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It wasn't supposed to turn into anything. It was simply a way to memorialize a beloved family pet. But word quickly spread, and now Patti and John Laub have taken a unique idea and turned it into a thriving business.

The Laubs are owners of Pet Steps to Heaven and Memories in Stones, based out of their Lindstrom garage.

The idea to create a one-of-a-kind stepping stone for their dog Zak started it all.

"When he died, I thought about taking his ashes and having them added to gunpowder, then taking him hunting," John said. Patti, however, didn't like the idea. "Then, it's like he's gone forever," she said.

She set about creating a colored cement stone, inlaid with stained glass and a photo of Zak, and etched with his name.

"I love my garden, so I thought a garden stone would be perfect," she said. Zak's ashes were mixed into the cement.

When John showed the stone to a couple of local veterinarians, they told him it was something special.

It wasn't long before John's friend Ron Schara asked for a memorial to honor his dog and television co-star, Raven. The Laubs handcrafted a bench for Ron, with Raven's ashes contained within one of the legs.

Soon, the Laubs were crafting stones and benches in honor of the family dog, cat and even horse. One day, Patti was approached to offer memorials for people as well.

"I was taken aback by the idea at first," Patti said.

But the Laubs started thinking that the idea made sense. As cremation becomes a more popular option, the quandry of what to do with the remains is difficult for loved ones.

"I have a relative whose urn is stored in a closet," Patti said. "Now, the remains can be included in a bench."

She said it isn't about the idea that now you are sitting or standing on a loved ones remains.

"It's a tribute to them and it beats thinking of them in the ground," Patti said.

The ashes can be mixed in with one of 13 different cement color options available, or left in a box, which is then placed in one of the bench legs.

Each bench and stone is uniquely designed for the customer. Typical pet stones include a stained glass image, a photo of the pet and their name. Benches also include stained glass art, and sometimes inspriational words or short poems.

Patti said it's more than a hobby, and she enjoys building relationships with her customers.

"It really helps people through the grieving process," she said. "I care about them. It's rewarding to see the look on their faces when they pick up their stone."

It takes the Laubs from four to eight weeks to complete a bench or stone, depending on the intricacies involved. Patti insists on taking a project from start to finish before starting the next one.

The benches range from $895 to $1,195, but the Laubs see it as a cost savings compared to costs of burial, cemetery lots and grave markers. Stones cost around $170.

After two years of making the stones and only a few months of making the benches, the Laubs are excited about how fast the business has grown. They know at some point they will outgrow the garage space, but when the business moves, it won't go far. Patti said it's important to them to keep it in the area and offer jobs locally.

For more information, go to their business web site, www.memoriesinstones.com.

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