Training Camp which was held on campus. It was great to see Bud Grant and all the players up close. After classes (and football practice), I'd hurry home and take my kids to Bush lake to spend the afternoon at the beach. My kids and I have always been 'water' people and most of my grandchildren have a bit of that Clear Lake blood in them, too. We make good use of the pool here at my condo. I also have a cabin next to Sandy and Brad's log home on Long Lake in Park Rapids across the lake from Diane (Hintzman) and Tom Guinn's home and big resort. We go there as much as possible and I'm looking forward to spending our family Christmas there this year. The kids have fun ice skating and ice fishing right in front of the cabin. We hope and plan to retire there sometime in the future, but for right now, we rent both properties when we're not there.

In thinking about this web bio, I decided that perhaps the easiest way to describe my work life is to paint a very wide brush stroke that covers most every position I have held. We all are old enough to know the term 'Executive Secretary'. That's what I've been since 1966, with the exception of teaching and a year as a Realtor. The term has changed through the years, it seems people think it's a little demeaning to 'just' be a secretary. I've held positions as Administrative Assistant, Executive Assistant, etc. But in actuality, all these positions can still refer to an excellent Executive Secretary. I was a key partner to each of my bosses and we remain friends to this day. Those of you with secretaries, under which ever name applies, know a good secretary plays an important role in business life.

So now, knowing the broad scope of what I've done in my work life, here are the exciting places or people I've had the opportunity to work with after I left my field of education and my stint as Realtor. My 80's were spent in San Diego, sharing a condo on the beach with Sandy and Shelley. During the 90's when I was moving around a little more than usual, it was because each of my bosses left for a different position and each moved out of state and I chose not to follow!

Here we go, I supported:
1970's:   President of Home Federal Savings & Loan, Minneapolis
1980's:  Head Men's Basketball Coach and then the Associate Director of Athletics, San Diego State University
1990's:  (back to Bloomington from CA)
o Executive Director, Final Four Basketball Tournament, University of MN
o Executive Director, Saint Paul Civic Center
o Executive Director, HHH Metrodome
o Head of School, St. Paul Academy, a private co-ed K-12 school
2001 to date:  Medical Director, HealthPartners, Bloomington

Looking back, the years from 1980-2000 were especially fun for me because of my love for sports and the jobs I held. I have had wonderful opportunities to make friends with people in all levels of sports, and had fun attending Super Bowls, Final Fours, World Series, National Hockey tournies, etc. My children (and their spouses, too) and grandchildren have had chances to see sporting events from behind the scenes and get neat mementoes along the way.

RETIREMENT FUN:
In mid-summer just this year, I cut my work week from five to three days and I am absolutely loving it!  I'll probably work through 2007 and perhaps 2008 before really retiring.  (Whoops- moving retirement back to end of 2010).

This past year and a half, I've had my 17 year old granddaughter living with me to complete her high school and it's been a very different time for me.  It's been easier than I expected and more fun but more expensive, too!!  I tend to spoil her just like I did my own children, but she's a real sweetheart and doing great.

Most of my retirement fun comes from activities with my kids and their families except for a little travel. I usually try to make it out to San Diego every year to visit my friends and to eat at some of my special restaurants, plus just to be around the ocean. And, of course, there are the yearly Laughlin Rumbles! I don't want to be left out of those. The small group that meets has developed quite a close-knit bond and I look forward to that part of my life continuing.

MEMORIES FROM MY SCHOOL DAYS:
going to movies two to three times a week at the Lake Theater
stealing apples
Halloween treats, so many!  My favorite popcorn balls, always homemade back then,
playing marbles and baseball with boys and girls,
being tardy for Miss Moody's class one time only!
music trips,
sports trips,
cheerleading,
slumber parties,
senior skip day, Crowbar's dad finding the 'stash' of the boys,
being so naive, thankfully --- nothing like it is today
matching shirts, jeans, and belts with Rosemary
sitting on 'The Wall' at the beach,
the Corner Drug ,coke, chips, and Snicker bar were my after-school treat,
dance cards,
boyfriends,
shyness,
dancing at the Surf to wonderful big bands.

TYPE OF MUSIC AND ACTIVITIES I NOW ENJOY:
I love to read - a lot - and I also have a few special TV shows I watch, including 'The Young & Restless'! I still love big-band music and have been known to dance around my living room when a good song pops up. I even taught my granddaughter a little of the swing step this past year. There really are many of the pop songs I like, too, (no rap, however) but would not be able to list the artists except for a very few.  I saw Justin Timberlake on the Leno show the other night and really like to listen to him and to watch him move.  Cool, huh!  My grandson, James, makes me CDs for my car and I like almost all the songs he chooses for me. One of the main things I have missed in the last decade or so is dancing.  It is hard as a single of my age to find a good place to go anymore or even anyone to dance with.  For a few years, there were always weddings of my kids' friends and I'd get to dance with everyone, but now their groups are well past the wedding stage. Oh, I just had a flashback to my mom dancing at her grandchildren's weddings.  I've got that to look forward to!!  Life is good.

FAVORITE SONGS FROM THE 50S:
Mr. Sandman (Mike Kellogg used to whistle that every morning when he'd come over and we'd walk to school together)
Sh Boom, Sh Boom (spelling?)
In the Mood
Picnic
Elvis songs, especially the fast ones:  Don't Be Cruel 
Judy
Lerdal
Somers
Judy and her daughters 
Some of Judy's Grandchildren in earlier years. 
Judy's son, Mike   
Music is
'Mr. Sandman' 
"Grandchildren growing up!" 
James (15) - July 4, 2009 Fun at the Lake.
____________________

NAME:
Judy Somers (Lerdal)

ADDRESS:
11137 Oregon Circle
Bloomington, MN  55438

EMAIL ADDRESS:
(note: no home e-mail at this time)
Judith.l.somers@healthpartners.com

PHONE:
952-943-1223

MARITAL STATUS:
Married Denny Somers (Holy Family, Mason City) in the fall of 1956. We have four children ( Mike, Debbie, Sandy, and Shelley) all of whom live in the Twin Cities area so I am very fortunate.  Denny and I divorced in 1970 but are friends in our old age (!).  I have nine grandchildren to enrich my life. The attached photos are of my children and seven of my grandchildren (when they were younger).
Page Created
29 October, 2007
Last Updated
9 July, 2009
HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE:
Although I was busy raising my young family, I managed to graduate from NIACC, formerly Mason City Junior College, and was proud to earn Salutatorian honors. I obtained my teaching certificate in Minnesota after our move to Bloomington in 1966. I taught for six years and, throughout those years, I spent summer mornings driving to Mankato State for classes to keep my certificate current. I arranged my classes so that I'd be able to go watch the Vikings
Judy's 70th Birthday.
(6-27-2009)
The pin says,
'I'm not really
70!
I'm 18!
(with 52 years
of experience)