After working for Idaho Conference for over 33 years, Jeannie Leno retired on July 1, 2023.
She began working at Cloverdale Church and Boise Valley Adventist School as a secretary before joining the Idaho Conference office staff as payroll specialist in 1997.
In December 2006, Leno was promoted to assistant treasurer, and in July 2010, she was promoted again to associate treasurer. Leno has worked with four treasurers/vice presidents for finance: Gary Dodge, Rick Roy, Harold Dixon and John Rogers.
During her years at the conference office, Leno has processed local church and school audits, payroll, employee benefits, accounts payable, employee background screening and volunteer background screening and managed the maintenance of the conference office building. Through January 2023, she never missed a payroll — a total of 292 payrolls. W-2s always went out on schedule.
Camp meeting is another area where Leno excelled. Every year, she reserved the needed tents and portable toilets. If a sign was needed, Leno provided it so camp meeting guests would know where to go. If supplies were needed, Leno would get them.
For several years she took care of logistics for Beyond the Bottom Line, a biannual meeting for treasurers and ministry leaders to promote integrity in accounting for the financial resources of God’s work. She also worked closely with the conference treasurer to provide training for church and school treasurers.
Leno's soft-spoken ways helped many employees and volunteers navigate whatever they needed to be employed or to serve as volunteers. When healthcare and Aflac benefit enrollments went online, Leno helped employees learn how to use them and prodded them to get enrolled before the deadline.
Many people didn’t realize how much she needed to do after everyone was enrolled to confirm their enrollments. Government regulations seemed to increase each year and increased the workload as well.
Leno will be missed for more than what she did; she genuinely cared for employees. We wish her well as she retires to spend more time with her grandchildren, more time at the coast — her favorite place, other than with grandchildren — and more time relaxing.
At the end of the evening, the group gathered around Leno and her husband, Doug, to offer a prayer.
Credit: Eve Rusk
Steve McPherson, along with his wife Sharon, were among the surprise guests. Steve was the president when Leno was hired.
Credit: Eve Rusk
Mark Remboldt made a presentation on behalf of North Pacific Union Conference.
Credit: Eve Rusk
David Prest, Jr., shared a tribute to Leno.
Credit: Eve Rusk
John Rogers presented Leno with a gag gift — a two-dimensional goose to place in her garden. Leno had to deal with a lot of geese which flocked to the vacant lot behind the conference warehouse.
Credit: Eve Rusk
Leno opens the gift from Rogers.
Credit: Eve Rusk
Office staff and surprise guests got together to celebrate Leno: from left, Mark Remboldt, Gerald Margil, Gary and Carol Dodge, Denise Serack. Gary Dodge had originally hired Leno in 1997.
Credit: Eve Rusk
