Reported founding by Ivan Howes
Howes Oil Company
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Ivan Howes’s fuel business, the Gas Stop stations it helped launch, and the records that trace both through the Upper Midwest.
First Gas Stop on East 26th Street
Sale of 17 Gas Stop Holiday stores
Company history
The records follow a wholesale fuel business and a retail chain with roots in the same family.
Ivan’s early business
Sioux Falls business reporting credits Ivan Howes with founding Howes Oil in 1938. The Chamber records membership beginning in 1966. The April 20, 1938 Argus-Leader names Howes Oil as a Conoco distributor and gives its station and office at 12th Street and Minnesota Avenue. Later 1938 ads list dealers across Sioux Falls and in nearby towns.
Founding account · April 1938 advertisement · Chamber directory
Mike and the first Gas Stop
The 1996 South Dakota Supreme Court opinion preserves the transaction. In 1977 Howes Oil took a sublease in Cherry Creek Addition near East 26th and Cleveland, assigned it to Michael Howes, and Mike built the gas station. The opinion names Dan Vrooman as the operator after Mike subleased the site to him.
From Gas Stop to Holiday
In 2013, Holiday announced that I-90 Fuel Services, then led by Tom Howes, would convert 16 stores to the Holiday banner. In January 2020, Couche-Tard bought 17 I-90 Fuel Services stores. The two figures describe separate transactions. In 2022, Sioux Falls-area sites began switching from Holiday to Circle K.
2013 announcement · 2020 buyer report · 2022 signage report
On January 13, 2020, Alimentation Couche-Tard, the parent company of Circle K, acquired the 17 Gas Stop Holiday stores owned by Tom and Melissa Howes in South Dakota and Minnesota. Couche-Tard reported owning the land and buildings at 16 of the sites and leasing the remaining site. Its quarterly report gives US$84.6 million in combined consideration for this acquisition and ten separately acquired stores. The report does not give a standalone price for the 17 stores. Quarterly report, note 3
Howes Oil after the sale
Andy Howes led the separate fuel distribution business and developed Local Zip for independent retailers. In 2020 he told local media that Howes Oil would keep delivering to Holiday stores it had served. Fuel Holler describes a bulk-delivery network across eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.
Local Zip history · 2020 interview · Fuel Holler
See Andy’s City Council record and Tom’s I-90 Fuel Services career.
Station index
Addresses and intersections found in dated sources. The dates refer to the records cited below. This is a historical list.
- 12th St. and Minnesota Ave., Sioux FallsHowes Oil advertised its Super-Service Station and Office at this intersection as early as April 20, 1938. Ads in April 1939 and January 1941 give the same intersection. The street number, corner and a verifiable photograph remain open. 1938 Conoco advertisement
- 3000 E. 26th St., Sioux FallsFirst Gas Stop area, near Cleveland Avenue. The court traces the 1977 sublease and construction. An October 17, 1977 newspaper report gives the exact address. A later fleet guide lists the same address. Court opinion · Fleet guide, printed p. 42
- 415 N. Kiwanis Ave., Sioux FallsListed as an I-90 Fuel Services Gas Stop with E85. Fleet guide, printed p. 42
- 1927 W. 57th St., Sioux FallsListed as an I-90 Fuel Services Gas Stop with E85. A retrospective describes JJ’s opening inside the Gas Stop at 57th and Western in 1998. Fleet guide · JJ’s retrospective
- 4600 W. 41st St., Sioux FallsListed as an E85 Gas Stop in the fleet guide and later identified as a Holiday Gas Stop in state road project material. Fleet guide · State road project
- 3900 N. Cliff Ave., Sioux FallsGas Stop closed on August 30, 2018. Closure report
- Near 85th and Minnesota, Sioux FallsNew Gas Stop Holiday opened by February 15, 2018. Opening report
- 5210 W. 12th St., Sioux Falls2018 Gas Stop Holiday construction at 12th and Marion. City permit list
- 26th and Sertoma, Sioux FallsFirst location singled out in the March 2022 report of the metro-area Circle K rebranding. Rebranding report
- 26th and Cliff, Sioux FallsThe same 2022 report described plans to replace this former Holiday location. This is a separate intersection from the original East 26th and Cleveland Gas Stop. Replacement report
- Main Street and Highway 75, Luverne, MNI-90 Fuel’s Korner Gas Stop closed in April 2013. Its interstate location stayed open. Contemporary newspaper
- Interstate location, Luverne, MNA newspaper retrospective dates the planned Holiday conversion to October 28, 2013. Rock County Star Herald, p. 6A
Other markets named in the 2013 announcement. Aberdeen, Brandon, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre and Volga in South Dakota, and Worthington in Minnesota. The announcement names cities, with individual addresses still to be researched. 2013 city list
Company address. South Dakota’s facility register lists Howes Oil and I-90 Fuel Services separately at 823 E. 14th Street. The address is also in the federal carrier record for Howes Oil. State facility register · Federal carrier record
Record index
Search the dated records and sources collected so far.
