Worthington Power and Equipment sold

• Worthington Power and Equipment

Alyson Buschena/Daily Globe Worthington Power and Equipment owners recently reached a sale deal with C & B Operations LLC.

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WORTHINGTON — A business locally owned for 24 years has been sold to a Gettysburg, S.D.-based company.

Worthington Power and Equipment has been sold to C & B Operations LLC, it was announced Monday in a press release issued by the business.

According to the release, Roy Naser became interested in the business when the previous dealership closed in 1987. Naser and his son, Ed, realized many local farmers were hurt by the closing. Six months later, Naser opened Worthington Power and Equipment.

The business is currently owned by Naser’s daughters, Lorna Kruger and Ruth Putnam.

Putnam cites the decision to sell as a personal one.

“We enjoyed running the business and we enjoyed being part of John Deere, but we felt that multiple stores are the way of the future with John Deere,” she said.

Worthington Power and Equipment was approached by C & B Operations this past summer and has since been in discussion with the company about a possible sale.

“We’ve been dealing with them closely over the past 15 days,” Putnam said.

Putnam believes employment at the store will remain the same.

“We have a great crew, and we believe that they will all continue to be employed by the new owner,” she said.

Putnam and Kruger are both grateful to the customers and dedicated employees for their years of business and friendship, the press release said.

Todd Kruger, store manager for the past 12 years, said that he has enjoyed his time working with employees and customers, and feels that they have chosen the best organization to sell to in this area.

Kruger doesn’t anticipate customers will notice any difference in the store’s service.

“I would say that they will have an advantage, being able to draw from all 21 stores (owned by C & B Operations LLC),” he added.

Matt Cronin, president and CEO of C & B Operations, LCC, said in a press release that C & B is “very excited to bring Worthington Power and Equipment, Inc. into our dealer group. The store has a knowledgeable and dedicated team that has worked hard to develop a strong reputation in the area with their customers. We hope to continue growth in those customer relationships through a greater selection of equipment as well as additional technical support to increase efficiency in their operations.”

C & B Operations LCC is a family owned business that owns and operates 21 John Deere dealerships in South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho.

The transition from Worthington Power and Equipment to C & B Operations LLC is anticipated to take place by the end of the year.

Daily Globe Reporter Alyson Buschena may be reached at

376-7322.

Tags: worthington power and equipment, news, sold