Maxine Silvernale was born on July 10, 1925, on the Fox Lake farm in Shetek Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Ephraim and Rose Vahlsing Noll. Maxine grew up on the farm until her family moved to Currie, MN. Maxine graduated from Tracy High School in 1943. Following graduation the family moved to Vancouver, WA where Maxine worked as a nurse’s aide at the Northern Permanente Hospital (the Kaiser Shipyard Hospital). When the war was over, they returned to Currie and Maxine worked at the Old Tracy Hospital as a nurse’s aide.
On January 29, 1945, she, and Robert “Bob” Silvernale were married. Following their marriage, they made their home in Currie until 1951 when they moved to Ogen, UT for a construction project Bob was working on. When the project was done, they returned to Currie. Maxine worked for the Ma-Pa Loma Lanes, the Currie Drug Store and clerked at Buckles Variety Store in Slayton. In the evenings Maxine sold Avon and Sarah Coventry Jewelry. In 1968 Bob and Maxine bought the Monument Cabin Court on Lake Shetek where Maxine managed the cabins and in 1978, they sold the property and again returned to Currie. In 1999 they moved to Westside Apartments in Slayton where they managed the complex for several years. Bob passed away on June 10, 2010. In 2016 Maxine moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton. Due to failing health she moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton on Friday, December 3, 2021 and passed away there on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at the age of 96. She was a lifelong member of the Currie Presbyterian Church where she was active in the Women’s Bible Study, Sunday School teacher, Christian Youth Group Leader, President of the UPW and served as the church janitor. Maxine was an active member of the Currie and Slayton communities, she served as President of the Murray County Historical Society, was a member of the Slayton Chapter of the Sweet Adelines, and her and Bob provided many elderly folks with rides to and from appointments. Maxine enjoyed dancing, playing cards, Scrabble, crossword puzzles, Jigsaw puzzles, and attending her grandchildren’s church and school events. Maxine will be remembered for her compassionate and giving spirit.
Survivors include her three daughters and their spouses, Wendy Steffen of Slayton, MN, Deb and Kenny Bassett of Slayton, MN, and Robin Leonard of Slayton, MN and Rob Leonard of Currie, MN, 10 grandchildren, Michelle and Doug Storm, Melissa and AJ Schulz, Daniel Reynolds, Jennifer and Gary Nelson, Cody Reynolds, Bobbie and Corey Jacques, Sara Leonard, Angela Leonard and Luke Woitaszewski, Erin Baker, and Michael and Kyya Bassett, 17 great-grandchildren, Zack Storm, Sierra and Travis Nelson, Miranda Steffen, McCauley and Madden Schulz, Dylan and Mackenzie Reynolds, Gavin Hagedorn, Chinelle and Jason Christensen, Courtney and Casey Klein, Callie and Ian Black, Parker Johnson, Briana Jacques, Isaac Baker, Sophie Baker, Lynnea Bassett, Aubrey Iverson, Hailey Iverson, and Mariah Bassett, five great-great-grandchildren, Kashton and Boedon Nelson, Jaxen and Hadley Christensen and Brantley Black, one brother, Ronald “Bud” Noll of Rochester, WA. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bob, son-in-law, Ken Steffen and many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Visitation will be on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton from 1-2 p.m. with a private family service at 2:00 p.m. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com