Our Story
We are proud to be family-owned! Since 1888, spanning 136 years and five generations, Montgomery’s has provided Eastern South Dakotans a place to purchase their home furnishing. Montgomery’s is owned and operated by fourth-generation Clark & Connie Sinclair, alongside Eric & Neala (Sinclair’s fifth-generation). Kyan, Giselle, and Lauren are the sixth-generation learning from their parents & grandparents. The Sinclairs own the Madison, Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Aberdeen locations.
FOUNDED IN SOUTH DAKOTA
YEARS IN BUSINESS
GENERATIONS OF OWNERSHIP
Our History Timeline
1888 – George H. Montgomery founded Montgomery’s Furniture and Funeral in Alexandria, South Dakota. The town of Alexandria was only eight years old, and SD was still one year from gaining statehood.
1902 – George H. Montgomery and his brother-in-law Wiliam Ryburn built a large two-story building to house the bank and furniture store.
1918 – W.R. Montgomery, George’s son, became the second generation to join the family business.
1920 – Son-in-law Gilbert C. Loomer joined the team. He was married to Marian Montgomery, George’s daughter.
1922 – Founder George H. Montgomery passed away.
1948 – George Loomer, son of G.C. and Marian (Montgomery) Loomer, became the third generation to join the business.
1955 – Another son, James (Jim) Loomer, joins the family business.
1959 – Gilbert’s sons Jim and George purchased the family business and expanded to several locations.
1962 – Jim & George opened the second location in Howard, SD.
1964 – The 1902 building and a separate warehouse were destroyed in a fire.
1965 – Grand Opening of new Alexandria store.
1970 – Gilbert Loomer passed away.
1972 – Arlington, SD Furniture store purchased.
1977 – Son-in-law Clark Sinclair joined the business.
1980 – Clark and Connie moved the store to Madison, SD. They chose the former Hallenbeck Furniture building and managed the new location. Thus, they became the fourth generation involved in the family business.
1983 – Russell Montgomery passed away.
1986 – George sold the Madison store to his daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Clark Sinclair.
1987 – Jim’s son Todd joined the business in Alexandria, SD.
1997 – Clark & Connie Sinclair established the Sioux Falls location at 1725 West 41st Street.
2002 – Clark & Connie combined the two Madison locations into one 40,000-square-foot showroom at 747 South Washington Avenue.
2006 – Eric & Neala Sinclair, Clark & Connie’s son and daughter-in-law, joined the business as the fifth generation.
2011 – Opened the Sioux Falls Distribution Center.
2012 – Purchased Zimmel’s Furniture in Watertown, SD, upon their retirement.
2013 – Eric Sinclair is promoted to President of Montgomery’s Feb. The Watertown, SD showroom is opened.
2013 – Purchased Traditions in Sioux Falls.
2014 – Expanded and remodeled the Sioux Falls Showroom, doubling in size to include a full design studio, Mattress 1st Sleep Center, and Montgomery’s Showroom.
2016 – George Loomer passed away.
2017 – Launched online shopping.
2017 – Honored as the 2017 Boyd Hopkins Sr. Excellence in Family Business Award recipient.
2020 – Montgomery’s Purchases Malchow’ Home Furnishings in Aberdeen.
2020 – Purchased a 90,000 SQ FT Distribution Center in Sioux Falls.
2021 – Montgomery’s Aberdeen officially opens.
2023 – Montgomery’s celebrated its 135th year and gave away FOUR (4) $13,500 room makeovers!
Neala & Eric Sinclair
Eric is the fifth generation in his family to own and operate Montgomery’s. Growing up in Madison, SD, Eric saw firsthand how his parents worked hard to build the company and care for their employees. Upon graduating from Augustana University, he married his high school sweetheart, Neala, and went to work in the furniture industry apart from the family business. During that time, he traveled abroad and lived in various regions of the United States, gaining the knowledge and expertise he now puts into practice at Montgomery’s, where he has been president since 2013. Under his leadership, the company continues to grow market share and the footprint across South Dakota. Eric is proud to call South Dakota his home, and he upholds the same high work ethic, passion for the business, and care for the employees and customers as the generations before him.
CONTACT ERIC
Eric Sinclair | Owner / President