Terri Haacke

Cashier, Jackets & Company, MSUB
Billings, Montana

 

Terri Haacke at the Jackets and Company campus store

 

December 9, 2016

By Blair Koch, University Communications and Marketing, 657-2269

 

Even with a couple dozen well-wishers there to say ‘goodbye,’ long-term Jackets & Company Cashier Terri Haacke had a hard time not stepping behind the register to help the occasional customer who milled around the store during her retirement party on Wednesday, December 7.

Haacke has worked at the Montana State University Billings bookstore for over 28-years and retires at the end of the month.

Former and current colleagues, students and staff celebrated Haacke’s tenure on the University campus with an open house full of merriment, cake and shared memories.

“She was my go-to person,” said Emeritus Professor Ardyce Endresen. “When people with that many years of experience leave they take a lot of knowledge with them.”

Additionally, Endresen said, “Terri is always so nice to come in and talk to and she’s going to be missed.”

That sentiment was shared by Dave Coppock, head coach for both Yellowjacket cross country and track.

For as long as Coppock has been teaching here, Haacke has been, “a fixture.”

“I’ve been here 28-years,” he said. “To see Terri go, it really makes me remember just how long I’ve been coaching here.”

 

Terri helping a student at the campus store

 

Haacke began working at the bookstore as an undergraduate student. After earning a bachelor in special education, management at the store asked if she wanted to stay on.

Terri at the campus store
“I came to school when my kids were mostly grown,” Haacke said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up and I came to college to find out. However, special education wasn’t my calling and I stayed here at the university after I graduated. I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m lucky they’ve kept me on.”

Over the years, Haacke has cheered on many work-study students assisting in the bookstore and says she’ll miss her campus family.

“I have a great rapport with so many people and enjoy seeing them nearly every day. I’m going to really miss that,” Haacke said.  “I’m going to miss the students, too.”

The students are going to miss her, too.

“I come in here all the time and she’s always here,” said Daniel Lurie, 19, and an organizational communications major. “She brightens my day and I’m sorry to hear she’s leaving.”