Maxine Workman

Maxine Workman of Moorhead, MN, died Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the home of her son in Medford, OR. Edith Maxine Baker was born on December 1, 1922 near Pawnee, Christian County, IL to Herman and Ola (Lee) Baker. She attended rural schools in Illinois, graduating from Edinburg High School. There she earned a scholarship to Illinois State Normal University, graduating from a 2-year teaching program. She taught rural elementary schools in Illinois and Minnesota. On December 27, 1943 she married Dean L. Workman in Bowling Green, Kentucky. After finishing her term of school teaching, she came to Minnesota in 1944 to join her husband in farming at Borup, Minnesota. She taught the local rural school adjoining their farm. In addition to the regular duties of farm wife and mother, she cooked for the hired men, helped with the field work, helped with purebred Jersey herd where she fed the calves and kept the registration records. For a few years, while the boys were involved in 4-H, she was a 4-H leader. Working with cattle registration and pedigrees led to her interest in genealogy and family history. She researched her own family history for many years. She also recorded and published many cemetery records for the Red River Valley Genealogical Society. There she was also active in helping others in their family research. Maxine and Dean raised three sons, Ronald, Larry and Roger. Roger and an infant son died in 1967. Dean always said, “Mom was in charge of the education of the children.” Dean passed away on December 26, 2000. She is survived by her sons, Ronald (Diana) Workman of Sacramento, CA, Larry (Denise) Workman of Medford, OR; brother, Lee (Joyce) Baker of Edinburg, IL; 5 grandchildren, Katherine, Christine, McKenzie, Thomas and Stacey Workman; brothers-in-law, J.L. (Eileen) Workman of Chatham, IL, Errol Workman of Chatham, IL, Gary (Barbara) Workman of Borup, MN; sisters-in-law, Mary Workman of Moorhead, MN, Pauline Workman of Marrowbone, KY (Maxine always considered them brothers and sisters) and by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and 2 sons. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Valley Christian Church. Visitation: Thursday, May 21 from 6-8 pm at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral Service: Friday, May 22 at 11:00 am at Valley Christian Church, Moorhead, MN. Interment: Ada Cemetery, Ada, MN. Arrangements entrusted to Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo.