by Dennis Dalman
Does eating lots of French fries from “Val’s Hamburgers” lead to a long and happy life? Well, at age 100, Kathy Henning seems to think so, or at least she jokes about it.
Through the decades, she’s eaten her share of French fries, that’s for sure. Sixty-five years ago, in 1959, she and her husband, Val, co-founded the “Val’s Hamburger” grab-and-go food shop on East St. Germain Street on St. Cloud’s east side. That small, quaint eatery is known far and wide. Its outside sign, which resembles an Art-Deco lightning bolt, has been for years an iconic St. Cloud sight.
Henning and loved ones celebrated her 100th birthday at Country Manor in Sartell where she now lives. Her husband lived nearly as long, passing away when he was 97.
Way back when, Kathy and Val bought the lot of an abandoned gas station at 628 E. St. Germain St.. On that corner site, they opened Val’s Hamburgers, which despite its almost “tiny” size was an instant success – a place where customers could stop and get a take-out meal of burgers, fries, soda pop or milkshakes. The fast-food joint eventually became practically THE definition of a generational family-owned business. All of the Hennings seven children worked at or helped out at the shop.
After 20 years, Val retired in 1979. The Hennings’ sons, David and Bill (along with their mother) then bought the drive-up shop, which continued to thrive as a family operated place until 1990. David then acquired Bill’s share of the shop and continued to operate it, with his own family, until he retired in 2015.
And now, Val’s is owned by a third generation: brothers Aaron and Logan, two of the many grandchildren of Val and Kathy.
At her birthday celebration, Kathy was joined by members of her family and some of the staff of Country Manor. Kathy credits her husband, children and grandchildren for her having been able to lead a long, satisfying happy life.
“I hope it (Val’s Hamburgers’ shop) stays in the family forever!” she said.
Kathy Henning celebrated her 100th birthday at Country Manor in Sartell, where she currently lives. Henning is the co-founder of Val’s Hamburgers in East St. Cloud, a food shop that opened in 1959 and flourishes to this day. From left to right are her sons David, Marlin and Daryl. Second from left is one of Kathy’s daughters-in-law, Vicki Henning.
