Maggie and Terry Larson

I chose them because they are a couple and I wanted to see how their responses would be similar
and different. The location of the interview was at their house. Maggie is 67 and Terry is 66, they
are friends of my parents. Maggie is a retired office worker and Terry is a retired truck driver.
Some demographics are that they are white, Catholic and college graduates. The interview was
one hour.
Summary:
Purpose:
What do you believe has been your purpose in this life?
Maggie: To do service and help others. When younger it was more about self. But now it is to be
a good wife, mother, grandmother, good caring person to others especially those that are aging.
Terry: To grow as a decent human. Be caring and helpful.
How has that changed across your lifespan? /Do you think your purpose has changed
throughout your life and how?
Maggie: Learn what love is, accepting who you love as who they are and don’t change them.
Don’t dwell on negativity. Encourage positivity.
Terry: Experience of life has impacted the view. Understanding you can’t predict future but to
live and learn. Younger was about me and what I wanted to do. Gained experience then turned to
who I could help.
Do you remember when you started thinking about your purpose?
Maggie: 40s, grown in the 60s watching parents pass on. And now as children are adults.
Terry: Into 40s when met Maggie.
Who has influenced your life the most…who, how?
Maggie: Terry influenced by giving a man’s viewpoint. Mother was a foundation- looking back
on her life and what she taught. Friends who are supportive.
Terry: Maggie influences, sees how giving she is. Father was the foundation.
Whose life have you had the most influence on? Please explain.
Maggie: Her Mom but would have liked to be closer. When she retired she taught Maggie how
you grow with your children, give adult children more space. God (keep head above water).
When Terry became Catholic it strengthened their relationship.
Terry: Dad had an easy going manner, opposite of his mother. Then met Maggie and she was the
biggest influence.
What are you most proud of?
Maggie: Relationship with each other (referring to Terry), kids and grandkids. Proud of family
Terry: When started out people said they wouldn’t make it. Family is what he is proud of.
What are your future goals and what do you want to achieve?
Maggie: Go to Italy (she jokes, Terry says they can go), be there for kids and grandkids and
anyone who needs helps.
Terry: Keep helping people while can, do best to stay healthy. Take one day at a time.
Do you have regrets?
Maggie: Wouldn’t call regrets, without them wouldn’t be where I am at.
Terry: Meet Maggie earlier.
Self-concept and emotional development & mental health:
How has your self-concept changed over the years? What do you currently like most about
yourself? What do you currently like least about yourself?
Maggie: More accepting of self, content with who am and who become, don’t second guess as
often.
Terry: More confidence from schooling, was an EMT for 20 years.
What do you think will be remembered about you?
Maggie: As a good person, kind, giving.
Terry: As a good person, helpful, listened to others, leave earth better than when came.
Work Questions:
Tell me about your work history and the type of jobs you have had?
Maggie: Always have been at an office (payroll or HR). Now retired but serve hot lunch and visit
older adults.
Terry: Worked in factory, then truck driver. Now mow grass.
Relationships (long-term love, parenting, siblings, friends):
What are your most important 5 relationships currently? And why?
Maggie: God, Terry, kids, grandkids, friends, dog
Faith brought the order.
Terry: God, Maggie, kids, grandkids, friends (mean a lot), dog
Faith brought to that.
Most important lessons you learned from marriage? /Advice for younger generation?
Maggie: Pick your fights- little things aren’t worth it.
Terry: Say “yes dear” (he jokes). If fight over little things you always be fighting, agree to
disagree unless it hurts someone, can’t always right.
How have your children (if they have children) affected and/or supported your aging
process?
Maggie: Family means something to the children now, see how learning and growing, respect
what we are helping them learn, less likely to ask for money or want things- more giving.
Terry: Lost all hair because of them (he jokes). Support over the years, at first with blended
family it was tough, noticed as family members pass away, help each
Maggie: 3 children
Terry: 1 child
How many close friends do you currently have? What qualities do you most appreciate in
your current friendships?
Maggie: When talk to them they listen 10-12
Accepting of us, not offended if they don’t get called often, catch up with lives
Terry: Ones that are there when you need them 10-12
Don’t have to talk to them always, give good advice
Spirituality (catholic)
What role has faith played in your life?
Maggie: grounding, blended family, no control over change but pray to God to accept and handle
what happens. Both agree about the role of faith. hopes as kids grow they will follow
Terry: brought to a grounded level with family and friends, made think, keeps calm. One girl is
still Lutheran- sees how catholic side impact family
What experiences/people have most shaped your spiritual life?
Maggie: group from Martha Mary conference, St Anthony community. Mom always made they
go to church.
