Gil Jelmberg

Gilbert's father, Gunnar Hjelmberg, immigrated to the USA through Ellis Island, NY, from Sweden, in the late 1920s. His mother Minnie Hansen immigrated to America through Ellis Island, NY from Norway, also in the late 1920s. They met and married in Anacortes, Washington where Gilbert was born in 1936. After graduating from high school, Gilbert joined the US Air Force where he served for ten years and was discharged in 1965. After a few short years of employment as a cash register repairman and salesman he left his current home in Tacoma, Washington, in 1968, to become a partner in a fledging Office Equipment Company in Great Falls, Montana. When the company bought a similar company in Missoula, Mt, Gil moved there to manage that store. During this period he met, and years later married, Penny Mergenthaler; a Helena, Montana girl. Gil left his Montana company partnership , in 1978, when he and Penny purchased Basin Office Systems in Pasco, Washington. They worked together for nearly thirty years building a multifaceted product corporation including copy machines, office furniture, computers, and an Internet dialup-access provider. As the Internet grew they began purchasing other dial-up sites until they had a presence in 14 western states and had become one of the largest independent Internet providers in the nation with 120 employees. In early 2000 they sold their 12,500 SF building, all their businesses, their 6400 SF home and moved to the Coachella Valley of California to down size and retire. A year after retirement they became restless and decided to become Realtors. Years later they are consistently, year after year, in the top 1% in sales in the valley and have their own office "The Jelmberg Team" although their Broker is Keller Williams. Penny and Gil,who have worked together almost daily for forty-one years, have been joined in the business by their two sons Christian, Realtor, Josh, Broker Associate.