1938History
Ivan Howes starts Howes Oil
Sioux Falls business reporting dates the founding to 1938 and identifies Ivan Howes as founder. A founding-year newspaper advertisement identifies the company’s station and office.
SiouxFalls.Business, Jan. 20, 2020Apr. 20, 1938Advertisements
Howes Oil advertises its station and office with Conoco
The display ad names Howes Oil Company as distributor and puts its Super-Service Station and Office at 12th Street and Minnesota Avenue.
Argus-Leader, Apr. 20, 1938, p. 4May 11, 1938Advertisements
A second Conoco display ad gives the same address
The ad names Howes Oil as distributor. Visible dealers include John Timm on East Tenth and Hollis Silkenson in Dell Rapids.
Argus-Leader, May 11, 1938, p. 10June 4, 1938Press
Howes Oil appears in an Argus-Leader new-members item
The search preview shows the company among new members. The organization name falls outside the excerpt.
Argus-Leader, June 4, 1938, p. 2July 6, 1938Advertisements
Conoco mileage campaign lists Howes Oil and its dealers
The ad lists John Timm, Albert Samuels, Feay’s Garage and Hollis Silkenson alongside Howes Oil. Dealer listings show a sales network and leave ownership of individual outlets open.
Argus-Leader, July 6, 1938, p. 10July 27, 1938Advertisements
A July ad lists Clarence Koester on West 12th
The ad repeats the 12th and Minnesota station address. Clarence Koester appears in the visible list on West 12th Street.
Argus-Leader, July 27, 1938, p. 8Aug. 3, 1938Advertisements
Conoco ad repeats the station and office address
The advertisement names Howes Oil as distributor and repeats the Super-Service Station and Office address.
Argus-Leader, Aug. 3, 1938, p. 10Apr. 19, 1939Advertisements
Howes Oil still advertises at 12th and Minnesota
The Conoco advertisement lists the station and office at the same intersection as the 1938 ads.
Argus-Leader, Apr. 19, 1939, p. 5Jan. 8, 1941Advertisements
Conoco advertisement confirms the intersection in 1941
The distributor line again gives the Howes Oil station and office at 12th and Minnesota Avenue.
Argus-Leader, Jan. 8, 1941, p. 161966Directory
Chamber membership begins
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber lists 1966 as the company’s membership start year. Its listing gives 823 E. 14th Street as the physical address, with no claim that the company occupied it in 1966.
Greater Sioux Falls Chamber member listing1977 / 1996Public records
The Cherry Creek sublease and first Gas Stop
The South Dakota Supreme Court records a 1977 sublease of Lot C, Tract 2, to Howes Oil. The company assigned its interest to Michael Howes, who built the station and later subleased it to operator Dan Vrooman. The development borders Cleveland Avenue and East 26th Street. Later local reporting identifies East 26th as the first Gas Stop.
Tan Corp. v. Johnson, 1996 SD 69, ¶2Oct. 17, 1977Press
The Gas Stop appears at 3000 E. 26th Street
A police brief reports vandalism at the station and gives its street number. The report establishes that The Gas Stop was operating by this date.
Argus-Leader, Oct. 17, 1977, p. 2Mar. 21, 1978Press
Another early Gas Stop report gives the same address
A police brief reports a burglary at the station at 3000 E. 26th Street.
Argus-Leader, Mar. 21, 1978, p. 18Jan. 28, 1981Press
Dan Vrooman comments on Gas Stop prices
A front-page price story identifies Dan Vrooman as manager of Gas Stop stations and describes their prices rising from 118.9 to 125.9 cents.
