Our Grandfather, Selmer G. Swenson, sold his farming equipment and moved from Iowa to Sioux Falls, SD just after World War II.
He founded this company in 1946 with his son, Mark and son-in-law, Chuck Connor to provide household plumbing and bathroom products to baby-booming families. Selmer sold whole house plumbing systems…from the well to the indoor bath…on just a handshake!
Family owned for over six decades:
Handy Man has been focused on this simple mission: “To provide our customers quality plumbing products at a fair price with excellent service.”
We are proud to carry on the integrity that our grandfather established in the company over 65 years ago. We hope that we will be serving
your grandchildren 65 years from now.
Our mission is to assist our customers in selecting the products that will best fit their individual needs in a prompt, courteous, and professional manner. We strive to stock only high quality, dependable products and offer them at competitive prices. Our educated team increases the value of service by providing helpful and beneficial information to ensure our customers are completely satisfied.
 Mark Swenson poses with a Swenson Plumbing truck in the 1960's. |
 Mark Swenson at a Trade Show in the 1960's. |
In 1959, the Sioux Falls operation relocated to a new and larger building that houses its present headquarters. A modern showroom and retail facility were maintained with a warehouse for the retail and contracting operations. In 1969, Selmer Swenson passed away leaving the company with the vision of a larger retail showroom. In 1971 Selmer’s dream came true when a larger
Handy Man showroom opened in Sioux Falls. Swenson Plumbing and Heating was still flourishing.
In 1973, a large warehouse was constructed across from
Handy Man to further accommodate the growing retail and contracting business. Sioux City, Iowa became home to the second
Handy Man, but was renamed to
PHE (Plumbing, Heating & Electrical) because there was another business operating under the name of
Handy Man in the state of Iowa. A third store opened in Lincoln, Nebraska July 1975. Again, it was named
PHE because there was already a business in the state of Nebraska operating under the name of
Handy Man. The two
PHE stores were renamed to
Handy Man Home Remodeling Center in 1991.
In 1984, John Sears resigned and Charles Connor retired. Their shares were sold to Joe Swenson, an employee of the company since 1979, and to Ted Swenson, an employee of the company since 1983. Also in 1984, Swenson Plumbing and Heating in Sioux Falls was liquidated and the main concentration became the retail operations of
Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.
When Mark Swenson retired from the Company in March of 1991, Steve Swenson, an employee since 1987, purchased stock.
In September 1994,
Handy Man of Sioux Falls moved to 910 East 10th Street where the showroom exists today. The current officers and owners of the corporation are Joe Swenson, Ted Swenson and Steve Swenson. Matt Swenson is employed as the Wholesale Sales Manager, so it is still very much a family business.
