By Tim Leeds
Mary Lou Haugen is looking forward to some time off. After 35 years of service at Western Drug, she has certainly earned some.
Owner Don Vaupel hired her in 1965. After some time in the store in its old location in the Masonic Temple building, she moved to Don's Medical Pharmacy. She then moved to and worked at the Western Drug location in the Atrium Shopping Center since it opened 18 years ago. Today is her last day before retirement.
Haugen said she enjoyed her 35 years of waiting on customers in her career.
"I've made a lot of good friends working in the store, a lot of good
customers," she said. "The pleasure is all mine."
Haugen said it has also been a pleasure working for Vaupel.
"I want to say what a fine gentleman Don is," she said. "I couldn't ask for a better boss than him for all these years."
She said the same about working with her coworkers over the last 35 years.
Vaupel had much the same to say about Haugen.
"She's been such a dedicated and loyal employee with such a special knack for waiting on people," he said, "she's going to be missed by Western Drug and her customers."
Haugen said she plans to spend a lot of time relaxing at home with her husband, Dale, who is also retired. She said she will enjoy that.
She said she also plans to visit, on occasion, her son in Billings and her daughter in Oklahoma.
