Deputy clerk marks 40 years at job

She doesn't wear a giant pearl necklace and have a pet dog named Dino, but those who know the longest-serving Cape Girardeau County employee often call her Wilma Flintstone.

"We call her that because of the number of years that she has been with the county and her knowledge, kind of like she has been here since the stone ages," said County Clerk Kara Clark Summers.

The chief deputy county clerk, Judy Beussink will celebrate her 45th year as a county employee on Sept. 1. Born and raised in Portageville, Mo., Beussink said her love of government can be traced back to her high school days when she won an award for the subject in a class.

"At the time it was a big deal," Beussink said. "I liked my teacher and what I was learning then. It carried on."

Beussink said she hadn't planned on working in Cape Girardeau County, but she learned of the opening at the clerk's office a few years after high school graduation and applied for the job.

She began work soon after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on race or color. The act established oversight of elections, though Beussink herself was unable to vote that year.

Rusby Crites was the county clerk at the time. Beussink said his work ethic and passion for serving the public are qualities that have been a part of her since she was first hired.

"The odd part was I didn't know him and he didn't know me," Beussink said. "But he hired me and gave me a chance.

"I was always grateful to him for that," she said. "In my opinion, he lived up to the true meaning of a dedicated public servant."

Though her job has been stressful at times, Beussink said co-workers like Crites made working for the county an enjoyable experience.

"I deal a lot with employees," Beussink said. "You just get to know them, and some end up being lifelong friends. You work in a place for so long that they become a second family."

In 45 years, Beussink said, about the only parts of her workday that haven't changed are arriving to work at 8 a.m., answering the telephone and drinking a cup of coffee. She's worked in two different buildings in Jackson -- the county administration building and the county courthouse -- and has been a part of the county growing from class 3 to class 2 and now class 1 status based on its population.

"Every day is different," Beussink said. "We're constantly adding more duties and changing the way we do things."

Beussink has also had the opportunity to visit with notable politicians during her time at the county. Those include former governors Warren Hearnes and Mel Carnahan.

"They're always nice and friendly because they're in public office," Beussink said.

When she's away from the office Beussink spends time with her husband, David, and grandson, Lucas. Except for the occasional out-of-town shopping trip, Beussink said she stays close to home for the most part.

"I'm a homebody," Beussink said. "When you work full time, you're pretty much close to home. But when I retire I would like to travel, go on some senior citizen bus tours or even Alaska, which would be a dream for my husband."

As for retirement plans, Beussink said she'll stay through at least the end of Summers' first full term in office, which ends in December.

"I haven't discussed anything beyond that," Beussink said. "When I do retire it will be sad. After you've done something for 45 years ,it is going to be quite different."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628