We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The former and new owners of Chinook Pharmacy pose in front of the drugstore on Indiana Street in Chinook. (Back row, left to right) Former Chinook Pharmacy owners and operators Kelcey and Nancy Diemert are beside the family of new owner Angie Billmayer. The Billmayer family members, left to right: is Bridger, Angie and Frank with Bowman in front. The Diemerts started and operated the local pharmacy for 29 years. Angie Billmayer became the new owner and operator effective July 1.
By Steve Edwards
BCJ News
On July 1, 2023 Registered Pharmacist Angie Billmayer became the new owner/operator of the Chinook Pharmacy. She graduated from the Skaggs Pharmacy School at the University of Montana in 2006. When the native of Nebraska was asked how she ended up at the U of M she said, "I always wanted to be near the mountains." After pharmacy school she worked several different locations as a pharmacist, then she and husband Frank Billmayer, a Montana native, made their home on the Hi-Line.
History of the Chinook Pharmacy
In 1993 Kelcey and Nancy Diemert both graduated from pharmacy school at the University of Montana and were working for a 'big box pharmacy' in the Seattle area. They soon discerned they wanted to pursue their pharmaceutical careers in a more pleasant and supportive setting. While visiting his hometown of Chester Kelcey was told by the local pharmacist, Bill Kimball, that Kimball's hometown of Chinook had not had a drugstore for three years and "the folks there are looking for someone to start a new pharmacy." The couple explored the possibilities of starting a new business in Chinook.
Nancy, originally from Lewistown, said, "At the time we had no money, a lot of debt from student loans, an eleven-year old daughter and a two-week old baby." Kelcey added, "They (Bear Paw Development and the Western Bank at the time) made it easy for us to get a business start-up loan. The local nursing home owned the retail pharmacy space in the Sweet Medical Center and rented us the space for one dollar per year." Early on Nancy ran the store in Chinook and Kelcey supplemented the family's income "working relief at other pharmacies across Montana."
In 2000 Ron and Jeanne Dalton repurposed the old IGA store (now Ace Hardware across the street from the Post Office in Chinook). The Diemerts asked for space in the remodeled store and operated there until 2013 when they moved their pharmacy to its current location on Indiana Street in downtown Chinook.
Nancy mentioned the corner location at Indiana Street and 3rd Street East was the site for several pharmacies over the years. She shared, "Many former residents come back to visit and observe with a drugstore again on the corner the downtown remains very familiar." In 2014 the Diemerts celebrated 20 years in business in Chinook. When the sale was completed on July 1, 2023 the couple was one year shy of doing business for thirty years as Chinook Pharmacy.
During their time in Chinook Nancy and Kelcey launched several other pharmacies on the Hi-Line that became independent businesses over time. They started the Western Drug in Havre and operated it until 2011. In 2009 the couple started the Milk River Pharmacy in Harlem and in 2013 began a store in Chester. Nancy said she was "very pleased with our role in helping women pharmacists become independent business owners and operators." The Chinook drugstore was the first business they started. Kelcey observed, "We love this community and plan to stay in Chinook and work for Angie, do some traveling and play with the grandkids."
The new owner and operator
Angie Billmayer hails from Nebraska. She graduated from pharmacy school in 2006, then did a one year residency in Omaha. From there she worked at Yongsan Army Base in Seoul Korea as a pharmacist.
She and then future husband Frank Billmayer met while she was in school in Missoula and he was working for a company in Kalispell. Angie said, "Frank shared that he always wanted to raise a family 'on the east side of the mountains.'" The couple moved to north central Montana and Angie worked for two years at the hospital in Havre. She met the Diemerts doing fill-in work at the Chinook Pharmacy.
After a couple of years as a fill-in pharmacist at the Chinook Pharmacy, Angie became a full-time employee in 2011. Asked about changes she envisions at the pharmacy, she said, "Customers will not see a big difference. My goal is to continue with the same caring customer service, follow the Diemerts' work ethic and maintain the atmosphere of a great pharmacy." Of the Diemerts Angie said, "They have been great mentors to me and I've appreciated the trust and confidence they've shown me over the years. I'm honored they've given me this opportunity to continue the business they started."
Frank Billmayer, Angie's husband, shared something she told him when they first met in 2005. He recalled, "Angie said her dream was to own a "mom and pop pharmacy" where the customer's care comes first. When she met Nancy and Kelcey and worked in their pharmacy, she was hooked! Kelcey and Nancy have built a wonderful "customer focused" business and I have no doubt Angie will continue the legacy and grow the business."
Angie said she felt early on that owning the Chinook pharmacy was a reachable and desirable goal. Husband Frank owns and operates Billmayer Water Supply, a Chinook-based business. She feels her family has found a home and they have no plans to leave. Per Angie, "My family is excited and supportive of this new opportunity to continue the professional services and traditions of the Chinook Pharmacy." Frank and Angie have two sons: Bridger, 12 and Bowman, 9.
