DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Employees at Nereson Automotive in Detroit Lakes learned that if they didn't roll into work until 8 or 9 a.m., there would be an early-rising old guy there ready with a "Don-ism" — a funny little razzing from longtimer Don Getz.

"He'd say, 'Did you bring the evening paper with you?'" laughed Rob Richards, general manager of Nereson, who says Getz was always the first or second person there in the morning. "He was of the generation where the early bird gets the worm," said Matt Borah, general sales manager at the store.

But things are now a little quieter over at the car dealership as Getz — who had become somewhat of an icon over the decades there — died on Nov. 20 at the age of 97.

"It was tough," said Richards, referring to the day the staff all received word o

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