A generic wait utility apparatus, and corresponding method, may be used with one or more application programs to provide flexible waiting functions. Because the wait utility is generic, the wait utility may be used with different application programs, and need not be custom designed for a specific application program or operation of a particular application program. The wait utility may be used with an application program to provide improved processing status information displays and options related to the processing. The wait utility integrates previous wait utility solutions into one generic, multi-purpose wait utility program that is capable of providing a general purposes refreshable status display.