Terry: marriage counter (my parent, Christy and Steve). Went to Sunday school, watched church
on TV, went on Christmas
Do you think faith is necessary and why?
Faith is necessary. Don’t realize how important it is. As you get older come to understand more
than before. Maggie misses the Latin
How has your spiritual life changed over the years? How would you describe it now?
Maggie: church on Sunday was a secure thing and important but grown to be that it has to be
done.
Terry: misses mass if don’t go. Apart of life. Is miss the week doesn’t feel right
How do you define or describe your faith (Do you attend worship services, pray regularly,
or seek spiritual guidance?) How does it play into your everyday routine?
Maggie: on mind a lot
Terry: start every morning praying and end. Throughout the day
Are you more likely to turn to your faith in times of crisis? Can you further explain?
Do you have a belief in the afterlife, and how does that shape your perception of death?
Maggie: same, what we are taught, peaceful, no fear. Watched parents impact the view of it
Terry: there is an afterlife, had signs of it. Not scared to die, don’t want to yet
Do you have any advice for younger generations about spirituality?
Maggie: be open as you can be, learn, prayer never goes unanswered
Terry: pray a lot, and believe that they are answered, don’t always have to agree, don’t be afraid
to talk about it, ask questions, find your people
Last thoughts: Was fun and never thought about this stuff before
My reflection:
I found it interesting that they both wished they met each other earlier but did not really
have any regrets. On the flip side they both were proud of their family and the development of it
and even their relationship with each other. They both were easy going and very grateful for
what they have had in life and what they have now. Their faith affected both of their lives. Their
faith is more important now than when it was in the beginning of the relationship. Terry was
Lutheran and Maggie was Catholic. When their kids were younger they questioned why Terry
did not always come with them or do the Catholic things. That cause Terry to think about his
faith and resulted in him becoming Catholic. Their faith, family and friends are the most
important things in their lives and shape who each of them are. When talking with them I could
see and notice the deep love they have for each other and how much they care about each other
and the people in their lives. I was surprised by the large number of close friends being 10-12.
They mentioned many couples that they consider close friends, because I know Maggie and
Terry a little I recognized some of the names. They also mentioned they consider those people
their close friends because they accept them, not offended if they do not get called often, and that
they give good advice. I was really inspired when they were talking about their faith and
relationships. I in a way was able to connect to them.
Sr. Francine Quillin, 73 years old

She is a sister with the sisters of presentation and I wanted to compare between the couple that I
interviewed. I met her at the Sisters of the Presentation and the interview was an hour and fifteen
minutes. She is white, Catholic and has a master’s degree. I know Sr. Francine because she
worked at my parish. Before she worked at Resurrection she was a principle and a teacher, she is
now retired.
Summary:
Purpose:
What do you believe has been your purpose in this life?
To be helpful and serve people. Win way toward heaven to be with God.
How has that changed across your lifespan? /Do you think your purpose has changed
throughout your life and how?
More aware of opportunities as they come each day and work to respond to them.
Do you remember when you started thinking about your purpose?
Thought about when junior in high school. Attracted to the life because they served people. Later
in life the pieces fell together.
Who has influenced your life the most…who, how?
Parents because of their strong faith life, they served the church. Also the sisters who taught her
when growing up.
What are you most proud of?
Being in this community with the rest of the sisters. Concentrate on serving others and teaching
others, being present to people. It is reassuring to be a part of a group.
What are your future goals and what do you want to achieve?
Jokes she’s too old. Grow closer to God, searching and working to being closer with God.
Do you have regrets?
No. Happy with choices she made. Had wonderful support and enjoyed ministry. She believes it
is shameful to have regrets because God has been good to her.
Spirituality:
What role has faith played in your life?
Been everything. Had lots of sadness in family, 7 kids and 5 died young. A great loss but
increased faith because she depended on God. In times of questioning- clear that God was there
and could depend on God.
What experiences/people have most shaped your spiritual life?
Parents and this community (living together, ministry, lives of prayer) had very good friend that
would pray together, older and she was a big help. With each death, they were a big loss. All
except last were difficult situations and they were so young. Faith is all she had left and she had
to believe that somehow God has a hand in it.
Do you think faith is necessary and why?
Yes, very. Doesn’t know how people survive without. Especially because of hard times. Brings
good times (Resurrection moments) know God has taken over. Source of happiness and strength.
How has your spiritual life changed over the years? How would you describe it now?
Sometimes it’s difficult, up and down. Down times has strengthened relationship with God.
Appreciate God is there and count on that. Recently retired has more time to spend in time and
reflection. Appreciate little things in life that can draw closer to God.
