Maxine Z. Wood passed away on November 22, 2010 at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. Maxine was born in Merna, Nebraska on November 15, 1920, the first of four children of Rex and Marie (Allison) Cooley. She attended several country schools around Custer County, graduating from Westerville High School in 1939. She also attended Kearney State Teacher’s College. Maxine married Dean O. Wood
On March 20, 1942. They were married 60 years. After spending 2 years in Arizona, when Dean was in the Army Air Corp, they returned to farm for the next 15 years near Arcadia, NE. During this time daughter’s Janet and Debbie were born. In March of 1957 the family moved to Great Falls, Montana where they made their home for the next 44 years. Maxine and Dean had a loving household where their children’s friends congregated, always being given hospitality and unconditional love. She was known as Grandma all her childrens friends and all neighborhood families. They lived in a wonderful community leaving many dear friends to mourn her passing. Maxine worked for Safeway for 30 years. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Christ. Maxine and Dean moved to the Flathead Valley in 2001 to be near family, at which time Dean entered the Montana Veteran’s Home in Columbia. Maxine has resided at the Immanuel Lutheran Home since August 2009.
Maxine was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dean, her parents, her grandchildren Dena Raye Bowers and Brad Walton, her brother Dale and sister in law Bonnie Cooley and brother and sister in law, Phil and Leone Wood. Maxine is survived by her daughters Janet (Ron) Musto of Spokane Valley, Washington and Debbie (Dennis) Walton of Kalispell. She is also survived by 4 Grandchildren Angie Musto, Laura Musto (Randy Mroczynski), Dustin Bowers, Tana Walton Her great grandchildren Cydnee and Baillee Bowers, Rowan and Colin Mroczynski , and Julio, Marcelo, and Dieg o Morales.. She is also survived by her beloved siblings LaVina (Edmund) Swanek and Ivan (Beatrice) Cooley and many nieces, nephews and friends, and her loving Immanuel Lutheran Community