The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

On January 1, 2018 Hilary (Krass) Richman and her husband, Tim, became the new owners of the Milk River Pharmacy located on the south side of Harlem along Highway 2. The pharmacy was started in 2008 by Kelcey and Nancy Diemert of Chinook. Regarding the sale to Hilary and Tim, the Diemerts said, "It was always our plan for Hilary to eventually own and operate the pharmacy." Hilary has served as the Pharmacist-in-charge since the store opened.

The Milk River Pharmacy is a successor

to Don's Pharmacy

Frank Orlando owned and operated Don's Pharmacy on Main Street in Harlem for many years. His widow, Lilah, said she was not sure how long Frank operated the pharmacy but thought it was close to 50 years. According to Lilah, Frank Orlando loved operating the store. She said, "It was not unusual for a rancher with a sick calf to call Frank for something to treat the animal. He would head down to open the store and help the rancher. He was in the store every Sunday from 9 am to noon."

Others recall Orlando had a varied inventory of useful items besides medicines. One local said, "I remember he sold greeting cards. He kept them behind the counter so they wouldn't get smudged by people handling them. You had to ask for the cards to see what he had, and they were each covered with plastic to keep them clean." Several recalled that Orlando dispensed drugs "for man or beast."

In the early 2000's Orlando decided to retire. The Diemerts, already operating pharmacies in Chinook and Havre at the time, bought the inventory and patient information for Don's Pharmacy. Kelcey Diemert recalled, "After loading and hauling several pickup loads of inventory from the pharmacy, Frank said, "Wait, I need to give you my computer." Kelcey said he didn't think the store had a computer and was surprised when Orlando walked out with a three-ring binder with every patient's information meticulously entered by hand. Kelcey laughed when he told, "I believe Frank Orlando was the last pharmacist in Montana to still use a typewriter for handling patient records." The three-ring binder is still in the Milk River Pharmacy.

Nancy Diemert said, "At the time we bought the inventory from Frank Orlando we committed to opening a pharmacy in Harlem as soon as practical. Our family situation, with little kids still at home, didn't allow us to open a pharmacy right away." In 2008 the McCrackens, who own the EZ Mart store along Highway 2 in Harlem, agreed to add on to their existing warehouse/office to provide space for a pharmacy.

The Milk River Pharmacy opened in 2008. Hilary Richman, who was already working at the Diemert's Pharmacy in Chinook, began working four days a week as the pharmacist in charge in Harlem, with either Nancy or Kelcey in charge of dispensing the fifth day each week. Ali Molyneaux was the first pharmacy tech. In 2009 Cathy Luke-Hinebauch, who still works for the Diemerts at their Chester store, began her duties as the pharmacy tech at the Harlem pharmacy. Rani Baker, the current Certified Pharmacy Tech who works with Richman, joined the pharmacy in 2012.

Early on Hilary Richman's goal

was to own a pharmacy

Asked how she became interested in being a pharmacist, Hilary Richman said, "Actually, it was Frank Orlando who convinced me to pursue a career as a pharmacist." She said as a student she was always interested in science and math. She graduated from Turner High in 1997, then completed a bachelor's degree at MSU-Northern with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. She did her first year of pharmacy school at North Dakota State in Fargo, then transferred to the University of Montana to complete her last three years of graduate school. She completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D) and became a Registered Pharmacist. During pharmacy school she worked summers at the Chinook Pharmacy and joined that store full time in 2005 when she graduated from U of M.

Rani Baker and Hilary Richman look at the old three-ring binder that contains the handwritten patient records from Don's Pharmacy in Harlem. The pharmacy was purchased by Kelcey and Nancy Diemert in the early 2000's and they opened the Milk River Pharmacy in 2008. Hilary Richman, a Registered Pharmacist, has worked there since the pharmacy opened and she and her husband, Tim, became the new owners on January 1, 2018. Rani, a Pharmacy Tech, has worked in the pharmacy since 2012.

Hilary said she wanted to own a pharmacy business since deciding to pursue a career as a pharmacist. She explained that one thing she really likes about being a pharmacist is her ability to help patients with medical decisions and issues. She said, "A pharmacist is one of the most accessible members of the medical community. People ask me for medical advice all the time, which I enjoy sharing. My challenge is to make sure when to give appropriate advice and when to refer a patient to a doctor."

Richman is very excited about now owning the pharmacy. She said, "Buying this store allows me to maintain the relationships I've already created with my patients. Hilary added, "I'm still getting comfortable with my new role. I ran the store and dispensed medications but now am having to learn about the business side-like insurance, purchasing inventory and all the licensing and reporting requirements that pharmacies have to deal with." She laughed when she said, "One of the biggest changes I'm dealing with is paying the bills with my money rather than the Diemerts'."

Hilary said, "There are some changes I might like to make when I get my feet on the ground as owner. I'd like to add some things that I think would be good for and helpful to the community." Hilary seems quite comfortable in her new role as owner. As she pointed out, "It's really business as usual, just with new owners." She is married to Tim Richman, they have two daughters, Hannah, 12 years old and Natalie, who is 8. Tim is an agent with the Richman Agency in Harlem. The "Journal" wishes Hilary and Tim the best in their new role as owners of the Milk River Pharmacy.