Tulips, generosity net $76K for families of fallen first responders

101 Market officials pay visit to Burnsville Police, Fire and Rescue to present checks that will go to families of fallen first responders

by Jim Boyle

Editor

The tulip sales at 101 Market that touched a nerve in the communities of Otsego, Elk River and far beyond have now warmed the hearts of those closest to the families of the first responders in Burnsville who were killed in the line of duty on Feb. 18.

The folks at the Otsego garden center presented the police and fire departments with three checks totaling $76,500 that were divided equally and were passed along to the families of police officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40.

Burnsville Fire Captain Jamie Gerard and Burnsville firefighter/paramedic Christian Schuster along with Deputy Police Chief Matt Smith and Sgt. Jeremiah Mahler from the Burnsville Police Department accepted the checks.

“It brought tears to their eyes, and they were just blown away that people cared that much for these families that they would buy that many tulips,” said Georgia Edgington, who runs floral component at 101 Market.

Ken Nathe, owner of 101 Market, was not surprised one bit. He had visions of raising $50,000 before proceeds reached $18,000 in the first week of tulips sales. Nathe committed to giving 100% of the proceeds from the tulip sales. After learning of the plan, Len Busch Roses, a wholesale florist in Plymouth, agreed upon providing them at a discounted rate. Nathe quickly envisioned raising $50,000 for these families before the rest of his team believed. They set their sights on $30,000 — $10,000 for each family.

People in public safety circles and those who support the men and women in law enforcement as well as the fire and rescue service flocked to the Otsego garden center to show support as news of the fundraiser spread. 101 Market started promoting the sale of tulips on Feb. 21.

The idea came from Pat Brueske, a cashier at 101 Market who spent that fateful Sunday worried about her cousin who works as a Lakeville police officer.

“I was on pins and needles all day that Sunday, saying, ‘Oh, my God, I hope it’s not Jim,’ ... because I could see him jumping in his car and driving down there. He lives in that area.”

After consuming a day’s worth of the tragic news, she came to work at 101 Market on Monday determined to help out the grieving families. Brueske and Edgington as well as Ken and Julie Nathe worked on a plan to sell tulips.

The four then made the trip to Burnsville on March 28 to present the checks and brought them a card as well, Edgington said.

“They were all overwhelmed by the amount of money, and their jaws dropped when they saw the checks,” Edgington said. “We told them how it so touched the hearts of the surrounding communities, and not just our communities, but communities surrounding our communities.”

People came from hundreds of miles away. Members of the nonprofit Backing the Blue Line came.

The officials who accepted the checks were so appreciative.

“What we heard, especially from the police department, was that they were so grateful for the support after so many years of not feeling supported and not feeling like their jobs are seen as important,” Edgington said. “Things like this have given them hope again that, perhaps, things are changing.”

Edgington said she shared her prayer and hope is that this tragedy will restart or reshape how society is looking at first responders, especially police officers, and what they do every day for the public.

The experience in Burnsville impacted her, too.

“One of the things that I came away with was how, in both cases, the fire department and the police department, they protect their own,” she said. “They are protective over them. In both instances, they are still meeting weekly with these families, and they are helping them. They are caring for their needs and making sure they have the support that they need.”