1938
Maxine
2013
Maxine Willows
March 4, 1938 — August 20, 2013
Maxine Willows, 75, Mandan, died August 20, 2013 in Bismarck after a battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, ND. Burial will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan immediately following the service. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday.
Maxine Aaker was born to Ingvald and Eva (Bartlett) Aaker on March 4, 1938 in New Rockford, ND. She grew up in the Hamar and McHenry areas and graduated from McHenry High School in 1955.
On August 3, 1956 she married Marvin Willows at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in McHenry. Maxine’s life was devoted to raising and supporting her family. She and Marvin were truly a team. Marvin worked for Collins Construction Company doing highway construction throughout North Dakota and Minnesota and Maxine traveled with him tending to their growing family.
They eventually settled in Binford, ND where they raised their five children. They were very involved in the community and joined many organizations and volunteered for civic functions. They especially enjoyed their involvement with the Binford Rodeo Club and rodeo became a lifelong passion they passed on to their family. Maxine owned and operated Maxine’s Ceramics for many years before moving to Mandan in 1986.
Marvin worked for Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation and his work on the Custer House was a source of pride and accomplishment for both of them. Maxine took a great interest in fund raising and donated items to help furnish the completed house. She worked for JK Ceramics and Golden Age Services in Mandan until her retirement in 2011.
The most important thing in Maxine’s life was her family. Her children and grandchildren provided great pleasure and pride to her that was evident whenever the family gathered for holidays and special occasions.
She loved the country lifestyle and was a hard working lady; her work ethic was something she instilled in her children. The outdoors gave her pleasure, especially camping and fishing. She was a talented artist and her family cherishes the paintings and works of art she gave each of them.
Maxine will be dearly missed by her daughter, Dana (Dennis) Hermanson, Bismarck; sons, Mark (Nicki) Willows, Binford, ND; Jeff (Betsy) Willows, Panama City Beach, FL, Maury (Sue) Willows, West Fargo, ND; and Brad (Deanne) Willows, Mandan; grandchildren, Erica Willows, West Fargo, ND; Shelby (Josh) Wessels, Mandan; Cory Hermanson, Mandan; Levi Willows, Binford, ND; Thomas Willows, Panama City Beach, FL; Cody (Jessica) Willows, Panama City Beach, FL; McCallie and Braylen Willows, Mandan; and Caden Willows, West Fargo, ND; one great-grandson, Braxton Wessels, Mandan; uncle, Keith (Judy) Bartlett, Glenfield, ND; sisters-in-law, Marcella Therkelson, Cooperstown, ND and Elaine Willows, Williston, ND along with numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Joe and Pat Klein, Mandan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin in 2003; her parents; siblings, Dennis Aaker, Roger Aaker and Judy White.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, ND. Burial will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan immediately following the service. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday.
Maxine Aaker was born to Ingvald and Eva (Bartlett) Aaker on March 4, 1938 in New Rockford, ND. She grew up in the Hamar and McHenry areas and graduated from McHenry High School in 1955.
On August 3, 1956 she married Marvin Willows at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in McHenry. Maxine’s life was devoted to raising and supporting her family. She and Marvin were truly a team. Marvin worked for Collins Construction Company doing highway construction throughout North Dakota and Minnesota and Maxine traveled with him tending to their growing family.
They eventually settled in Binford, ND where they raised their five children. They were very involved in the community and joined many organizations and volunteered for civic functions. They especially enjoyed their involvement with the Binford Rodeo Club and rodeo became a lifelong passion they passed on to their family. Maxine owned and operated Maxine’s Ceramics for many years before moving to Mandan in 1986.
Marvin worked for Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation and his work on the Custer House was a source of pride and accomplishment for both of them. Maxine took a great interest in fund raising and donated items to help furnish the completed house. She worked for JK Ceramics and Golden Age Services in Mandan until her retirement in 2011.
The most important thing in Maxine’s life was her family. Her children and grandchildren provided great pleasure and pride to her that was evident whenever the family gathered for holidays and special occasions.
She loved the country lifestyle and was a hard working lady; her work ethic was something she instilled in her children. The outdoors gave her pleasure, especially camping and fishing. She was a talented artist and her family cherishes the paintings and works of art she gave each of them.
Maxine will be dearly missed by her daughter, Dana (Dennis) Hermanson, Bismarck; sons, Mark (Nicki) Willows, Binford, ND; Jeff (Betsy) Willows, Panama City Beach, FL, Maury (Sue) Willows, West Fargo, ND; and Brad (Deanne) Willows, Mandan; grandchildren, Erica Willows, West Fargo, ND; Shelby (Josh) Wessels, Mandan; Cory Hermanson, Mandan; Levi Willows, Binford, ND; Thomas Willows, Panama City Beach, FL; Cody (Jessica) Willows, Panama City Beach, FL; McCallie and Braylen Willows, Mandan; and Caden Willows, West Fargo, ND; one great-grandson, Braxton Wessels, Mandan; uncle, Keith (Judy) Bartlett, Glenfield, ND; sisters-in-law, Marcella Therkelson, Cooperstown, ND and Elaine Willows, Williston, ND along with numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Joe and Pat Klein, Mandan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin in 2003; her parents; siblings, Dennis Aaker, Roger Aaker and Judy White.
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