Word around town is that the Becker Post Office is not the same since Del Bauer issued her retirement in 2013.

 

Bauer had worked for the post office as clerk for 20 years.

 

“My favorite part of working at the post office was seeing the smiles on people’s faces and hearing stories they’d tell me,” said Bauer. “I’ve heard a lot of people say the post office has changed since I’ve left and people really miss me, which is nice.”

 

Bauer retired on her 62nd birthday in 2013 and since her hiring by postmaster Mary Gillham in May of 1993, the facility has seen numerous changes over the two decades.

 

“Over those 20 years, our letter volume decreased but our parcel shipments went up,” Bauer said. “Plus, when I started we used to do a lot of things by hand — like printing money orders — but now a lot of the tasks are done on computer.”

 

When Bauer decided to retire, she resolved to take at least three years off of work, and then decide later if she’ll return to the workforce or continue in her retirement. Either way, her days behind the counter at the rural post office are over.

 

Bauer has led a fascinating life, living in several communities in which she attended nine high schools before graduating in 1970. She has lived in Big Lake since 1986 and before that spent 10 years living in Alaska where she met her husband and got married.

 

Bauer has two daughters, one who lives just down the block from her and the other who lives in San Diego, CA. She has several grandchildren and has traveled to the west coast and Hawaii (where her daughter once lived) to be with her close-knit family. She stays busy with the grandchildren (who call her “Oma”) and is a foster parent for dogs and enjoys music, working in the kitchen, riding her motorcycle and biking in the summer. She also has two cats.

 

“It’s good therapy,” she says.

 

She has also worked as a security guard at the Monticello power plant and a driving instructor in St. Paul. Though retired, Bauer is currently working one day a week as a receptionist for a Monticello law firm.

 

Recently, Bauer was asked by her California daughter to move to the golden state to be close to her and enjoy the year-round great weather. She’s not sure what she’ll do over the next few months.

 

“I’m torn on what to do,” she says. “I’d love to go to California but I have another daughter already living nearby, so I really don’t know.”

 

Whatever she decides, someone will miss her.

 

Just like those who frequented the post office and remember her smiling face and charm for those 20 years.