“People with dirty jobs are happier than you think. As a group, they’re the happiest people I know.” – Mike Rowe, longtime host of the TV show Dirty Jobs
For Brandon Rasmussen, those words ring true. He spends his days pumping septic tanks, hauling hoses, and answering emergency calls in the middle of the night. It’s the kind of work most people would rather not think about, let alone do. But for Rasmussen, owner of B&K Septic of Britton, it’s a calling, and a family legacy that he’s proud to continue.
Rasmussen grew up in Britton and spent much of his childhood between there and Aberdeen. Some of his fondest memories involve riding along with his grandfather, Ken Price, who ran a septic service of his own. Ken’s truck was a far cry from the modern rigs on the road today. “It was homemade, non-air-conditioned, and the tank was built from an old propane tank,” Rasmussen recalled. Ken had taken over the local septic business from the Wegleitner family in the early 2000s and built a steady reputation.
“I always hung out with Grandpa and would go on jobs with him,” Rasmussen said. At first, he admits, his main interest wasn’t in helping but fishing. Ken would drop him at the lake during a service call, and Brandon would cast a line while his grandpa worked and visited with customers.
By the time he was 13, Rasmussen was on the payroll. His grandfather’s health struggles made the extra help essential, and Brandon quickly learned the ropes. “He had breathing problems, so it was harder for him to be in the truck all the time. I started taking over more, but Grandpa was always there to answer questions. He’d drive separately to the job and still be part of it.”
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