Submitted Photo Irene Magnuson stands at the J.C. Penney counter. She has worked for the company for 44 years.

“Is the lady with the bright, white hair working?”

Irene Magnuson, 80, has been working at J.C. Penney Co. in Minot for the past 44 years. In the early 1970s Magnuson worked as a teacher’s aid at the Surrey Elementary School. However, raising five children and working three hours a day was not paying the bills.

In July 1974, Magnuson applied to work at J.C. Penney Co. for more hours and higher pay of $2.25 an hour.

“Waiting on people at the cash register was a little nerve- wracking,” Magnuson stated. Her training consisted of reading books at work about what to do, what not to do, and customer service. She remembers her first boss telling her, “There is nothing more constant than change.” This quote would define her time at the store.

The original J.C. Penney Co. was located in downtown Minot and had three levels. Magnuson worked in the catalog department in the lower level of the building. She stated, “We typed in every order. When the order came in we unloaded and processed them. Then we called the customers.” Thirty-eight years later the catalog store closed due to online shopping. Magnuson got moved to selling floor position, where she was a cashier, folded clothes, and shelved them.

The original store had men’s, women’s, lingerie, home, and the catalog department. In 1981, the store moved to the Dakota Square mall. With the move, came more departments like junior’s, petite, and plus size. Later, Sephora, Optical Glasses, and a hair salon were added. She worked five days a week, eight hours a day until she was 67. She now works three days a week, and five hours a day.

Magnuson has gone through seven managers during her career. Robin Hofer, Magnuson’s current manager said, “Irene is never tardy and always dependable. She never complains and always has a positive attitude. She has the energy of the young people and the wisdom to give to them. She is a great asset to the team.” She is the only employee who worked at the original store. He went on to say how she can remember the merchandise they had, what it was like to work with no internet, and how she knew every customer by name.

Magnuson stated her favorite part about the job is, she jokingly said, “Folding bras and panties.” She then, in a serious manner, says she loves helping customers. She was not hesitant to say her least favorite job is cleaning out the dressing rooms.

Magnuson’s five children are grateful for their mom’s continuous time at the store. Her daughter, Toni Candrian stated, “Nineteen years ago, I told my mom at J. C. Penney Co. that I was pregnant for the first time. Then when my daughter was born we would go visit her everyday on her lunch break. She would take us to the break room to have cookies.” Magnuson’s children are impressed by their mom’s dedication and are inspired by her hard work.

Many people are surprised to find out she has been working for so long. There have been times when she thought about quitting but then she says, “Why would I want to go anywhere else?”

The once 35-year-old, new employee, anxious for her first day is now a 80-year-old taking full advantage of her employee discount; she shares her stories and wisdom with every new employee who was just like her 44 years ago.