Maxine Welch, October 8, 1941 • February 9, 2022
Maxine Welch, 80, of Willmar, Minnesota died Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at Bethesda Club Suites. Her celebration of Life will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 30, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to her service. Interment is in the church cemetery.
Maxine Yvonne (Nordstrom) Behm Welch was born October 8, 1941, in Arctander Township, Kandiyohi County, the daughter of Vernon and Rose (Syverson) Nordstrom. She was baptized at East Norway Lake Lutheran Church, rural New London. She attended elementary school at District 17 of Kandiyohi County, and grades 7-9, at Brooten High School. Maxine graduated from Willmar High School with the Class of 1959.
September 26, 1959, she was united in marriage to Darold Behm at East Norway Lake Lutheran Church. To this union a son was born, Jeffrey Darold Behm. Darold passed away of acute meningitis March 10, 1961.
January 19, 1963, Maxine married Clarence “Kelly” Welch at East Norway Lake Lutheran. Following their marriage, they lived in Willmar. Maxine later attended Willmar Community College, where she graduated in 1979. She worked as a sales clerk for clothing stores, including: Butters, C. Suzanne’s, Kristi’s Closet and Bon Jos. She also trained as a Certified Optical Technician and worked for Mid-West Vision Center in Willmar, prior to her retirement in 1997.
Maxine has been a member of Calvary Lutheran Church since 1969.
She enjoyed cooking and finding new recipes. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary. Her children will tell you that when their birthday or anniversary came around, they always received a card. Maxine loved animals, especially dogs and cats. While living on the family farm, she became an animal lover and kept that passion throughout her life. She was a great lover of nature. Her love of the outdoors carried over into her vacations, where she would always be on the lookout for wild animals. But above all, she loved spending time with her family, especially during the holiday season. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren held a special place in her heart.
Maxine loved Jesus and never failed to believe that someday she would be with Jesus in heaven.
Surviving are her husband, Kelly of Willmar; her children and their spouses: Jeffrey and Becky (Bestland) Behm of Priam, Jodi and Troy Anderson of Blacksburg, VA, and Scott and Taffany (Mackenzie) Welch of Sauk Rapids; eight grandchildren: Jessica (Anderson) Root (Zach) of White Hall, MD, Jamie (Anderson) Price (Andrew) of Midlothian, VA, Jenna Anderson of Richmond, VA, Jordon Welch of Maple Plain, Ramsey and Tonya (Givens) Welch of St. Cloud, Christian Welch of Rice, Cameron Behm of Baxter, Cory and Benita (Novacek) Behm of Hudson, WI; and six great-grandchildren: Abigail and Jackson Root, Sophia Welch, Mason Price, Railyn Behm, Broox Behm; Also surviving are her siblings: Carol Anderson, and Rollis (Nancy) Nordstrom both of Plymouth, Russell (Nancy) Nordstrom of Brooklyn Park; and several nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and son, Timothy O. Welch.
Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org.
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