Maxine Edna Nelson, 93
Maxine Edna Nelson, 93, passed away January 19, 2014, at the Courtyard on Sherman in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Maxine was born on July 11, 1920, at 1224 Front Ave., in Coeur d’Alene, to Claude R. and Ellena Amanda Barnes. Claude served in the U.S. Navy as an officer, then was a captain of the Flyer on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and a steam fitter for Peck & Gale in Spokane. Amanda was a homemaker, mother of five, and managed a maternity home at 933 - 5th Street.
Maxine resided in Coeur d’Alene her entire life except for a couple years in Pinehurst, ID, where her husband worked at a saw mill as a tallyman. She attended Bryan Elementary, Coeur d’Alene High School, North Idaho Junior College, University of Idaho, and Whitworth College.
Maxine married Elton A. Nelson in 1938, a local general contractor who also graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School. They celebrated 67 years of marriage before Elton passed away in 2005. They had three children: Curtis Elton Nelson (1939), Kenneth Arthur Nelson (1942), and Connie Lee (Nelson) McGee (1943). Kenneth passed away in 2012.
Maxine worked at various grocery stores – Jordan’s, the Metropol, and Rutten’s. She owned and operated the Cinderella Shop, a clothing store for children, located between 2nd and 3rd streets on Sherman Avenue. After raising her children, Maxine returned to school and attended North Idaho Junior College, University of Idaho, and Whitworth College where she earned a Masters Degree in Education.
Maxine taught for the Coeur d’ Alene School District at Hayden Lake Elementary, Bryan Elementary, Coeur d’Alene Junior and Senior High Schools (history). After retiring, she enjoyed several years as a substitute teacher at Coeur d’Alene High School.
Maxine held offices in organizations she joined - Order of the Eastern Star (past Matron); Cub Scouts; Bryan PTA (past President); Apha Delta Kappa – Fidelus (past President – local and state); Sons of Norway (past President); and Lt. George Farragut Daughters of the American Revolution (Vice Regent and several committee chairs). She was active as a member of the Coeur d'Alene Retired Teacher’s group and Trinity Lutheran Church.
With her husband and several times with students, Maxine traveled to Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, China, and Russia. Maxine often said there was no place like her hometown of Coeur d’Alene, and proudly shared that her great-grandchildren were the sixth generation in the Coeur d’Alene School District. She and her husband, Elton, owned cabins at Kaslo, B.C. and Priest Lake where she enjoyed many weekends and holidays away from her teaching responsibilities. Elton fished the big lakes and Maxine spent her time making many items by knitting, doing crochet, needlepoint, quilting, etc. All the relatives have benefited from her projects. In the early years of their marriage, Maxine and Elton enjoyed Saturday night dancing at the Ivalee, and later card playing with close friends.
Maxine was a working woman who accomplished her homemaking the old fashioned way – canning, freezing, making butter, churning milk, making headcheese, baking, and generally not buying much but staples from the grocery store. Maxine made holidays special with her baked goods – Krumkake, Yulekake, and potato sausage. She was proud of her Scandinavian heritage, and researched lineage to a revolutionary war patriot on her father’s side – John Fulkerson, NJ. Her research has contributed to her daughters’ and granddaughters’ memberships in the National Daughters of the American Revolution.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Claude Richard and Ellena Amanda Barnes; three siblings: J. Frederick Barnes, Lawrence Barnes and Ina Lee Brickert; her husband, Elton Nelson; and son, Kenneth Nelson.
She leaves behind a brother, C. Richard Barnes, Jr. of Puyallup, Washington; her children, Curtis E. (Carol) Nelson, and Connie L. (Doral) McGee, of Coeur d’Alene; eight grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, four great, great grandchildren, and two great, great, great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 N. 5th St., Coeur d’Alene, ID. Burial will follow the service at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID. English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene, ID, is in charge of the arrangements. Visit Maxine’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com