Elaine Bennett steps away after 39 years at Sentry
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
When Elaine Bennett first began to work for Sentry Foods in Burlington, she was a junior at what was then St. Mary’s High School.
“There wasn’t a lot of places you could get a job in Burlington,” she recalls of the time when she was still Elaine Ketterhagen. “They worked your hours into your curriculum.”
When she graduated from St. Mary’s Bennett continued to work at Sentry. Over the course of 39 years, she saw the store evolve from two separate locations to its current spot in the Pinecrest Shopping Center – and through a remodel of the entire shopping center.
On June 30, Bennett retired from the store, with nothing but good memories.
“I liked the people,” said Bennett, who added there are a number of older employees at the store who have remained with the company over the years.
“I think they knew the importance of doing their job, and financial security,” Bennett explained.
Over the years, Bennett saw just about every duty the store had. She worked stocking, ordering and also as a checkout clerk, and liked to make sure her job was done right.
“You’ve got to keep busy if you want to keep your job,” she said.
Ironically, Bennett was married in 1968 – and on her wedding night, Sentry was robbed.
“It was a major thing,” she said. “They had people laying on the floor.”
She never returned to that Sentry. She worked in Milwaukee for two years – at a department store and a Walgreens – until she and her husband, Hank, moved back to Burlington in 1970.
She was full-time from that year until her retirement earlier this summer.
Through that time, she had two sons – Christopher and Matthew. Christopher went on to work at Sentry as well, one of the many teenagers who went through the store as part-time employees while in high school.
Bennett said times have changed, but Sentry remains a good place to work.
“They have a lot of applications,” she said. “It’s friendly. You’ve got good bosses. They’re fair.”
Now, though, Bennett says it is time to step away.
“When it starts taking a toll on your body,” she said. “When you get home and you can barely walk, it’s time.”
She is enjoying retirement.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “Things I never had time to do when I was working: enjoy grandchildren; (and) see my children a little bit more than before.”
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We will miss seeing Elaine several times a week at Sentry when we would stop in quick and get some groceries! She was a fixture there & always represented Sentry well with her smile & polite conversation. It was obvious that doing her job right was important to her because she certainly did! It is a shame that people like her ever retire. They keep the small town feel alive & well! Congratulations Elaine & best of luck with your retirement! You will be missed by many, but we are confident that your attitude & personality has rubbed of on your co-workers!
You Will Be Missed!
Geech, You LEAVING US Elaine?
It was So Nice Getting you to Ck me out ! ( both my Goodies and Me Personally) Telling me when I needed a hair Cut to other things.
I would Purposely Go to your Lane
You were always fun and Could take a Joke and Give them out too !
Sure wish they would Let you Girls Have a TIP JAR , I’d Given you $1 Everytime..
These New Girls? Have No Personality and Act Like it’s such a Bore.. Don’t know how to make the Best of things..and appreicate What they have going for them.. Maybe they just Have had it too good, not like we Old Folks have been Thru..
Wife had a similar Job ofbeing On her Feet all day,I would Give her a Foot and Legg Massage almost every Evening.. and got her a Exercise Bike too..
Enjoy Retirement Dear..You WIll Be Missed
Take Care!
😉
I remember her from when I was in High School and used to go to Sentry to get lunch. Congratulatons and enjoy your retirement!!