This photo shows the large mural on the side of the Ashley SuperValue grocery store in Ashley, North Dakota. The colorful artwork spans the length of the wall and depicts a collage of local history and heritage. Featured images include prairie scenes, farming equipment, historic buildings, a bison, and the North Dakota state flag. On the far right, logos for the City of Ashley and the Lions Club are displayed. The mural serves as a community landmark, celebrating Ashley’s culture, history, and pride in its rural identity.

Welcome to the community of Ashley, North Dakota. We’re happy you made the trip here to Ashley, and we’re proud to share this beautiful mural depicting the Germans from Russia heritage of our people, along with the history of the Ashley Super Valu Store. This mural was painted by artists Del and Frieda Iron Cloud in 1996 to commemorate the 1988 Ashley Centennial. You will notice as you take in this beautiful mural that it depicts the journey of the Germans from Russia immigrants. First, with the monumental journey to the United States with the statue of Liberty, then the journey west, with experiences with Native Americans, as well as the bison. Progress of these hardworking settlers is shown within agriculture with the tractor, and windmill, followed by the beautiful McIntosh County Courthouse building, and the North Dakota flag symbolizing our statehood. You will notice the priorities of these settlers–faith, community, hunting, farming, and education, along with horses, ranches, and cattle.

Venture inside the Ashley SuperValu, which was started in May of 1966 when Adolph & Dorene Rueb bought the business from Eugene & Frieda Bertsch, known as Gene's Super Valu. The old store was located in what is now the parking lot and consisted of the store & Eve's cafe. The cafe was turned into the backroom, produce & bakery area. The retail grocery store had a butcher shop that specialized in German sausage, with Gust Blessing being the head butcher & sausage maker. It is Gust's recipe that is still used today to make the homemade ring bologna & fry sausage. In 1976, Adolph & Dorene added the bakery in order to make their bakery fresh kuchen & other baked goods. The current store location was built in 1994 when Adolph & Dorene purchased and tore down 2 old buildings that were vacant. The old store was torn down & became the parking lot. Their oldest son Kirk, and his wife Terri came back to manage the store in September of 1998 & took over ownership in January 2011. Ashley Super Valu is still making their Homemade German sausages along with the old fashioned liver sausage, head cheese, summer sausage, beef jerky & the famous bakery fresh kuchen. Throughout the years, items were added to enhance the grocery store. Ashley SuperValu makes fresh donuts & caramel rolls, rotisserie chickens, breakfast sandwiches using their homemade pork sausage & bakery fresh buns, sandwiches, salads, pizza, soup of the day and lunch specials. If you leave hungry–it’s your own fault! Thanks for stopping by!