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Boundary County Treasurer Fessler retiring,
shares her story |
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January 8, 2015 |
Boundary County
Treasurer Jenny Fessler will retire tomorrow and
turn over her ledger books to new incoming
Treasurer Sue Larson.
We asked Ms. Fessler
to share with our readers her thoughts on her
career and her years serving as Boundary County
Treasurer. Here is what she had to say:
 I
have lived and worked the majority of my life in
Bonners Ferry. My first real job was as a carhop
at the Whiz In Drive In for Don and Leona
Beatty, then on to Taft's Variety store and also
a couple of summers for the U.S. Forest Service
as a clerk/typist. After graduating from Bonners
Ferry High School, I attended Kelsey-Baird
Secretarial school in Spokane while working at
various part time secretarial positions.
I moved back to Bonners Ferry, was hired at the
Bank of Idaho as a bank teller, then was offered
a position as a clerk with Georgia-Pacific in
Moyie Springs. It was in 1976 when I accepted
the position of Chief Deputy Treasurer working
for Boundary County. That was back in the day
before all the computers, which meant lifting
several large ledgers and filling in receipts by
hand for each parcel paid. What a workout! I had
the pleasure of working with Treasurer Marilyn
Hall and former Treasurer Grace Knoles. That was
the best education and mentoring that I could
have ever received working for the county. It
was so much fun!
My next job was the one that gave me my greatest
gift and gratification. That was becoming a
mother to my three children, Mike, Amanda and
Marie. That job brought my husband, Allen, and
me to our knees a few times, but what wonderful
memories. My rewards are five grandchildren!
While raising my kids, I went to a part-time
Deputy Treasurer position, working both in the
Treasurer's office and Assessor's office. That
gave me the opportunity to work with two more
Treasurers, Irma Merrifield and then Wilma
DeVore, along with Assessors, Pat Pinnsonault
and Steve Fendos.
In 2003, I was once again given the opportunity
to work as the Chief Deputy Treasurer for Wilma
DeVore. I always said that every day that I got
to spend with Wilma made me a better person.
I then had the opportunity to run for Boundary
County Treasurer in 2007 when Wilma retired. As
Treasurer, I discovered that just when you think
you know it all, a new question will be asked
which will stop you in your tracks. "Why do I
have to pay a translator fee when I speak
English?" "Why do I have to pay a solid waste
fee when I have an outdoor privy?" "Why are the
urinals so high in the men's room?" Many, many
more, and I would not trade any of this for all
the money in the world. It has been an honor to
serve Boundary County, I have made many friends
and I love the people of Boundary County! Thank
you ALL for being you!
I wish the best to our new Treasurer, Sue
Larson, and hope she has as great a time as I
have had as Boundary County Treasurer. |
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