What can you say about Marsha Riemann?
"Nothing bad," said Wilma Colter, who works in Blaine County's data processing department. "They don't make them like her anymore."
Riemann retired earlier this month after 28 years of service for Blaine County, eight as the clerk.
Based on feedback from friends and colleagues at her retirement party last week, she will be dearly missed, both professionally and personally.
"She's been a great boss," said Leslie Londos, the county's deputy auditor. "She's good for you because she believes in you, and she pushes you to bring out your best. She was always friendly, nice, and a real good friend."
Riemann, who lives in Hailey, moved from Southern California to Blaine County in 1971. After working part time for the sheriff's office, she made the transition next door to the county's offices in 1979. She started by hand-indexing in the recorder's office and worked her way up to accounts payable, payroll, accounts receivable and claims. She also handled elections, and was basically the go-to person for any and every county-related question and problem.
"It's a biggie," Deborah Vignes, a former county zoning administrator, said about losing Riemann to retirement. "I'm sure she's trained her people well, but this is a huge loss. It's people like Marsha that really keep the county running smoothly."
Connie Whitworth, who works in data processing for the county, said Riemann "cared about the county like her own life."
"She's very valuable," Whitworth said. "She really cared about the taxpayer's money and how it was spent."
But it's Riemann's light-hearted, eager-to-laugh personality that many of her former colleagues said they'll miss the most.
"She has the best laugh of anyone in the county. We could hear her peels of laughter from the first floor to the third," said Blaine County Commission Chairwoman Sarah Michael. "She always put a smile on your face. She's a pretty awesome person."
Tom Bergin, the county's senior planner, said he's been friends with Riemann a long time, "before we were both county employees."
"I'll miss her," Bergin said. "She was great to work with and always helpful to me. The county and the public will miss her."
Her successor, JoLynn Drage, said "it's going to be really hard to adjust to life without her."
But Drage, who has worked for the county for 10 years, most recently as chief deputy clerk, said working under Riemann for so many years helped her prepare.
Riemann said she'll miss her job, "especially the people," but it's time to move on.
"You can always find something to do, something to keep you busy as far as work is concerned," Riemann said. "But at this stage of my life not having to put in the hours will be pleasant."
Michael joked that she's not going to let Riemann go.
"I've already got some projects for her," Michael said. "We can't let her slip away."
Former Blaine County Clerk Marsha Riemann chats with County Commission Chair Sarah Michael, right, and Jeannie Dibble during Riemann?s retirement party in Hailey last week. Riemann worked for the county for 28 years. Photo by David N. Seelig
