History

Trusted since 1940.

Northway Insurance has been a well-respected agency in the Park Rapids area since the late 1930s. Long before it was known as Northway Insurance, Colby Hewitt founded the Hewitt Insurance Agency. He very successfully operated the agency in conjunction with Farmers State Bank in Dorset. After returning from WWII, Colby’s son Gordon became active in the agency and the bank. He was elected president of the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents Association and achieved the CPCU designation. During the late 1960s, the agency was moved to the Johnson Building in Park Rapids and later to Highway 34 East. In 1979, Lee Zitzer joined Gordon Hewitt and a year later, Lee bought the controlling interest in the agency and changed the name to the Hewitt Zitzer Agency.

Almost 20 years later, Lee decided to slow down and retire. In reviewing his options, he felt it would be best for the agency and his longstanding customers to join forces with Northway Insurance of Bemidji. The native Bemidji owners brought 20 years of experience to the agency along with other licensed agents who know and love the area. Steve North took over ownership in 1999 and the Hewitt Zitzer agency became Northway Insurance of Park Rapids. The agency moved to its current location on Highway 71 South in 2002. Kari Wiese has served the customers since 1999. Andria Nordick joined the team in 2007. In 2009, Kari Wiese and Andria Nordick took over ownership of the Park Rapids location. They are proud to continue the same great service the customers of Northway Insurance have always known.