L. Maxine Johnson, age 91 of Sioux Falls, died Friday, October 20, 2023. Funeral services begin at 11:00 AM, Friday October 27, 2023 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4800 Southeastern Drive. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at the SD Veteran's Cemetery at 2:00 PM. Memorials may be directed to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church School. Please go to the following link to view the service livestreamed.https://youtube.com/live/A5_pdALs8uI?feature=share
Maxine was born on May 25, 1932, to Elmer and Myrtle Schmeling in Watertown, SD. She was raised with her 8 siblings: Lyle, Arlyn, Frank, Carol, Audrey, Donna, Deanna and Jan. The family farmed north of Watertown. Maxine attended “country school” at Rauville District 13 schoolhouse. She also attended public school in Watertown and Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN.
Maxine married Cliff Daily in El Paso, TX. They were blessed with three sons; Daniel, Douglas and David. She started employment in El Paso at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator. Thus began a long career of service with Southwestern Bell, Northwestern Bell, and eventually AT&T.
She married Joe Lavender in El Paso in 1958. They had a daughter, Sandra and son, Steven. Joe was a police officer at El Paso Police Department. The two worked hard at their respective careers and managed a house full of kids and various pets. Joe was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident as he was traveling home from duty in 1966. The family then moved north to Watertown to be closer to family after his death.
Maxine continued her career at Northwestern Bell in Watertown. She married Bob Johnson in 1968. Bob was employed by Diebold, Inc. They lived and worked in Watertown for several years. Bob’s job took them to Rockford, IL, and eventually to Sioux Falls, SD. It was in Sioux falls that Maxine and Bob formed their own security company, Dakota Security Systems. They managed the company out of the garage of their home until it became successful enough to move to a larger building and warehouse. Maxine worked with her husband, Bob, and her son, David, in the company for a time while she maintained her career at AT&T in Sioux Falls.
Maxine loved her career and enjoyed many different positions and facets of the company. She had always wanted to further her education and so she enjoyed taking college classes. She was so proud of the great grades that she earned. She retired from AT&T in 1988.
Maxine was a formidable woman. She was strong and bright and determined. She never hesitated to share her thoughts on things, even if it occasionally offended someone or caused a little trouble. She was a strong manager in her career and strong-willed mother and wife. She was also an example of strength and beauty to all who knew her. Behind all that strength was a very soft heart. When she shared that heart with someone, it was a very special thing to see.
Maxine loved her home. She loved surrounding herself with beauty whether it be in the décor of her home or her beautiful clothes. She always wanted to look and be at her very best. She loved puttering with her flowers, painting beautiful works of art and sewing. She was an especially talented seamstress and happily made beautiful clothing for her family, including prom gowns and even a wedding dress for her sister Donna.
Maxine loved her family the most. She was a generous and loving grandmother and great-grandmother. She really enjoyed entertaining her big family for visits, holidays and meals of tacos, which were her specialty. Her sons would line up for as many tacos as she could make. She was an excellent hostess and homemaker. Maxine was organized and always prepared to welcome family anytime they wanted to come! The time with family, for her, were the best of times. She had a strong love for the Lord and her church home, Good Shepherd Lutheran. Maxine was loved and treasured by her family and friends, and she will be greatly missed.
Maxine is survived by her husband Robert J. Johnson, Sioux Falls; her children, Dan Daily, Hartford, SD, Doug (Barbara) Daily, Horseshoe Bay, TX, David (Barb) Daily, Sioux Falls, Sandy (Vince) Jones, Sioux Falls, and Steve (Brenda) Lavender, Sioux Falls, and her step-daughters, Sheri (Steve) Herndon, Bangkok, Thailand, and Rose (Mark) Melton, Clarksville, TN. Her sisters, Carol Flores, Los Gatos, CA, Audrey (James) Lentz, Austin TX, Donna (Dick) Auby, Hills, TX, Deanna Borns, West Bend, WI, and Jan (Jim) Rogerson, Euless, TX. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; her brothers, Arlyn, Lyle and Frank Schmeling; her husband, Joe Lavender, son-in-law, Matt Swalley; several brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law, 4 nephews, 1 great-niece, and an infant brother in childhood.
