Maxine Stage, age 78, of McHenry, ND, died Monday, April 15, 2013, at Golden Acres Manor in Carrington while being cared for by the wonderful, loving staff and Hospice.

Maxine Delores Conant was born December 26, 1934, the daughter of Warren and Myrtle (Johnson) Conant in Mose, ND. She attended and graduated from McHenry High School in 1952.

On October 31, 1952, Maxine was united in marriage to James A. Stage at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. They lived in the McHenry area where they raised their three daughters. She worked at Aarestad’s Grocery Store in McHenry for many years. Maxine loved caring for her family and knew family is life’s greatest blessing. She found great joy in watching her daughters and later her grandchildren in their sports, music and church activities. Maxine enjoyed traveling with Jim for an evening of square dancing or riding in parades and throwing candy while they advertised for the McHenry Railroad Loop Association. Christmas Eve was always a very special time for family and friends to gather at their home for an evening of fun, visiting and reminiscing about past Christmas’s and family events.

She enjoyed bingo, an occasional trip to the casino, her collection of snowmen and cookbooks. Maxine loved to cook and bake (especially homemade buns, lefsa, chocolate chip and sandbakkel cookies) and would offer something to eat to anyone who entered their home. She was involved in McHenry Homemakers, Music Mothers, Our Savior’s WELCA, Northern Lights Square Dancing, McHenry Bethlehem Cemetery Board and Senior Citizens.

Maxine has resided at Golden Acres Manor in Carrington for the past 5 years following a stroke and a 3 year battle with cancer. She was a loving, caring, strong woman who has surpassed her expected time on earth by great bounds.

Maxine will be remembered and deeply missed by her loving husband of 60 years, Jim, McHenry; 3 daughters, Debra (Larry) Larson, New Rockford, ND, Wanda (Douglas) Wahl, Jamestown, ND, Brenda Stangeland (Jeffry Stangeland) both of Glenfield, ND; 7 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 2 great-step grandchildren: Bradley (Julie) Hoffman, Owen & Kelty, Phoenix, AZ; Lori (Cory) Herrmann, Tatem & Caden, West Fargo, ND; Melanie (Shawn) Thompson, Kyle & Haley, Grand Forks, ND; Mathew Larson, Medora, ND; Dustin (Tracy) Stangeland, Cainen & Emma, Glenfield; Mark Larson, Carrington; Lucas (Amy) Stangeland, Glenfield; Reese Wahl, Levi & Delaine, Jamestown; Si’Mone (Trevor) Overskei, Roseville, MN; and Nolan Wahl, Minneapolis; 1 brother, Eldon (Clara Jo) Conant, Cooperstown, ND; 1 sister-in-law, Viola Edlund, Binford, ND; 3 nieces and 4 nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother-in-law, Eugene Edlund; and one nephew.

PRAYER SERVICE: Friday, April 19 at 7:00 PM at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington

FUNERAL SERVICE: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, McHenry, ND

DATE AND TIME: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM

INTERMENT: Bethlehem Cemetery, McHenry, ND