Jeffrey Allan Belzer, Longtime Lakeville Car Dealer, Dies

Longtime Lakeville car dealer, Jeffrey Alan Belzer, Sr., died Sunday, Nov. 20. He was 70 years old.

Belzer first came to Lakeville in 1980 after purchasing Todd Chevrolet Dealership. The business soon expanded and grew into the family owned and operated business it is today.

is located at the corner of Cedar Avenue and 210th St. W.

An obituary was posted on the Hodroff-Epstein Memorial Chapels website:

Jeff Belzer began his full and enriched journey on Sept. 8, 1941. He was born in Minneapolis to Dr. Meyer and Kathleen Belzer.

Belzer graduated from Washburn High School in 1959, attended college and moved to California. In 1968 he graduated from Drake University Law School with honors and became a senior partner in the Belzer & Loewenthal Law Firm on France Avenue in Edina. Jeff built the Belzer Brenner building on Metro Boulevard near Highway 494 and 100 and moved his law firm to that location.

While practicing corporate law, Belzer represented several car dealers for several years. He became very interested in the automobile business and purchased the Todd Chevrolet Dealership in 1980 in Lakeville. Belzer's intent was to oversee the business from his law firm. When he realized the dealership required a full-time owner, he sold his law firm and building and eventually moved to Lakeville.

When he gave up law practice to buy an auto dealership many people thought he had “gone over the edge,” but he felt people should have the fortitude to try a new career. He did and fell in love with the auto business.

Belzer purchased the Haugen Dodge Dealership in Farmington. At this time Belzer stated “Pride in customer satisfaction helped make his dealership the third in retail volume.” Over a period of time the auto dealerships expanded and became Jeff Belzer’s Chevrolet, Dodge, Kia in Lakeville.

Belzer believed in integrity and a very strong work ethic, working six long days a week. If anyone wanted to have lunch while Belzer was at the dealership he was not willing to leave the office, but always offered to share his daily brown bag lunch. Enjoying the rewards in investing meant facing the challenges and risks and Belzer was always willing to engage in the challenges. He loved the “art of the deal.”

In 1991 the dealership took third place out of the top 202 Chevrolet dealers and two years consecutively, accepted the award for the number one truck dealer in the five-state northern region. He served on the General Motors President’s Board and his dedication and hard work has earned him many accolades.

Belzer loved to play golf, travel, hunt, fish and spend time with his family and friends. His children were his jewels and he was always there to teach the value of hard work and offer support and guidance. He believed in supporting and working together in the business community.

Belzer is survived by his wife, Gloria; brother, Dr. Michael Belzer (Ellyn Wolfenson); sister Judi Belzer (Jerry Waldman) and families; his children, Steven (Kim), Mike, Kim, Jeff Jr. (Jamie) and Anna; and grandchildren, Brady and Blake.

The family wrote in that obituary: “Jeff, Dad, Pops, Papa will be deeply missed by his family and friends.”

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Memorials are preferred to the Belzer Family Fund at Temple Israel.

SHIVA, 4811 Bywood West, Edina, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday.