Carol "Maxine" (Hanson) Eliason

Carol “Maxine” Eliason, 94, a lifelong resident of the Kanawha and Belmond areas, passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond.

Funeral services for Maxine Eliason will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 10:30 AM at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 2211 130^th Street in rural Belmond, with Reverend Jim Gochenouer officiating.  Burial will take place at St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.

Maxine will be dearly missed by her loved ones, but we will celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her Creator.

Maxine was born to Oscar and Jessie Hanson on November 10, 1922, near Belmond, Iowa.  Maxine attended elementary school at Belmond Township Country School, District #4.  She graduated from Belmond High School in 1940 then attended Iowa State’s Teacher College in Cedar Falls for one year.  Maxine taught country school in Belmond County School, District #5 for two years.

Maxine married Eldon Eliason on Sept 20, 1942.  They were blessed with three children Kenneth, Dennis, and Betty and lived on Eldon’s family farm near Kanawha for over 40 years.  Maxine enjoyed raising their children, baking, cooking, gardening, and maintaining farm bookwork.

Maxine and Eldon enjoyed taking annual family vacations to northern Minnesota and after their children graduated from high school, they spent their winters in Mesa, Arizona.  Maxine and Eldon enjoyed traveling and some of Maxine’s favorite travel spots included Norway, Germany, Alaska, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Maxine was a dedicated member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church near Belmond, Iowa for her entire lifetime. Maxine was an educator at heart and enjoyed giving back to the church by volunteering to teach Sunday school. Maxine was also an accomplished piano and organ player and played for St. Olaf Lutheran Church for many years.

In Maxine’s younger years, she had many hobbies which included cross-stitching, hardanger, stamp-collecting, bird watching, journaling, and playing cards.  But the one thing she will be mostly remembered for by her family was her amazing ability to preserve family history.  Maxine enjoyed pictures and created numerous photo albums for each family member.

After Eldon’s death in 2002, due to declining health, Maxine moved from their house in Belmond to Belle Haven’s Assisted Living in 2009.  In January 2016, Maxine was moved from Assisted Living to the Nursing Home.

Maxine is survived by her children, Kenneth (Janice) Eliason of Zapata, Texas and Dennis (Barb) Eliason of Ridgway, Colorado; grandchildren Julie (Murray) Andersen of Alton, Iowa, Deb (Duane) Hinderaker of New Richland, Minnesota, Teresa (Don) Williams of Littleton, Colorado, Jeff (Karen) Eliason of Littleton, Colorado; great-grandchildren Andrea Andersen of Hawarden, Iowa, Angeline (Tom) Clarey of Forest City, Iowa, Joshua Williams of Littleton, Colorado, and Alexis Williams of Littleton, Colorado; great-great grandchildren Rhett Clarey and Porter Clarey of Forest City, Iowa.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Eldon, daughter Betty Reber, and her sister Dorothy Hanson.

Memorial donations may be sent to St Olaf Lutheran Church, 2211 130^th S, Belmond, IA 50421.

Click here to view Maxine's Memorial Tribute Video