In 1892, the Bowdle Flour mill was originally formed as a corporation by local residents. During the 1920s, the mill ground local wheat into flour and shipped it to England, Greece, Portugal, Ecuador, Spain and Columbia. Early brands of flour from this mill were Diamond and Kaiser. The brand name Kaiser was dropped after the beginning of WWI. Peak years of production were from 1931 to 1933. In 1948, foreign trade ceased, and the mill began specializing in private label flour. This flour was shipped to North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. He also contracted with SuperValu and Nash Finch.
John Leno purchased the mill in 1931 and installed sifting machinery. John was a German from Russia immigrant, arriving in the U.S. 1907. He came to South Dakota where he had relatives living. John ran the mill until 1936, then his sons Reinhold and Helmer took over operations. Due to increased competition from larger companies, the last batch of Bowdle Flour was milled in 1967. In 1968 it became a feed mill.
In this photograph Helmer Leno and Jack Schock are sacking flour at the Bowdle Flour Mill. Helmer always put a big I on his cap, so it read "I CHASE BAGS" Chase Bag Co. made the flour sacks.