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Farmer’s Service Station

Okeene Chamber’s Business of the Month

80 Years of Dedicated Service to the Okeene Community!

            WOW!  Not too many businesses can brag about that and it’s for darn sure, you can’t get owner, Lonnie Boeckman to brag about anything!  Anyone who has known Lonnie for very long knows what a humble, easy going guy he is, so it took some work to even talk him into making a “ta-doo” over this great milestone for his families business!

            Lawrence Boeckman built Farmers Service Station in the fall of 1929.  The station had three driveways, hand-operated visible pumps, and was one of the only buildings on the north side of town at that time.  South of the station was a tennis court, and the area north was used for croquet, and occasionally by traveling carnivals.

The building was later extended, and the three driveways were remodeled into two wider ones.  Gasoline was originally delivered by railroad tank car, to storage tanks beside the tracks.  Farm deliveries were made with ten-gallon cans hauled in a pickup.

The biggest change occurred when Lawrence’s cousin, Henry Huhman, arrived from St. Elizabeth, Missouri, and began working at the station in 1933.

Still today the covered awning makes filling up in wet weather much better.

In the early 1940’s, a two-bay garage was built, with an apartment where Lawrence lived.  Lawrence also bought an electric gas pump, which was one of the first in the area.

Lawrence Boeckman(L) and Henry Huhman(R) posing with their new tank truck which still serves our community today!

The station was closed for three years during World War II, when Lawrence and Henry were both in the service.  Henry became a full partner in the business when they re-opened the station in 1946.  A new tank truck was purchased in 1949.

Lawrence and Henry became Mobil Oil Company dealers in the late 1940’s.  When Mobil left the state in the mid-1970’s, they became Kerr-McGee dealers.

Henry Huhman retired in 1986, at which time Lonnie Boeckman became a partner with his father.  Lawrence Boeckman worked at the station until he passed away in 1995.

Although Lawrence and Henry are no longer with us, their commitment to serving out community lives on through Lonnie, who still sells gasoline, diesel fuel, and performs most types of maintenance and repair work. and if you drive under the covered pump area you are quickly greeted, by either Lonnie or Alvin Rauh.  It’s for sure you would have to drive a long way before you can find another place where you can still say, “Fill ‘er up” and without getting out of your car, your tank is filled and you are ready to head on down the highway. 

Please join the the Okeene Chamber of Commerce in celebrating this great, 80th milestone with Farmer’s Service Station on Thursday, November 19th from 2-4.