How do you define or describe your faith (Do you attend worship services, pray regularly,
or seek spiritual guidance?) How does it play into your everyday routine?
Sacraments are very important to her. Sufferings and loses help dependence on God. Talking to
God regularly.
Are you more likely to turn to your faith in times of crisis? Can you further explain?
Don’t know how she would have gotten through losses of family without being able to fall back
on faith. There is a strengthening factor. Each one helps get through next hurdle.
Do you have a belief in the afterlife, and how does that shape your perception of death?
Image is that she will be right there in Gods presences. Versus through prayer and sacraments,
where it is more remote than being in Gods house. She believes she will be with God in his
house.
Do you have any advice for younger generations about spirituality?
Follow your heart. Draw the strength from God. Help others who are in difficult situation.
Self-concept and emotional development & mental health:
What would you want to be said/remembered about you?
Had a sense of humor, lightened people’s lives, able to deal with difficult things because of God
strength, and good to people.
Work Questions:
Tell me about your work history and the type of jobs you have had?
In high school worked in dime store - gave sense of how to be friendly with people and present.
Teacher for first part and then principle – areas of service, makes better relationships with
teaching. Helps draw them to Christ.
Now retired- present to people and care for others
How did your view of work and your role change as you aged?
Teaching and principle were harder than parish ministry. A lot of care for the students. Enjoyed
teaching wanted to since a little girl. Learned a lot from each job, one example is how to be
present to people in good and bad.
How has work contributed to your identity throughout your life?
Brining Christ to others.
Relationships (long-term love, parenting, siblings, friends):
What are your most important 5 relationships currently? And why?
Family including nieces and nephews, religious community, people who work for
Provides the opportunity to give to others, healthy relationships- needed in life. Being
close to family is really important. Value who they are.
How many close friends do you currently have? What qualities do you most appreciate in
your current friendships?
6- willingness to listen and be present. Can have fun with. People can discuss things with
My reflection:
Sr. Francine was someone that I was interested in interviewing. I was interested to see
how her spirituality questions would relate to the couple that I had interviewed. She took time to
answer the questions yet at the same time she did short answers. After the interview we talked
for quite a while. Similar to the couple Sr. Francine believes her purpose is to help and serve
people. She also added that she is working towards heaven. Although Sr. Francine went through
many struggles when growing up she kept her faith constant. She relied on her faith and
continued to use those experiences as she got older. She did not have any regrets in her life, she
is happy with what she has done. Along with that she mentioned that she had a great support
system and enjoyed her ministry. Even through the loss of five of her siblings she saw how God
was present. She believes faith is necessary because it is helpful during the bad times and brings
good times. For Sr. Francine the Catholic faith has been a source of happiness and strength. I
enjoyed hearing about her experiences and I to could connect to many areas of the faith that she
shared with me. She answered that she had six close friends and I thought that six was a good
amount. She described her close friends as people willing to listen and be present, have fun and
laugh with and people she can discuss deep topics with.
Leon Thompson, 79 years old

I chose him because he is a retired Presbyterian pastor. I met him because Hannah Eby. The
interview was at his house and was an hour and twenty minutes. He is a white male and has a
master’s degree.
Summary:
Purpose
What do you believe has been your purpose in this life?
Help people understand who Jesus is. Help build congregations and churches (done everyplace
he has been) Was music major but felt strong call to ministry- second year of college went into
ministry. Be an example of Christian life, be example of what you really believe.
How has that changed across your lifespan? /Do you think your purpose has changed
throughout your life and how?
Has not changed. Will continue to serve- commitment and call is to serve until death.
Do you remember when you started thinking about your purpose?
At a very young age (4-5)- father abandoned mother at age 3. Did not meet his father until age of
24. Lived with grandparents, grandma was teacher, she taught him. Gave thanks that someone
would take him in. Mother was very young- went back to school, got back with her when she
remarried. Mother and step father were not involved in faith. He would get up and ride bike to
church in Oakland California, happened to be Presbyterian. Sunday school teacher took him
under her wings, started playing piano. Open feeling with church and form of government in this
church was appealing. Became friends with many priests and catholic community. Heavily
involved with Habitat for Humanity and involved in Rotary club. Key is to live his life for
Christ.
Who has influenced your life the most…who, how?
Grandmother because of the love she showed him and how much she taught him. Ministers
because of how they took interest and were always there to help. They were very supportive.
What are you most proud of?
Turning pornographic theater into community center by forcing it to close. Houses built with
Habitat for Humanity. Community center built in Juno, Alaska. All the churches building
projects. Faithfulness to wife.
What are your future goals and what do you want to achieve?
