Maxine Elaine Rickard

Maxine Elaine Rickard, age 97, of Arlington, Minnesota, formerly Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be Saturday, September 14, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Arlington, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be Saturday afternoon, 4:00 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarissa, Minnesota.

Maxine Elaine Hagelstrom was born on November 11, 1926, in Cooperstown, North Dakota, to Henry and Florence (Kramvik) Hagelstrom of Vienna, South Dakota.

Maxine was Baptized as an infant in Vienna, South Dakota.  She was confirmed May 12, 1940 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Bartlette Township, Minnesota, by Pastor Paul Brill. In 1945 Maxine graduated from Bertha High School in Bertha, Minnesota.

On September 28, 1949, Maxine was united in marriage to Orville Rickard.  The ceremony was held at the Rickard family farm and was officiated by Rev. Wallace Asper of Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Clarissa, Minnesota.  To this union three children were born:  Roseann, Marilyn (deceased) and Charlene.  The family lived in Minnesota, California, and Wisconsin.  In later years, Orville and Maxine enjoyed winters in Arizona.

In the workforce, Maxine held positions as a Nurses Aid at Wesley Hospital, Wadena, Minnesota; bookkeeper at the Bertha Creamery, Bertha, Minnesota; Nursery School teacher in both Hemet, California and Lake Mills, Wisconsin; and as a bookkeeper for a Rickard family business.  Favorite pastimes included sewing, crocheting, studying family genealogy, traveling, reading, completing word puzzles and baking Scandinavian cookies and lefse.  Maxine’s homemade teddy bears are located all over the United States, and a few in other countries.  Her bears were given to family, friends, and people who were ill or lonely.  Her crocheted crosses were given to family, friends, confirmation classes, and to clergy to be shared with congregation members during visits.

Maxine’s faith was very important to her.  She served many years teaching Sunday School and Bible School. She was an active member of women’s church groups and participated as a mentor for Confirmation Classes (re-taking the class with students).

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Rickard; parents, Henry and Florence Hagelstrom; father and mother-in-law, Sam and Mabel Rickard; daughter, Marilyn; grandson, Greg Nagel; brother, Harlan Hagelstrom; sister and brother-in-law, MaryAnn and Walter Ehnes.  Maxine is survived by daughters, Roseann (Richard) Nagel of Arlington, Minnesota and Charlene Rickard of Plainview, Minnesota; three grandchildren Kristin (Bill) Rosenfeld, Andrea Getschmann, Jason (Janelle) Bade, eight great-grandchildren, Jordan (Ashley), Caleb (fiancée Jenna Wolf), Katlyn and Kyler, Chase (fiancée Olivia Sobczak), Miana, step-grandchildren, Emily and Jack, one great-great granddaughter Raelynn, brother Norman Hagelstrom, sister-in-law Lorraine Hagelstrom and other family members and friends.