Argus-Leader, Jan. 28, 1981, p. 11998 / 2023Press
A wine shop inside the Gas Stop
A sponsored anniversary retrospective recounts Tom Howes’s idea for an adult-beverage store inside his new Gas Stop at 57th and Western, where JJ’s began in 1998.
SiouxFalls.Business, Oct. 3, 20232006Public records
Minnesota petroleum tax listing
Minnesota Revenue’s petroleum tax directory lists Howes Oil Co. Inc. under its Sioux Falls mailing address. This identifies the company in Minnesota’s records.
Minnesota Revenue, Petroleum Tax directory2009-eraPublic records
Four Sioux Falls Gas Stops on an E85 list
The California Department of General Services fleet-card guide lists four Sioux Falls Gas Stops under I-90 Fuel Services and labels the fuel E85. The document’s jurisdiction is California and the four sites themselves are in South Dakota.
California DGS fleet-card guide, printed p. 422012–13Public records
Local Zip trademark filing and publication
Howes Oil filed the Local Zip mark on September 12, 2012. The official gazette published it on February 12, 2013, under serial 85-727,299.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, TM 403Apr. 2013Press
The Korner Gas Stop in Luverne closes
The Rock County Star Herald identified I-90 Fuel as owner of the Main Street and Highway 75 shop. Its contemporaneous report quotes a door notice sending customers to the separate interstate location.
Rock County Star Herald, Apr. 30, 20132013Company materials
The Local convenience-store network begins
Howes Oil’s Local brand identifies affiliated independent stores by their hometown ZIP codes. Wall Lake Oil in Hartford is the company’s example, Local Zip 57033.
Local Convenience Stores, Our Local StoryAug. 2013Company materials
Holiday announces 16 conversions
Holiday announced an agreement with I-90 Fuel Services covering 16 Gas Stops in nine cities. Three other South Dakota stores were to keep the Gas Stop name and receive Holiday fuel and merchandise.
Holiday Companies announcement, Aug. 6, 2013Oct. 2013 / 2023Press
Luverne’s interstate store switches to Holiday
A 2023 newspaper retrospective dates the planned Luverne conversion to October 28, 2013. The October 2013 issue and any opening advertisement remain to be located.
Rock County Star Herald, Oct. 19, 2023, p. 6A2015Press
Andy Howes describes Local Zip’s development
The magazine reports that Andy Howes began working with the Sioux Falls firm Fresh Produce in January 2012 and explains the independent-store model.
605 Magazine, Apr. 1, 20152017Public records
South Dakota fuel contract listing
A contractor list preserved by Pennington County names Howes Oil Company Inc. under statewide fuel contract 17059.
Pennington County contract packet 17-0412017Public records
Howes Oil bids on Sioux Falls dyed diesel
The City Council agenda records the company among the bidders on a 7,500-gallon purchase. It is evidence of bidding activity.
Sioux Falls City Council, Sept. 5, 2017Feb. 2018Press
Gas Stop Holiday opens near 85th and Minnesota
The opening was reported as I-90 Fuel Services’ 19th location. The store offered E15, a tunnel car wash and expanded food service.
SiouxFalls.Business, Feb. 15, 2018Aug.–Sept. 2018Press
North Cliff closes and West 12th expands
The 3900 N. Cliff location’s last day was August 30. The city’s 2018 permits list a Gas Stop Holiday at 5210 W. 12th Street.
SiouxFalls.Business, Sept. 14, 2018Sept. 2018Public records
City permit records 5210 W. 12th Street
The city’s list of large projects labels this address Gas Stop Holiday and records a September 21 permit entry.
Sioux Falls 2018 permit list2019Community
Gas Stop Holiday scrip
Sioux Falls Youth Hockey board minutes list Gas Stop Holiday among in-stock scrip. This records a community fundraising use of the store brand.
Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association, July 20192019–20Company materials
Couche-Tard acquires 17 stores
The buyer’s fiscal-year report records the closing on January 13, 2020. The 17 locations were Holiday-branded stores in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Alimentation Couche-Tard, FY2020 management discussionJan. 2020Press
What the sale meant for Howes Oil
The local report identifies Tom and Melissa Howes and I-90 Fuel Services as the retail operators. Andy Howes said the separate Howes Oil business would continue delivering fuel to the Holiday sites it had been serving. That statement describes the arrangement as reported in 2020.
