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Jeweler retiring after 40 years in trade, 33 in McCook
McCOOK, Neb. — After more than 40 years as a jeweler, Terry Peterson is getting ready to retire.
“This will be my final year in business,” said Terry, who has spent his entire career at stores in this area, starting in 1975 in North Platte and concluding with the past 33 years in McCook.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” he said, extending his thanks to a great community, excellent employees and tremendous customers for making his years in business such a pleasure.
“Except for my time in the Army and a brief stint as an insurance agent, the jewelry business has been my life work,” Terry said, “It was a good choice because, as a jeweler, you are privileged to be of service to customers at some of the most meaningful times in their lives … birthdays, graduation, engagement and anniversaries.”
In excellent health, Peterson, 66, said his decision to retire was motivated by his desire to do the things that get missed in a profession that requires the store to be open every week day and for even longer hours during the Christmas holidays.
“I’m looking forward to the Christmas season of 2017,” he said. “It will be the first time in 42 years that I will be not be spending long hours at the store.”
Born at the old St. Catherine’s Hospital in McCook, Terry grew up on a farm in southern Frontier County. He attended Medicine Valley High School graduating with the Class of 1969.
After attending Kearney State College and graduating from Mid Plains Community College in North Platte in 1971, Terry joined the U.S. Army, serving as a communication center specialist. Following completion of his Army service in 1974, Terry took a job in North Platte as an insurance agent, then — shortly thereafter — was recruited to become a jeweler by Ralph Tallmon of Tallmon Jewelers of North Platte.
“I owe a lot to Ralph and to Bill Schilz of McCook. They were my mentors, giving me a great start in learning the jewelry profession,” he said. Terry also expressed gratitude for the help of his employees, past and present, for all their help at the store. “I’ve been very lucky to have people like Karen Berry, who has been with us for 33 years; Carmen Pate, who has been here 11 years; and Denise Wheelbarger, who joined the staff a year and a half ago,” he said.
“It’s also important at this time to remember my late wife, Donna, for the important role she played in helping establish and grow the store,” Terry said. Donna lost her life to cancer in 2004.
In retirement, Terry looks forward to devoting more time to his favorite leisure time activities, including golf, gardening and hunting. He and his wife, Chris, who Terry married in 2009, will also be doing more traveling, with trips to Tennessee, Alabama and Arizona already in the planning stages.
One of the biggest bonuses for the Petersons in retirement will be the additional times they have to spend with their families. This includes Terry’s and Chris’s children and grandchildren.
Terry’s son, Tim, lives in Omaha, and his daughter, Kellie, her husband, Erik, and their twin sons, Lucas and Clayton, live in North Platte. Chris has two daughters and three grandchildren. They are Kristie and her son, Evan, from Kansas City, Kan., and Laura and her sons, Ben and Josh, from Wilmington, Del.