Dorothy Harmsen

The Harmsens

Dorothy Harmsen and Bill Harmsen were the creators of Jolly Rancher hard candy. 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.

Jolly Rancher

The couple moved out to Denver, Colorado in 1942. In 1949, They opened up a candy 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 Harmsens ran very the successful company for almost 20 years, selling to Beatrice Foods in 1966, with Bill Harmsen staying on as president until 1977. The Company was purchased by Hershey in 1996, Jolly Rancher has become one of North America's favorite hard candy with over a dozen flavors and millions sold since its beginning.

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 Golden 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 left three kids behind.

See also

• Bill Harmsen profile at Internet Accuracy Project
• Dorothy Harmsen
• Pioneer Museum
• Rancher