Maxine R. Brunner

Maxine R. Brunner, 90, died Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home, Viborg surrounded by her daughters and caring staff. Funeral mass will be at 10:00am Monday, June 4, 2012 at St. Christina Catholic Church, Parker with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-4:00pm Sunday at the Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Hurley with a Scripture Service/Rosary to be said at 7:00pm Sunday evening at the church. Maxine R. Merrigan was born on September 26, 1921 near Monroe, SD to Tim and Catherine (Ballweg) Merrigan along with her twin sister Melba. After graduation from Monroe High School, Maxine earned her teaching certificate from General Beadle College in Madison, SD and taught rural school for two years before marrying Francis Brunner on March 2, 1943 in Monroe. They lived on the Brunner homestead west of Hurley where they farmed for several years until Francis died in February of 1965. She remained on the farm after his death helping her son, Jim, with field work and providing bountiful lunches to everyone that came to visit. Maxine was a very caring and giving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister who is survived by two daughters, Jeanne (Keith) Jorgensen and Connie (Craig) Flyger, all of Hurley; five grandchildren, Kelly (Anita) Jorgensen, Kathy (Craig) Bowes, Kristy (George) Osterloo, Thresha (Daniel) Benson, and Alan (Andrea) Flyger; and seven great grandchildren, Haley and Hannah Jorgensen, Mason and Grant Bowes, Allyson and Byron Osterloo, and Shea Flyger. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Francis, son James, great granddaughter Erica, three older brothers Omer, Glenn, and Vernon, and six older sisters, Evelyn Miller, twins Lavina Merrigan and Leona Bittner, Olive Klopp, Mona Schempp, and her twin sister Melba Rowenhorst.