Don Asmus retired from the Todd County Sheriff’s Office after 41 years of service.
Don Asmus as a deputy in 1994.
Don Asmus retired from the Todd County Sheriff’s Office after 41 years of service.
Asmus recalls 41 years of service to the county
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by Trinity Gruenberg
In a time before 911, computers and licenses for law enforcement, Don Asmus joined the Todd County Sheriff’s Office.
Asmus and his brother, Ron, were the first twins born at the “new” Long Prairie Hospital in 1956. In total there were nine siblings in his family. He grew up farming; dairy, grain, hogs and chickens in rural Browerville.
He first attended the little red country school on County Road 14 and graduated from the Browerville School.
After Asmus and his wife Judy were wed in Clarissa, he worked at Hillig’s tractor shop in Long Prairie. He rented a one-bedroom house from then Sheriff Ken Gothman.
“He said ‘why don’t you come work for me?’,” recalled Asmus.
He was hired on for dispatch, which at the time was a civilian position that didn’t require a license.
“You answered the phone and fed the inmates. That’s about it,” explained Asmus.
He also worked part time for the Long Prairie Police Department as a patrolman. He began at the TCSO on November 1, 1977 under Gothman who held the sheriff’s position until 1984. Then Asmus’ brother Dave took over as sheriff, followed by David Kircher and Pete Mikkelson. . . .