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Geneva Maxine Wilson Obituary – 6/6/09


(Geneva) Maxine Wilson of Cokato, passed away Saturday, June 6, 2009 at home after losing her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 73 years old; her husband and three children were present when she passed away.

Funeral services will be at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cokato at 10 a.m. Monday, June 15 in Cokato.

Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church and Sunday, June 14 at the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato from 5 to 8 p.m.

Eastern Star Rites will be given at 7 p.m. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

Maxine was born July 11, 1935 at home in Hyde County South Dakota, on the prairie south of Highmore. She was the daughter of John A. and Amelia Runestad, the middle of five children. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1953.

In 1953 Maxine moved to Miller, South Dakota where she met her future husband Wayne Wilson. They were united in marriage May 22, 1955 in Miller. They lived in Clark, South Dakota from 1955 to 1957 when they returned Miller. Maxine and Wayne moved to Cokato in June 1967.

Service and volunteerism was a large part of her life.

She served as the backstage queen coordinator for the Snow Queen/Corn Carnival Queen program for 19 years from 1968 to 1987.

She also volunteered to sell tickets for 22 year from 1980 to 2002 at the Dassel-Cokato High School football games.

Her sense of service and patriotism carried on to her family with one son serving as the mayor of Glencoe with another son and grandson career military officers.

Maxine loved the outdoors, loved to travel; and was an avid bridge player.

She enjoyed prairie flowers and to walk in the woods. Maxine was notorious for gathering vines and leaves to use as decorations in her home. Early in their marriage, Maxine and Wayne set a goal to get to all 48 states – she accomplished that goal by getting to all 50 states.

Although she worked a number of jobs in the Dassel/Cokato area, which included Keaveny Pharmacy for 22 years, her greatest aspiration was as a wife, mother and homemaker. Her life revolved around her family and she was always loving and supportive.

Maxine is survived by her husband Wayne and three children; Randy (Kay) Wilson of Glencoe, Kevin (Jackie) Wilson of Fort Richardson AK and Bethany (Rob) Atkins of Corpus Christie, TX.

She has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is also survived by her sister Alma Lucas of Michigan, Jay (Judy) Runestad of Boone, IA, and John (Sharon) Runestad of Hughmore SD.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Amelia Runestad and brother Alvin who died in early childhood.

Arrangements are by the Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato.

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