Norm & Judi (Larson) McAlexander
1315 Lazy Hollow Court
Naperville IL 60565
(h) 630-527-8719
email: mcalex4@wowway.com
In the fall of 1963, little
did Judi Larson realize what life would hold when she
left Moses Lake, Washington, where her father, Levi Larson, was the
Pastor, and headed for Northwest College. During her
three years at NU, Judi was very active in music ministry. In her
first year, she sang with the Concert Choir, the Ladies Glee, Women's Ensemble, and in a trio with Sharon Askew and Janice Talor. In her second year, she started singing with Rita Parker & Carolyn DeGroot. When Rita wasn't able to return to school, Sharon Cook joined the group which became The Gospel-Lites.
This trio, with Anita Benskin as their pianist, toured for the college as a PR group in the summer of 1965. (Click the song title to hear the Gospel Lites Trio sing, "My Friend and I" from their 1965 record album).
In the spring of 1966, Judi
graduated from NU with an AA in pre-education, and went
on to Vanguard (Southern California College) University where she was
part of another traveling PR team and graduated with a BA in
Sociology. For the next 8 years she worked as a public school
teacher, teaching grades K-5. During that time, she received her MA in
Elementary Education.
In
1970, Judi married Norman McAlexander, a mechanical designer.
They lived in Southern California (Alhambra, Covina, & San Dimas)
until 1978 when they moved to Kennewick, WA. After leaving
Kennewick, they lived in New
Hampshire and Tennessee before moving to Naperville, IL, 30
miles west of
Chicago, where they currently live. Each move was due
to Norm’s job ... and God’s plan.
During her 20+ years in the classroom, Judi has taught in a
variety of areas. During the most
recent years, her work has been as an ELL (English Language Learner)
teacher.
Judi
and Norm have two daughters, Erin (30), who is living with them while
getting her 2nd degree in nursing, and Kaylen (27), who is an NU
graduate and and lives in Woodinville, WA where she lives in an
apartment on the property of her Uncle Dale Larson.
About four years ago, Norm came down with a severe stomachache one Sunday in church. That afternoon he
was taken to the ER and by evening, he was in ICU
diagnosed with pancreatitis. They had no clue as to how or why. The next several weeks
were difficult, as one thing lead to another. He finally ended up
at the University of Chicago Hospital. He is now a permanent
diabetic, as his pancreas is gone, but he is doing well. This past
July (2007), Judi went in for surgery on a cerebral AVM (arteriovenous
malformation; Def: birth defect in which there is an abnormal
connection between the arteries and veins in the brain.) A
hemorrhage during/after surgery happened, so she spent August in the
hospital. She is now on disability. Through all these things, God
has been faithful time after time.
Some day Judi and Norm hope
to move back to the Northwest.
(Judi
is sister to NU Alums Dale, and David Larson. Their parents were Rev. Levi
and Esther Larson, long time pastors in the Oregon and Northwest
Districts of the Assemblies of God. Rev. Larson died September
2007, just 3 months short of completing his 101st year. This
picture of Levi Larson was taken at his 100th Birthday celebration.
Article posted June 2008.
Click below to read a transcript of the testimony Judi shared at the 60s Alumni Reunion on July 26, 2008
JUDI'S STORY