A fond farewell to Roxy Larsen, manager of Senior Center

Roxy Larsen still has the original contract she signed to become the manager at the North Valley Senior Center back in 1999.

It was tapped out on a typewriter and laid out the particulars of the job, which included the fact that the gig was part-time with no paid vacation. There was cleaning that would need to be done and she was required to “… greet members and guests in a friendly manner…” among other things.

For that, she was paid $5.75 an hour.

It’s been a fun ride, but over the years she’s greeted most in a friendly manner, but occasionally one or two have had a stern talking to.

“It’s always a little wild here,” Larsen said with a smile. “It’s like family. They fight. They get happy. They get over it.”

Last Wednesday was her last day as manager of the center in Columbia Falls on Nucleus Avenue. She is saying so long, but not farewell.

Monday, she was going to volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program, which delivers meals to older folks in the area. The local meals are distributed from the center and it was an integral part of Larsen’s job over the years.

She also oversaw a host of activities, including Monday night card parties, daily lunches, exercise classes, line dancing and the Friday afternoon jam sessions with local musicians.

Contrary to popular belief, she was not a county employee. The center employed her, though it receives funding from the county.

Larsen grew up in Lake Park, Minnesota. She said it was sort of like Whitefish, only in the Midwest.

Her late husband, Al, hated Minnesota and they already had family living out here so in 1977 or so they packed up everything in a school bus camper and moved out here, Larsen recalled.

When Al died about 14 years ago friends asked her if she planned on moving back to Minnesota.

“No,” she said. “This is home.”

Larsen raised her family at the center, as well as looking over a host of seniors in the past 20-plus years. Her daughter, Michelle, recalled coming to the center to play Bingo as a child.

The center is a welcoming place. The coffee is always on and there’s always a slice of cake or some cookies somewhere. Larsen, in short, makes you feel wanted.

“We owe her so much,” said center president Gary Luce. “Thank you so much Roxy.”

Larsen said she’ll miss the potluck dinners at the center.

Last year was a trying year. The center has been all but shut down and the number of Meals on Wheels recipients went from about 20 every week to 50, as older folks became housebound due to coronavirus concerns.

But the community has stepped up.

“We’ve had wonderful help through all of this,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of generous donations.”

One volunteer driver comes all the way from Polebridge once a week to deliver meals.

Mary Sorensen and Diane Ramberg will take over as co-managers.

Larsen said they’ll do just fine.

“And I’m blocking them on phone,” she joked.