95-year-old Detroit Lakes man still selling cars after nearly 70 years

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KVRR) – Don Getz has sold a lot of cars, and he’s been selling them for a long time.   

Don has been helping people drive away in newly-purchased vehicles from Nereson Automotive in Detroit Lakes, about half of his almost seven decades in the car business.

“Well I’ve been working for about 70 years. I must have started when I was 10, I don’t know”

“I’ve been here at Nereson since ‘88. That’s longer than I thought I should be here.”

Don’s career has taken many turns over the years. He owned his own dealership in Barnesville for 14 years, but even as he got older he never wanted to quit.

“I can’t sit home and watch TV everyday. I can’t do that.”

Nereson General Manager Rob Richards says that having Don around is a blast.

“We’re very blessed to have him here. We love seeing him come to work. He’s here everyday, and even on Saturdays. It’s his life. And I think him working still today is why he is 95-years-old.”

 Over the years Don has seen many changes in how the business operates. And changes in the cars themselves.

“It’s just fun getting used to it. And a lot of technology in these new units now, unbelievable. And a lot of people don’t understand at all. And I don’t understand at all. I have a couple of young guys who help me with some of these deals.”

But Don said he’s stayed in it for the people and the connections he makes.

“I enjoy people. And like I say, I’ve got a good following of people from Barnesville, Wolverton, Comstock and all over. And I just like it. It’s kinda fun.”

And Don says he doesn’t have plans of stopping anytime soon.

“I’ll keep going as long as I can. And like I say, I’ve been here 36 years, and if I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t have been here that long. And the people I work with, the managers and everything, we have a good time, we have fun.”