Bill Harmsen the creators of the jolly rancher
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[edit] The Harmsens
Bill Harmsen born (1912 June 20) in Saint Paul, Minnesota - (2002 April 10) in Wheat Ridge, Colorado from prostate Cancer. Dorothy Harmsen born (September 13, 1914) in Minneapolis, Minnesota - (2006 August 29) of Heart Attack.
[edit] Jolly Rancher
The couple moved out to denver, colorado in 1942. In 1949, They opened up a canday store in golden, Colorado called the Jolly Rancher after the Jolly miller a hotel in their hometown of Minneapolis. Unhappy with local candy suppliers, they Decided to make their own candy which lead to the Jolly rancher candy. The Harmsen's ran very successful company for almost 20yrs Selling to Beatrice Foodsin 1966, with Bill harmsen staying on as president intil 1977. The Company was purches by Hershey in 1996, jolly rancher has become one of americas favorite hard candy with over a dozen flavors and millions sold since its beginning.
[edit] Life After the Jolly Rancher
After his leaving the business the Harmsens became even more involved in collecting of Western Art. Some of the works included artist such as Alfred Miller, George Catlin, Joseph H. Sharp, Victor Higgins, Frederic Remington, and Robert Henri. They donated land to the Gate Canyon State Park in Colorado. In 2001, Donated close to 5000 pieces or art and american west memorablia to Denver Art Museum. Bill Harmsen died in 2002 at age of 89 and Dorothy died in 2006 at age 91. They had left three kids behind.