Get back on feet and walk steady without cane. Get back to playing piano because it been 6
months.
Do you have regrets?
Not really, if had to do it all over again would do same thing. Has degree in counseling and does
not regret not finishing other doctorate degrees.
Spirituality
What role has faith played in your life?
Central role one hundred present and life has been very faith based. Open to other
denominations. Likes to be with pastors or priests who have a sense of openness.
What experiences/people have most shaped your spiritual life?
Grandmother, remember her praying on knees every morning. Gordon Kremer was mentor,
Professors at Louisville, Brad Longfield at Dubuque theological seminary. Everyone has had
something to do with his spiritual life (bishop Michael kinney). He is open to all people and how
they impact his life.
Do you think faith is necessary and why?
Yes, find purpose in life.
How has your spiritual life changed over the years? How would you describe it now?
It has grown some but not a lot. Been pretty constant throughout entire life.
Are you more likely to turn to your faith in times of crisis? Can you further explain?
Yes, gives him strength.
Do you have a belief in the afterlife, and how does that shape your perception of death?
Does believe in afterlife (if didn’t would leave ministry- is a key with faith). Was critically ill
and prayed with his wife. Two times he was told he probably wouldn’t make it. All those times
thought how his faith sustains him and know who he belongs to.
Do you have any advice for younger generations about spirituality?
Maintain a spiritual life, it is important. Become involved with a prayer group.
Self-concept and emotional development & mental health
What would you want to be said/remembered about you?
Followed Christ through entire life – most important thing in his life. Prayer life and reading
scripture. Did not deviate from living Christian faith.
Relationships (long-term love, parenting, siblings, friends)
What are your most important 5 relationships currently? And why?
Christ, wife, church, children and families, friends
How many close friends do you currently have? What qualities do you most appreciate in
your current friendships?
3- being honest, steadfast (the ones that called when he was in the hospital), pray for you,
maintain a close relationship.
Last thoughts: Each faith comes with a different perspective
Added Information:
Ordained Presbyterian pastor in 1967
Louisville Kentucky- 3 years (Intern pastor for small parish) - Then went to Washington (9
years) - Concord California (7 years), Large church 3 other pastors (he was head), Built low cost
housing, community center - Back to Alaska (12 years in Juno Alaska), Chapel by lake
Presbyterian church
Betty and him have been married 57 years
3 children, 9 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild
Native American community in Alaska (18 years): Learned a lot and was adopted by tribe (eagle
and betty is raven)
At 60-year-old, certified as interim pastor (7 different interims)
First love was music – piano and organ
Moved to Dubuque in May
Massive abases in Achilles tendon- Set him back because he was very active
Was in hospital for 20 days – 20 days in Hawkeye care center (Wife taking care of him)
Daughter that lives in Dubuque that’s why they moved. Son in law is pastor
My reflection:
Immediately before I could ask any questions Leon started talking. He began to talk
about the many places he went as a Presbyterian pastor. Along with each place he would talk
about the ups and downs, the area and how long he was there. Along with the numerous
experiences of living in different places he talked about his family. He also talked about his
health and how currently he is unable to do the things he loves and used to be able to do. He is
healing from a massive abases that was on his Achilles tendon. This health issue set him back
because he was very active and has been in the hospital and a care center for many days. I really
enjoyed listening to his experiences because he had great stories but also because for the
spirituality section it was similar to the other two interviews even though they come from a
different faith background. Unlike the other interviews his family other than his grandma was not
involved with the faith. He is proud of the many building projects that he was a part of but also
remaining faithful to his wife. Leon said that he did not have any regrets, if he had to do it all
over again he would do the same thing. When talking about this questioned he talked about the
many degrees that he had started and not finished. He was content with the degrees that he does
have and did not regret stopping the other studies. When talking about spirituality he talked
about how he is open to other denominations. When I asked who shaped his spiritual life he gave
some names but then said he could not answer that question well because everyone in his life had
an impact on his life. He believes faith is necessary because it helps you find your purpose in
life. He told me stories of his multiple health concerns and those times helped him reflect on his
life and he was shown how his faith sustains him and he said those moments helped him to know
who he belongs to. Leon said that he has three close friends. They are the ones that are honest,
steadfast, prayerful and maintain the friendship.
Final thoughts:
All of the people that I interviewed had many different stories. It was fun to learn about them and
hear about their experiences. They all gave great advice and encouraged me to continue to stay
involved with my faith and make connections with people that are different than me. The
inspired me to be more helpful, more open, create meaningful relationships and continue to lean
on my faith. With each interview I could make connections in my own life. I enjoyed
interviewing them as much as they enjoyed being thought of as being interviewed.