Maxine Frances Stieren, age 84, of Benson, died Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Homestead North in Benson. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 24, 2015, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Visitation will be held 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Maxine Frances Stieren was born December 8, 1930, in Leigh, Nebraska to Otto Edward and Anna Lucille (Sperl) Hamann. She was baptized February 27, 1931, by Rev. F.A. King at the St. John's Lutheran Church. Maxine grew up in Leigh, Nebraska and graduated from Leigh High School and the University of Minnesota in Morris, Minnesota with a Bachelor Degree in Education. On July 3, 1951, Maxine was united in marriage to Edward John Stieren at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Leigh, Nebraska, by Father Brick. This union was blessed with more than 52 years of marriage, three children, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Maxine taught country school in Leigh, Nebraska and then moved to Benson, Minnesota, in 1964 where she helped with farming and taught school at the St. Francis Catholic School. She went to college at night to further her degree in Learning Disabilities while teaching at Northside Elementary School. When Maxine retired, she and Ed moved to a home on Lake Lobster in Alexandria. Among the things she enjoyed were gardening, reading, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. Maxine passed away Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Homestead Place North in Benson. She had attained 84 years, 1 month, and 9 days of age. She is survived by her children: Mike (Terry) Stieren of Savage, Lynn Stieren-Novak of St. Cloud, and June (Brad) Skarsten of Benson; grandchildren: Nathan (Elizabeth) Stieren, Stephanie (Jason) Medalen, Nathan (Yvonne) Novak, Ryan (Jessica) Skarsten, and Laura (Paul) Petrick; great-grandchildren: Cole Petrick, Emma Petrick, Logan Skarsten, Olivia Skarsten, Ian Novak, Stella Stieren, Creed Stieren, Carson Medalen, and Max Medalen; sisters: Shirley LaCroix of Dessert Palms, CA, Jeanette Donscheski of Madison, NE, Marcia (Greg) Vasek of Lincoln, NE; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Anna Hamann; husband, Edward Stieren on January 24, 2004; and son-in-law, Dick Novak.
