Frank Simpson was born an entrepreneur.
His drive and energy had him dabbling in nearly everything from politics to real estate, bee keeping and ice cream, and of course printing.
His ambition left a lasting footprint on Rapid City – one that is now carried on by his son, Dan, and grandson, Jonathan.
The Simpsons’ journey into the printing industry started in the late 1940s. Frank’s father was the district superintendent of the Wesleyan Church and with that came a lot of printing. His go-to local business was Holmgren’s Fine Printing. So, when his son Frank was looking for work, he connected him with the company. Frank started off sweeping floors, moving his way up to shipping, bindery and eventually lead pressman. When Carl Holmgren died in a tragic accident in 1962, Frank stepped in to help the family with the business.
In 1965, Frank took out some loans to buy the printing company. In 1968, Frank along with his wife Doris moved the business to a location off Jackson Boulevard where it continued to grow. Along with Frank and Doris, their five sons worked on and off in the printing business. “I started working when I was 12,” said Dan Simpson, the second generation of the family-run business. “I was riding my bike after school and sweeping floors. I’ve been here for a long time, and there have been a lot of twists and turns.”
One of those twists was in 1972. A devastating flood took the lives of 238 people including Dan’s new bride Claudia and nearly took the lives of Frank, Dan and his brother, Jim. The Simpsons Printing building was just on the edge of the destruction that ravaged the western corridor of the city. “That flood really ripped this town and our family to pieces. We picked up the pieces we could and kept the business going and moved on from there. For me, I went back to work and tried to make sense of it all.”
Despite the setback of the flood, the Simpson family and their business kept moving forward. Frank entrusted the day to day printing business to his five sons while he pursued new ventures. He went into real estate developing 200 acres of the Lang Ranch off Deadwood Avenue where the current Simpsons Printing building is located. Frank and Doris also founded the Fountain Springs Church and became founding partners of the local NBC affiliate, NewsCenter1. Continually focused on community service, Frank also served in both the S.D. House of Representatives and S.D. Senate.
While his brothers moved on to different ventures, Dan stayed to run the family business. “I liked printing. It just kind of clicked with me, and I was good at it,” Dan said.
In 1977, Dan met Kathy who would soon become his partner in life and business, but not without some persuading on Dan’s part. “She wouldn’t go out with me. I asked her out three times and she finally said yes.” The two went on one date.; engaged that Monday of their first date; and married six weeks later.
Kathy jumped right into her role as businesswoman.
“We wouldn’t be where we are today without Kathy and the relationships she has. She handles so much,” Dan said.
Throughout the decades, Simpsons Printing continued to grow adding new technology, new employees, new accounts and opening a second location in Gillette, Wyoming.
One of the company’s biggest moves was purchasing Dean Nauman printing, the Simpson family’s main competition. The family ran two businesses out of two locations for many years before combining forces and moving to their current building.
“I’ve really seen a lot of changes through the years,” said Dan who has been involved with the family business since the beginning. “We developed a lot of new things that we brought to Rapid City. We brought the first quick print and the first four-color press. We were really cutting edge in that way.”
Dan and Kathy’s son Jonathan, the family’s third generation, is now taking on moving the business into the future.
Like his father, Jonathan grew up in the family business. “I spent time here ever since I was very small and worked on and off.”
He pursued other things working in the car industry and moving around before eventually finding his way back home. “Going to work outside the family business was key. You have to have good and bad experiences that you can learn from and take with you.”
Jonathan moved back to Rapid City in 2006 partnering with his dad. “I was ready to take on that responsibility,” he said of joining the family business. “I knew the commitment and hard work it was going to take, and I was at the point in my life where I was ready to start that career.”
Among his many responsibilities as a business owner, Jonathan’s focus is on strategic planning and researching new areas of the industry that can keep the business competitive and modern. “Technology changes really fast. Also, the market of what products are on the incline and decline is always changing. “
Jonathan added large format printing 10 years ago that put the business in a good position to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve transitioned from a traditional commercial printing to something that is a little more unique and that has served us well. We want to keep that going. I see us still using technology to be more efficient with what we do and following future opportunities whenever those come up.”
Whether there will be a fourth generation of Simpsons Printing is unknown.
Like their father and grandfather, Jonathan’s children Audrey, 12, and Beau, 7, are growing up in the printing industry. “I am just pushing them to pursue what they love and if that turns out to be the company then we can discuss it. But if not, that’s okay. I want them to feel no pressure to be involved.”
For now, the focus is to continue the strong foundation started by Frank nearly 60 years ago. A foundation supported by family, employees and community.
“It’s not just me or Jonathan. It’s not just my father,” Dan said. “There have been so many people along the way. I am really humbled by our success. I look back and see all the elements, and I am in awe. I am really blessed to have all that in my life.“