Maxine Elder

Maxine Elder, age 93, of Milbank, SD, died on December 9, 2019, at Milbank Area Hospital - Avera Health.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, December 16, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at the Gordon United Methodist Church in Gordon, Nebraska. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. and lunch will be served starting at 1:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Gordon Cemetery following the service.

Maxine Elaine (Denton) Elder was born on August 4, 1926, in Sheridan County, NE, to Frank and Mamie (Tiensvold) Denton. She grew up on a farm near Beaver Wall, NE, which is close to the original Denton homestead. Maxine lived in Hay Springs, NE, with her grandmother while attending high school. She graduated high school in 1942 and attained her Teacher’s Certificate.

On April 28, 1944, Maxine was united in marriage with Edward Shuster at his parents' home in Sheridan County, NE. Edward passed away on February 28, 1949. Maxine was united in marriage to Max Elder on December 30, 1952, in Chadron, NE. Max passed away on January 22, 1975.

After marriage, Maxine moved to a farm near Clinton, NE, and lived there for nearly 70 years before moving to Milbank, SD. While living in Nebraska, Maxine was a teacher, worked on the farm, then later at the Ideal Market, The Gordon Cleaners, and retired from Stockman’s Drug Store.

Maxine was active in the Lions Club and in the Quilters Guild. She had a talent for sewing and was an accomplished quilt maker. Maxine loved to travel, play cards, and was active in RSVP (which is a volunteer organization for senior citizens) a few years after she retired.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Janet (Lee) Zuver of LaBolt, SD; Karen Dike of Longmont, CO; and Sheryl (Rick) Matthes of Lincoln, NE; step-son, Bo (Renae) Elder of Blueridge, TX; step-daughter, Loretta (Rex) Brewer of Fort Worth, TX; 18 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; sister, Peggy Tausan of Rushville, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husbands: Edward Shuster and Max Elder; mother, Mamie Denton; father, Frank Denton; step-mother, Pearl Parvin Denton; sons: Leroy Shuster and Jim Elder; brother, Harold Denton; step-brother, Lloyd Parvin; step-sister, Opal Parvin; sons-in-law: Bob Dike and Roger Pierson; daughter-in-law, Marcia Elder; and great-grandson, Devin Proctor.

Memorials are preferred to the Gordon (Nebraska) Lions Club, the United Methodist Church – Kissy Eye Clinic (Advance #09229A), or the American Cancer Society.