HIBBING, Minn. — After more than six decades of building homes, remodeling restaurants, and contributing to community infrastructure, AM Construction, a family-run company rooted in the heart of Hibbing, has officially closed its doors.

Founded in the late 1950s by Albert Minerich, AM Construction grew into a well-respected name across northeastern Minnesota. Over the years, Albert was joined by three of his six children — Allen, Richard, and Paul — who began working for the business as teenagers. Their sister Lynn later took on the role of office manager and administrative assistant, a position she held for nearly five decades.

“We are sad to say we are closing up our office,” reads a heartfelt statement from Paul, Richard, and Lynn, written in memory of their father, Albert; their mother, Barbara; and their brother, Allen. “We are not leaving on a bad note, we are just plain retiring. We have enjoyed working in the area over the years, from building homes, to remodeling restaurants, community centers, and apartment complexes.”

Albert Minerich passed away in 1989, followed by Barbara in 1998, and Allen in 2011. Their legacy lived on through the dedication and unity of the remaining siblings, who co-owned and managed AM Construction into the company’s final year of business.

As the team transitions into retirement, Paul Minerich took a moment to reflect on the values instilled by his family — particularly his father and older brother.

“It is what you make of it,” Paul recalled Allen telling him, emphasizing the importance of resilience and a can-do attitude. Paul also highlighted the traits that kept the company going for over 60 years, explaining that a strong work ethic and commitment to craftsmanship were essential to navigating the ups and downs of the construction industry.

As AM Construction officially wrapped up operations on Friday, June 6, the Minerich siblings issued a statement thanking their clients, partners, and colleagues.

“We would like to give a ‘special’ thank you to Fairview Range Medical Center for letting us be their construction services contractor for many years,” the statement reads. “Also to all the people we have worked for, thank you for the privilege of letting us serve you.

“We alway gave our Best,” it continues. “Thank you to the architects and engineering firms we have worked for over the years. Thank you to all our Subcontractors, too many to list, but you know who you are, and we appreciate the friendships that came with working alongside with you. Thank you to All my employees that have worked for us, we couldn't have done it without you. It's been a ‘Fine Run.’ We ran the race and now it's time to say Good-bye. Thank you from all of us at AM Construction of Hibbing, Paul, Richard, & Lynn.”

Paul said that what he’ll miss most is the collaborative nature of the work and the satisfaction of seeing a project come to life.

“My favorite part of the job was all the building and remodeling that I have done, and I will miss working out of the office with the different subcontracts and architects,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without those people.”

As for life after retirement, Paul hopes to travel and spend more time on hobbies he previously had little time for — including gardening and home improvement projects of his own.

The closure of AM Construction marks the end of a significant chapter for the Hibbing community — one shaped by family values, customer trust, and a relentless dedication to quality craftsmanship. Though the tools have been set down, the Minerich family leaves behind a built legacy that will stand for generations to come.

Originally reported by Marie Totonen in Hometown Source.