Name to a Face: Diane Larsen - Kid/Teacher Wrangler

Editor's Note: This year the Whitehall School District is losing several well-known and loved staff. For the next few weeks the Name to a Face column will be dedicated to those who will no longer be gracing the hallways of WHS/WMS/WES next semester. We wish them all the best in their retirement!

Diane Larsen was born in Glasgow, MT where she stayed until the end of second grade. By the beginning of third grade her family had moved to Culbertson, Montana, where she would eventually graduate. Her early years were spent very involved in school activities, enjoying Pep Club, Pep band, Annual Staff, and various other groups, including Girls Scouts.

After graduation, she attended the Billings Business School and obtained a degree in Business; theis would lead to a longlasting career in secretarial work, which Diane loved - she has always liked numbers and all aspects of business work.

Upon marrying, she and her husband moved back to Glasgow, where he was a police officer. Diane had several managerial positions before an opening for a secretarial position opened up at Glasgow Middle School. Nine good years were spent working for the middle school; then her husband took a full-time position with the Motana National Guard in Butte.

The Larsens made their home in Whitehall and, after a few years, she found herself at the Whitehall Elementary School as the school's secretary, where she worked for another nine years. In 2010, she took the Assistant Clerk position; now, in 2021 she is finishing up her last school year. Despite her immense love for her job, the students, and the staff, she welcomes the change of retirement and more time with her family.

Her love of working with other people is what brought her into the school system, and also what has kept her there. Being able to be in such a social environment has always been very important to her. During COVID-19's peak, things changed socially for her in the school environment; staff and students were very responsible and supportive as they strived to keep Diane as safe as possible, as she was also fighting cancer.

This love and support made her job all the more special to her. Her fondest memories are working in the Elementary with the littler students; though she admits she will miss everyone - young and old.

However, Diane isn't leaving the Whitehall she calls "home." Diane has two sons with families of their own, both who live in Montana, and include her seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Diane is looking forward to the precious family time retirement provides. She's also looking forward to hunting with family, fishing, and especially time in her camper.

When you see Diane in the hallways of the school these last few weeks, or out and about in town, please remember to thank her the time she gave to helping our Whitehall Trojans become who they are - she worked hard and long for all of our children! We appreciate you, Diane!