Unseth > Rudies Drug Store

Photo taken in the twenties shows the O.A. Unseth Rexall Drug Store
on the left. Pickwick Clothes Shop in the middle with the bank
on the corner with the Opera Restaurant in the basement

The early history of the Westby Pharmacy began before 1900 with the druggist and owner being Mr. Ramsland who also built a home that today is the Westby House. Mr. Ramsland had his drug store just east of the Westby House separated by Ramsland Street that carries his name. The store was located in today's green space next to the Midwest Gas building. Mr. Ramsland never lived in his new house as he passed away suddenly in 1899 before the house was finished.

This Rexall drug store was then bought by O. A. Unseth who partnered with Martin Bekkedal to build what is now the Ole and Lena Kaffe Hus and Organic Valley building. The name Unseth-Bekkedal is visible below the roof line.    

In the thirties, O. A. Unseth turned his drug store over to his son Earl who operated it until 1953 when it was sold. The new owner kept the name Unseth as well as the Rexall brand. The last owner of the Rexall/Unseth Drug store was Larry Day who in 1961 sold the business.

Rudies Drug Store, also known for a time as Nyal Quality Drugs which until this time was located on South Main Street moved their business to the vacated Unseth Store.

Rudies Drugs began in 1927 when Grant Rudie Sr. took over the G.F. Myhre Drug store that had began in 1905. For sometime, H.R. Jackson was the druggist at the Myhre store. It is unknown if the Spellum Pharmacy, another early drug store located in Westby at the end of the 1800s, is a predecessor of the Myhre Drug store.

Westby Pharmacy before 2007

In April of 2005, Gary Miller celebrated his 30th anniversary of owning the Westby Pharmacy. He had purchased the Rudie Drug Store from Grant Rudie, Jr. who continued as the manager of the store because Gary also owned the Miller Pharmacy in West Salem at that time and continued to operate both stores for another seven years. In 1987 Rudie Drug Store became the Westby Pharmacy since Grant Rudie Jr. had by then retired and many Drug Stores were using “Pharmacy” in their name. 

The best part of Gary Miller’s thirty years here was truly getting to know the Norwegian heritage, of which he was a part, and to understand the friendly caring spirit of Westby and area. It truly is the Norwegian capital of the United States of America.