Farmer retires after 53-year career at Sho-Ban Tribes, FHHA
Thelma Farmer celebrated at her retirement party with a cake.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Thelma Farmer said she intends to get more things done around her house after working for 53 years total for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Fort Hall Housing Authority (FHHA).
Her last day of work was July 31. She was employed with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes for 26 years then the Fort Hall Housing Authority for 27 years. She started working in 1972 as a receptionist in the old tribal office, she then went to work at the Indian Action Team and Home Improvement Program (HIP). In 1998, she said the HIP was transferred to FHHA, so she continued working there, along with the late Lonnie Racehorse and the rest of their team. “It’s been good,” she said. “You know the years have gone by really fast.”
Thelma said she decided to retire after some recent changes at FHHA, “And then I finally figured well maybe it’s time to let the younger people in, you know. Maybe they’ll do better than me because I felt myself getting older.” “My kids have been telling me, you better retire Mom and enjoy yourself now – so I finally decided to retire.”
She has been busy since, as her family ran a concession during the rodeo and Indian Relay racing at the Festival. A couple of weeks later she went with her daughter Lynette on a vacation to Oregon. “So, it’s been really good so far, but I plan on doing a lot of things around my house that I didn’t have time before.”
Thelma said she enjoyed working more for the Tribes because Lonnie was her supervisor and he included her in all the activities, advised of their programming and everything. “We knew what was going on and we worked together really well,” she continued. When word processing first evolved, at first, she didn’t want to do it because she was used to the old way. “But he forced me to get on it,” purchased her one then the computer came along, and she was scared to get on it. Lonnie sent her to Idaho State University to learn, he bought her a computer and that’s how she did it. “I owe a lot to Lonnie, you know he was really good,” Thelma said.
However, when she went over to FHHA it’s like you just work and do whatever you had to do. She said they didn’t inform you of what their future was. She did enjoy working with everybody, “especially the guys I worked with, the trainees, you know they were all really swell.”
The Housing Improvement Program grant ended, she said that was unfortunate because she thought it was a good program. She then worked with the FHHA maintenance department doing work orders.
To celebrate her retirement, her coworkers had a dinner for her at the Mandarin House in Pocatello, “It was wonderful and they gave me a good party.” Her coworker Jeff Broncho gave her a beaded purse with a beaded strap, “Wow it’s really pretty,” she said. She also received two Pendleton blankets, among other gifts.
In addition, her family hosted a party for her at the Waterwheel Property where it was a good turnout. “We all ate and had a good time with it so I’m happy with everybody doing that for me.”
She enjoys doing fundraising with her family, going on trips — following her grandchildren’s sports that keeps her busy.
Concerning her long work history, she said it’s important for employers to keep their workers informed because you want to know what’s going on and what one can do, in order to try to help. “Everything seems so secretive, I think it should be more transparent,” she concluded.
She intends to enjoy her retirement.