SiouxFalls.Business, Jan. 20, 20202022Press
Circle K signage arrives in metro Sioux Falls
Local reporting places the first signs at 26th and Sertoma on March 29, with changes planned across ten more locations. It separately reports replacement plans for the store at 26th and Cliff.
SiouxFalls.Business, Mar. 29, 20222022Public records
Howes Oil wins a Sioux Area Metro fuel bid
The city record lists a February 24 quote for 7,500 gallons of a 50/50 clear-diesel blend and records the award to Howes Oil.
South Dakota local-government meeting record, item 112022Public records
Wyoming fuel-tax directory
Wyoming DOT lists Howes Oil Company at 823 E. 14th Street in its taxpayer directory, with an entry expiring May 31, 2022. The entry documents registration, with sales and site ownership left open.
Wyoming DOT licensed taxpayer directory2022Public records
Mitchell water treatment fuel payment
The municipal payment register lists a $150 fuel expenditure to Howes Oil Co. in its December 5 packet.
City of Mitchell payment register, printed p. 362024 filingPublic records
Federal carrier record puts scale on the operation
FMCSA identifies the Sioux Falls firm as USDOT 12728. Its July 2024 filing reports 950,000 carrier miles for 2023.
FMCSA SAFER, company snapshot2024–25Directory
Howes Oil remains listed as a petroleum distributor
The economic development directory identifies Andy Howes as president and lists Fuel Holler as the company website.
Sioux Falls Development Foundation, printed p. 82026Public records
Airport fuel and diesel resale
The Sioux Falls Regional Airport’s January 28 bills list $22,383.40 to Howes Oil Co., Inc. under QTA Fuel and Fuel/Diesel Resale.
Sioux Falls Regional Airport, Jan. 28, 2026UndatedCompany materials
Fuel Holler’s regional hauling network
The Howes Oil trademarked network lists independently operated fuel distributors and describes service in eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.
Fuel Holler, AboutUndatedPublic records
The state registry distinguishes two entities at one address
South Dakota’s air-quality list has separate facility IDs for Howes Oil Company Inc. and I-90 Fuel Services at 823 E. 14th Street. It also preserves Gas Stop listings at several street addresses.
South Dakota DANR regulated facilities registerNewspapers & ads
The surviving newspaper collection is larger than the material indexed here. The earliest ads located here date to 1938. The earliest verified newspaper mention of Mike’s station is October 17, 1977. The opening advertisement and exact opening day remain open.
Sioux Falls newspaper pages
Siouxland Libraries lists the digitized Argus Leader and predecessor editions from 1886 forward. Its Caille Room has Sioux Falls city directories. The South Dakota State Archives lists newspaper microfilm holdings and offers interlibrary loan.
Search the Argus Leader for Howes Oil · Library database access · Caille Room directories · State Archives microfilm
How to trace the first station
Check the 1938–45 city directories under Ivan Howes, Howes Oil, gasoline and service stations. Search 12th Street and Minnesota Avenue to establish the corner, street number and years of occupancy. The 1938–41 advertisements examined give the intersection. The directory’s reverse street listings may identify the corner and number. Augustana’s Historic Sioux Falls Slide Collection is a source for street scenes. Historic slide collection
Historic Argus-Leader catalogue record · Sioux Valley Genealogical Society city directories
Mike’s first Gas Stop in the newspaper
The October 17, 1977 police brief reports window damage at The Gas Stop, 3000 E. 26th Street. A March 21, 1978 brief gives the same address. The 1977 searches for Gas Stop, Gasstop, the address, and combinations of the brand and opening returned no verified opening advertisement. The first report provides an upper bound for a page-by-page search of local display ads.
Follow the stations outside Sioux Falls
Use the 2013 conversion announcement to work through regional papers. In Luverne, the Rock County Star Herald already supplies a contemporary closure report and a lead to the October 2013 Holiday opening. The Mitchell Public Library holds the Daily Republic on microfilm.
Advertising and brand material
The 2013 trademark gazette preserves the Local Zip mark. The brand site preserves the company’s public pitch to independent retailers. The Rock County paper records the text of the Luverne closure notice. The index links to the 1938 Conoco display ads. Later opening coupons and station photographs still belong on the search list.