By Brenna Wiegand
We know there are a lot of people retiring this summer, especially public employees who seem to do so before July 1. Our Town was recently alerted to the impending retirement of two women – a letter carrier and a teacher – who’ve gone the distance and beyond in their professions and dedication to their community.
You can imagine how enjoyable it was to meet these two – 68 years’ service between them, and we thought you’d like it, too. Chances are you’ll be inspired – and schooled – by them.
Were it not for the recommendation of her brother Bill at Bochsler’s Hardware, Rose Boen probably wouldn’t have landed the Silverton mail carrier job 27 years ago.
Rose, mother of four, had been patching together part-time jobs when her sister gave her the idea.
“Leon McCammon was the postmaster and he was really skeptical about hiring a woman,” Rose said. “So he called up my brother Bill over at Bochsler’s, who told him I was outside unloading cases of paint.”
Calculating how many miles she has traveled delivering the mail would be quite the challenge. Her downtown beat extends out to Home Place and the Mark Twain area. That’s 650 active addresses and, step by step, about seven miles a day.
Boen shared what’s next for her and a few other tidbits she learned along the way.
Retirement plans: I have grandkids to play with; we want to do some traveling; my husband’s looking into buying a small trailer. We can take the kids to the beach or lake … and I love to go fishing. I once caught a 40-pound Chinook. And then I want to try my hand at volunteering.
The best part of her job: The customers – they’re great. There are customers who always make you laugh; those who want to feed you all the time … On of my favorites, Norma Jean Branstetter used to give me a couple candy bars almost every day!
Challenges: Though it doesn’t happen often, the weather can be a bit challenging. I call my truck my little Easy Bake Oven. There’s a 6-8 inch fan that just blows the heat and dust around.
For those starting out: Try to work your way up. Just hang in there and if you’re single it’s a lot easier to do. I didn’t start ‘til I was 35 and had four kids.
How have you been able to hang in there all these years? I get so connected with customers. After Mr. Deckelmann retired as a teacher at Silverton, he’d often come out to the mailbox to chit-chat. He had a lot of life experience and I came to consider him a really good friend. One day he was not there; he’d passed away. I had quite a problem with that. Also I think I just have a strong frame and a good work ethic. I have 2,118 hours of sick leave built up.
In today’s world, what Patty Potter has done is if anything unusal and definitely remarkable. Not many people can say they stayed in the same job and at the same place. Patty spent 41 years teaching at Evergreen Elementary School.
It was Patty’s first grade teacher, Mrs. Cook, who instilled in her a lifelong desire to teach. From middle school on, Patty said school provided opportunities to job shadow, and in high school she started a little preschool.
Patty finished college in three and a half years and secured a position at quaint, historical Evergreen School, just around the corner from her home.
That came in handy recently when she hosted a massive fun day for the class – composed of third, fourth and fifth graders – bouncy house, Slip ‘n’ Slide and all.
A few days before, they went to Barnes & Noble where each child selected several books for the school library with $2,200 earned through their annual jogathon.
That’s just one example of how she taught, always wanting kids to cherish the time in her classroom and at school.
Retirement plans: I want to take care of my two grandchildren for my daughter; she teaches up at Butte Creek. I’m involved with the historical society, my church – and next spring we’re taking a three-week trip to Europe.
For those starting out in teaching: You need from day one to make clear to the students what your expectations are and let them know you believe in them; that you are approachable. And be consistent: if you say it you better do it. Otherwise you’ve lost your class.
The best part: My kids! It’s so refreshing to see them every day and when someone is struggling, you’re there for them. That’s a really big responsibility and I take it very seriously.
Hanging in there: It takes a lot of hard work. Kids need to know when they walk in the door what my expectations are and I teach to that; it’s the attitude of our whole school. My personality is that No. 1, I’m very organized; and 2, I’m a fixer so whatever situation I walk into I make an evaluation and go in and fix it. I’m also sort of a perfectionist.
Challenges: The behind the scenes bookwork; the expectations put on us at the district level and feeling like we have to teach to the test…and getting forms, assessments and evaluations done in the way they are asking they be done – and you can only do one grade a time.
