Maxine Joyce Peter
Maxine Peter
Maxine Joyce Peter, 89, Ellinwood, died on Nov. 4, 2022, at Bethany Home in Lindsborg.
Maxine was born in Ellinwood on March 28, 1933, to Arden and Darlene Crossley.
She attended Ellinwood Grade School and Ellinwood High School, graduating in 1951. She met her future husband, Duane Peter, in high school. It wasn’t until after high school that they began to date, and he became the love of her life.
She graduated with a diploma in business from the Adela Hale School in Hutchinson in 1952. Later, she graduated from Barton County Community College with an associate degree in business.
Education was always important to her, and she encouraged that to her children. She stressed education all throughout their lives, so we considered it a given that we follow her marching orders.
Of the four children, there are six bachelors degrees, and two Masters degrees. There is a clinical laboratory scientist, two music educators and a CPA.
Throughout Maxine’s life, she held several jobs. She went to work for the electrical cooperative in Great Bend after graduation from school and continued to work there until her second child, Nancy, was born in 1960. Later in life, she did secretarial work for Thompson Construction and Barton County Community College.
She also enjoyed selling Avon and Mary Kay for many years. Her most important job though, was raising her four children.
Her husband was often in Tribune farming while Maxine had to hold down the fort in Ellinwood. Her children were her life. She attended everything they were in. She was always incredibly supportive of her chidren, even when they got older, and then her grandchildren.
She drove all over the state to watch her children perform. She even often participated in the races by running herself. While her body allowed it, she continued driving across the state for her grandchildren’s birthdays and other activities.
When her life crippling disease slowed her down, she was only a block from where two of her grandchildren in Lindsborg attended school, so she was still able to catch their concerts and tennis matches.
While her children were younger, she volunteered to help with Sunday school, Brownies, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She loved to stay active in every way. She was an exercise enthusiast and was often spotted walking or jogging in the community.
She and her husband enjoyed playing in Bridge Club together, but she was also very involved in her women’s Bridge Club, Tri-Circle, Unit and the Red Hat Club.
She was a founding member of the Wheat Bowl, served on the Kansas Tourism Committee, was a former president of the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce, and past Grand Marshal of the After Harvest Festival Parade.
She traveled the state promoting Ellinwood and the surrounding area at festivals, including the Kansas State Fair. She was involved with Ellinwood Area Enterprises and tourism projects, such as the Barton County Centennial Parade and the Ellinwood Gateway to Cheyenne Bottoms sign on the west side of town. She also served in an official capacity with the Barton County Democratic Party. She was dedicated to her family and the Ellinwood community.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Gaylen Crossley; and her husband, Duane Peter.
She is survived by her four children; Don Peter and partner, Carol Steele, Leawood, Nancy Green, Scott City, Craig Peter, Prairie Village, and Lori Nelson and husband, Sean, Lindsborg; five grandchildren, Rachel Cooke and husband, Dustin, Christopher Green and wife, Brittany, Mattie, Peter, Per and Torsten Nelson; two great-grandchildren, Ariana and Emerson Cooke, and one more on the way with Christopher and Brittany Green.
A memorial service will take place on Sat., Jan. 7, 11:00 a.m., at Immanuel Uniter Church of Christ in Ellinwood.
Memorials are suggested to the Ellinwood Public School and Library Foundation or Bethany Home in Lindsborg in care of Minnis Chapel, Box 246, Ellinwood, Ks. 67526.