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ROSTHERN — What started as a tiny seasonal ice cream shack with unpredictable hours has become one of Saskatchewan's sweetest destinations.
Nine summers ago, Kelly Klassen purchased the modest community business with a goal to create summer jobs for her four daughters while teaching them valuable life skills. Today, Lil Bean Ice Cream has grown into a thriving seasonal business employing 22 people, attracting customers from across the province and even earning recognition on SaskTel Max.
"The very small shack with inconsistent hours and very few customers was rebranded," Klassen told SaskToday. "By focusing on consistent hours, expanding our product variety and creating a great customer experience, the popularity of Lil Bean Ice Cream has exploded."
The original stand quickly became too small. After first expanding into a 12-by-20-foot building, the family continued to outgrow the space. In 2020, they built a larger shop before purchasing and renovating the neighbouring building in December 2024, creating the Lil Bean Ice Cream customers know today.
The business itself grew from a mother's desire to teach her daughters responsibility.
"It was an existing business and I wanted my girls to have a summer job," Klassen said. "I wanted them to learn skills in customer service, managing money and teamwork."
The name Lil Bean also has family roots.
Klassen said daughter Jada came up with the name, inspired by the affectionate nickname Kelly used for her girls when they were young, fondly referring to them as little beans.
Today, the once-simple menu has expanded into an extensive lineup of frozen treats. Customers can choose from soft serve, hard ice cream in multiple flavours, creative sundaes, dirty sodas and dozens of specialty desserts.
Their biggest draw? The parfait menu.
Featuring 42 unique creations, the colourful parfaits have become Lil Bean's signature item and one of the main reasons customers keep coming back year after year.
The menu also reflects the family's desire to ensure everyone can enjoy a sweet treat.
After daughter Jada was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2020, the family's perspective changed.
"Our eyes were opened to how many people struggle to find treats they can enjoy," Klassen said.
That experience inspired Lil Bean to expand its offerings to include gluten-free, lactose-free, peanut-free and vegan options.
The seasonal business opens the first Friday in May and operates daily until Labour Day weekend before switching to weekends only throughout September.
Beyond the menu, the atmosphere has become part of the experience.
The property features mature trees, string lights and picnic tables, encouraging visitors to relax, visit with friends and enjoy their ice cream long after they've been served.
Behind the scenes, running the busy business remains a true family effort.
Klassen oversees ordering and inventory while she and daughter Jada manage Lil Bean's social media presence. Daughter Brielle creates many of the engaging videos and reels that have become popular with followers online.
Kelly's husband, Darren, serves as the business's handyman and maintenance expert, while all four daughters continue to play important roles, from creating specialty ice cream cakes to preparing the shop before opening each day.
Although two daughters, Jada and Kaela, are now married with children of their own — and both are expecting again — they still help whenever they can. Their husbands have also joined the Lil Bean team.
Outside the family business, life remains busy. Klassen also owns a full-time travel agency, Kaela works for a foster home, Jada is a travel advisor, Darren is a funeral director, Brielle recently graduated from Grade 12 and McKinley will enter Grade 11 this fall.
Managing inventory remains one of the biggest challenges of operating a seasonal business, especially when storage space is at a premium.
While social media has helped introduce Lil Bean to new customers, Klassen says one of their greatest marketing tools continues to be word of mouth.
Although they don't formally track where visitors come from, the family regularly hears from customers who travel as far as three hours for one of their signature parfaits. Others make Lil Bean a must-stop destination whenever they're visiting family or friends in the Rosthern area, or travelling by Rosthern on their way to or from another destination.
The business's growing reputation even caught the attention of SaskTel Max, which featured Lil Bean Ice Cream during the summer of 2025. You can find the five-and-a-half-minute clip on YouTube.
For Klassen, however, the greatest reward isn't the recognition — it's the relationships.
"Meeting so many amazing people, making relationships with staff and customers, and learning about running a business, which includes both the highs and the lows," she said.
The family believes their success comes from genuinely enjoying what they do.
"We like to have fun in what we're doing so customers can see that," they said. "It makes for a better overall experience for everyone."
As each summer brings longer lineups and new visitors, one thing hasn't changed: what began as a way to teach four girls about hard work has grown into one of Rosthern's favourite summer traditions — and a shining example of how family, community and a love of ice cream can create something truly special.
