Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the New Ralph Wells Community Complex, White Shield, ND. Burial to follow at the Arickara Congregational Cemetery, White Shield, ND.
Wake Services will begin at 5:00 PM on Monday, August 19, 2024, at the New Ralph Wells Community Complex, White Shield, ND.
Senior Pallbearer: Glenn Brunsell Jr.
Alexia Marie De La Cerda was born on August 11, 1993, to Jeanette Sanderson and Elias De La Cerda, on the Minot Air Force Base. When she was three, the family moved down to San Angelo, Texas. When she moved back up to North Dakota, she attended school in Parshall, and later graduated from New Town in 2011. She worked at the 4 Bears Casino, where she met the father of her children, Joseph Mountain Jr., in 2011. Together, they had two handsome boys, Kaleb, born in 2012, and Luca, born in 2018. She ended up moving to White Shield and made a life for herself there. While working at the C-Store, Lexi began volunteering at the Head Start in 2018, beginning her career as a teacher. Shortly after, in 2019, she began doing college courses to acquire her degree in teaching. She was deeply passionate about her job and always referred to her students as her “babies.” Alexia passed away on August 9, 2024, in her home.
Lexi’s passion for her job knew no bounds. She loved all her students and always showed it in her work. She would change up the artwork in the room for holidays and seasons. Her inspiration from her students also showed in the new projects she would come up with for them. They loved their Teacher Lexi, and she loved each and every one of them as if they were her own children. She had an undeniable passion, and she will be sorely missed as a teacher.
The oldest of her siblings, Lexi was very protective of them all, unless she was pranking them. She would regularly employ help from her classmates to deal with any bullies that her siblings went through. When she switched to New Town, she even talked to her class and had them watch over her siblings as much as they could, cause she couldn’t be there. As kids, Lexi and her siblings would regularly play games outside, ride bikes, or play board games together. When her little sister was born, she promised to help take care of and protect her. When her youngest brother was born, she was thrilled and couldn’t wait to meet him.
Lexi was a guide to all her siblings. She was always there for her family whenever they needed her advice or even if they just needed to talk. As a mother to her boys, Lexi was extremely devoted to them. She loved, guided, nurtured, and helped them. She saw the boys as her greatest gift, and she always made sure to take good care of them, no matter what.
Lexi loved playing video games with her boys, going out to movies, going to the Discovery Center in Minot, singing and dancing (especially to Selena Quintanilla), watching the show F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and of course, going shopping. Lexi loved the camera as well, and took pictures of any events to save as memories. She also loved going to the ND State Fair to ride rides with her boys and her siblings. One year, she even got her younger brother, Antonio, to ride the drop zone with her for his first time, and sat next to him holding his arm when he got terrified of the height as it lifted.
Lexi was also extremely creative and artful. A wonder with makeup, Lexi loved trying and creating new styles, each more beautiful than the last. At one point, Lexi thought of going into cosmetology school, before she found her true passion in teaching. She loved coloring and drawing as well. She would regularly be coloring or drawing pictures as a pastime and leisurely activity. Her beauty and style in her art forms were of unmatched quality.
Lexi loved watching the NFL, and rooted for her favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. If you ever called her during a game, you knew she would be yelling and screaming at her tv, coaching her favorite team from hundreds of miles away. Lexi was a loving and dedicated mother, sister, and daughter, a devoted teacher, and a warm and nurturing soul. She loved spending time with her boys and her family, making jokes, sharing stories, and laughing like crazy. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched.
Alexia is survived by her parents, Jeanette Malnourie (Vincent) of Minot and Elias De La Cerda (Samantha) of New Town; siblings, Antonio Malnourie (Julian), Izabeija De La Cerda, and Vincent Malnourie Jr., all of Minot, Taylen Thomas White Owl-De La Cerda of New Town; the father of her children, Joseph Mountain Jr., her boys, Kaleb Mountain and Luca Mountain, all of White Shield; great-uncle, Robert Sanderson (Lynn) of Minot; aunt, Aggie Vondall of New Town; uncle, Anthony Vondall of Oregon; uncle, Ronald Allen Sanderson (Kim) of Parshall; aunt, Lynette Sanderson (Jim) of Belcourt; aunt, Myra Martinez and, uncle, Leeroy De La Cerda of San Angelo; grandparents Homero De La Cerda and Josefina De La Cerda of San Angelo; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Ronald Lee Sanderson; grandmother, Ethel Marie Sanderson Bearstail Young Bear; her great-grandparents, Jose and Delfina Lopez; grandfather, Wilson White Owl; her aunt, Maria Diaz; great-uncle, Duane Sanderson; great-aunt, Dorothy Baade; and nephew, Jacob Hunter Malnourie.
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