Kim Fundingsland/MDN Joe Aberle, right, has been employed at Minot Sash & Door for 56 years. At left is Myron Feist, president, Minot Sash & Door.

It all started with a two-week trial. Fifty-six years later he’s still on the job.

Joe Aberle, 79, was just 23 years old when Dick Feist approached him about coming to work at Minot Sash & Door. Aberle had been laid off from his construction job for the winter months.

“I told him I’d try it for two weeks and if he didn’t like me he could get rid of me and if I liked the job I’d stay,” said Aberle.

Stay he did. He’s still there, although in 2012 he semi-retired. Today he works about 20 hours per week and doesn’t work Fridays. He earned that right from a business that values his experience and knowledge and work ethic.

“He doesn’t get upset about doing difficult things. He takes them on and completes them,” said Mike Feist, Minot Sash & Door. “He’s the epitome of an excellent worker. If I could have a hundred Joes I would take them all.”

Aberle grew up on a farm in the Verendrye area. It was 1963 when he joined the skilled woodworkers at Minot Sash & Door. One of his earliest fellow employees was the current president of the business – Myron Feist.

“When I was a young kid I worked with Joe doing staircases and things like that,” recalled Myron Feist. “Joe was my mentor and now he works for me.”

“But I’m the boss,” injected Aberle, resulting in laughter from both men.

“We do tease each other,” responded Feist with a smile. “Joe’s been a good, trustworthy employee who enjoys his craft.”

Aberle’s woodworking skills have proved invaluable. Some of his finest and most rewarding work has been custom-made staircases, some of which required intricate and complex work from a talented professional. He has several photographs of such projects on his cellular phone.

“They are fun to do,” said Aberle. “I’ve always like building things and seeing how they look when they’re done.”

A few years ago Minot Sash & Door had the task of building and installing benches, partitions, railings and desks for a Fargo courthouse. It was a job that required perfection. Aberle was called upon to work on the project to insure that it was done right.

“What’s nice about Joe is that you can turn him loose on a job. He’s done it all,” stated Myron Feist.

“He just kind of leaves me alone,” laughed Aberle.

The veteran woodworker fondly remembers the small, five-man crew that worked in the shop at Minot Sash & Door during his early years at the business. Aberle though, is the only one left.

“Everybody else is gone,” said Aberle. “Dick Feist still comes in. It’s nice to see him here.”

Aberle has seen many changes in the equipment required for skilled woodworking during his time on the job.

“It’s changed three or four times, I think,” said Aberle. “When I started a Craftsman table saw was all we had, and an old miter box. Today everything is cordless, no cords anymore.”

Aberle is in good health, much more so than many at 79 years of age, and enjoys keeping busy. For the past six years he has also been employed at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home. Among his duties is ushering people in and out of services.

How long will Aberle continue working at Minot Sash & Door? Maybe the best answer is to don’t look for him to step away from his 56-year profession anytime soon.

“I’ve got no plans yet,” said Aberle with a smile. “Some days I think I’d like to quit but it never happens.”

“He can stay as long as he wants to,” said Myron Feist, a testament to Aberle’s valued service.

(Prairie Profile is a weekly feature profiling interesting people in our region. We welcome suggestions from our readers. Call Regional Editor Eloise Ogden at 857-1944 or call 1-800-735-3229. You also can send email suggestions to eogden@minotdailynews.com.)