Meet Pastor Jenny Lind Larsen
Meet Leesa Leevy
New to our congregation this year is Leesa Levy. She is First United's Music Director. She chooses, teaches and directs the music for our traditional ensemble, the Chancel Choir, and our praise band, Open Circle. She also assists our pastor in any music needed for our worship services. Leesa is also serving as the chairperson of our Worship Committee.
Leesa holds a BS in music education, MM in vocal performance and pedagogy and a
DMA in vocal performance and literature. She served as Director of Choirs (2019-2022) and Voice Instructor (2013-2022) at Wilkes University, PA and Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Voice at Valley City State University in North Dakota (1999-2012). From 1989 through 1999, Levy resided in Germany where she taught music for the Department of Defense School System, voice at the Franz Groethe Schule, Weiden, and directed several German/American church and community choirs. Prior to her work in Germany, Levy taught secondary music for the Allegany School System, NY. Levy has performed as a soprano soloist in numerous recital and concert venues in Germany and the US.
Leesa enjoys gardening, reading up on science news (especially astronomical), reading science fiction, watching good British detective stories on TV, and spending time with friends and family.
Meet Kathy Hartman
Our congregation has been blessed to have Kathy Hartman as a member since 1983. She serves as Organist, Hand Bell Director and Accompanist. She leads services by providing music on the organ and piano, accompanies the choir and soloists and leads the bell choir in preparing music for church services. Her degree in music Education has been put to good use.
She and her husband Greg, also a music major, make quite a dynamic duo.
After growing up in Minot ND she moved to Minnesota in 1969. She taught in public schools for three years and has been a full time private piano teacher for many years.
She and Greg love to play pickle ball, and Kathy enjoys reading, knitting and puzzles.
Meet Denice Kroening
We are excited to welcome and introduce our new office administrator, Denice Kroening. She will greet you and assist you as you enter First United during office hours.
Her kindness and willingness to learn shone throughout her interview and we were impressed with her accounting background and experience organizing and updating information.
She is a long time member of The Grove Methodist Church in Woodbury, so she has a solid understanding of the philosophy of the Methodist Church.
More information about her will be upcoming as she settles into her new duties.
Meet Pasty Bellman
Patsy was born and raised in Stillwater. She has spent much of her life working with young people in a Christian setting including camping, leading mission trips and as Youth Director in this church for a number of years. She now is in charge of our Children’s Ministry, which we call Faith Formation.
Teaching and working with children has been, and still is, her passion; her degree in Elementary Education was put to use as a teacher and substitute teacher.
Camping and traveling are her favorite past-times along with reading, gardening and board games.