Al & Rollie Ahmann

From farm to town!

Al and Rollie were raised on a small, family farmstead in rural North Dakota. Theirs was the typical life of a farm family where in spite of the beautiful place the farm held in their hearts, the possibilities of multiple generations making their living from the place would prove too challenging. When their father sustained a serious injury from a farming accident, they both knew that their futures would be elsewhere.

The mountains are calling.

After attending high school and junior college at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND, Al was the first to "head west" to Carroll College in Helena. Rollie would follow afterwards. A love for the west and the mountains was instantaneous. A couple of young men raised on the prairie had never seen a sight like that of the Continental Divide along with its mountains and rivers. They would both ultimately call this place home. In 1976, they founded the firm as Ahmann Bros., REALTORS.

Strong roots in hard work.

Life on the farm created a strong work ethic in the Ahmann brothers. They were known for getting the job done, sometimes against insurmountable odds. In the challenging markets of the 1980's and double-digit interest rates, they negotiated dozens of transactions that were seemingly impossible to put together. It was in these years that they noticed that folks came back over and over; they also noticed that their past clients were the greatest source of new business. Their resolve to work diligently transformed their approach to this business. Theirs was a commitment to people and not to "deals".

At home in the community.

Rollie and Al were always involved in the community around them. Their commitment to the place they called home was strong. From service clubs and their church, to their REALTOR organization and industry peers, their commitment to others served as a path for others in the firm to follow over the years. Al famously said, "When you make a living by the full support of the community, you must commit yourself wholeheartedly to that same community."

Transitions and tragedies.

Al and Rollie parted ways in 1988 as Rollie moved to Arizona while Al continued to raise his family in Helena. Al, along with other partners and family, continued to grow the firm's commitment to relationships. In 1996, Al was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Leukemia. He passed away in August of that year, surrounded by friends and his entire family. He was just shy of his 52nd birthday. The business transitioned upon his death to his widow, Jeanne, and to his sons. Needless to say, his impact on the industry continues to this day. Three of his six children are involved in the real estate industry today. His oldest son, Rick Ahmann, is the broker/owner of Ahmann Brothers.