Maxine Scarff

Maxine Scarff, 95, Bismarck, died peacefully and comfortably in her sleep early on the morning of March 16, 2006 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM Monday at McCabe United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Art Scanson and the Rev. David Knecht officiating. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. Maxine was born May 30, 1910, in Michigan, North Dakota, the daughter of Mark Tunis and Nancy Schigley Scarff. During her first years of grade school her father sold his hardware business and the family moved to Devils Lake. Maxine and her older brother, Mark, graduated together from Devils Lake High School in 1927. Maxine attended what was then Minot State Teachers College, graduating in 1931. Following graduation from college, when she was unable to find a teaching position, she worked three years in a Devils Lake Bank. She and her mother moved to Bismarck in 1936 when Maxine was invited to teach piano for Belle Mehus. In 1941 Maxine began work for what was then the North Dakota State Highway Department where she continued to work for the next 34 years as office manager of the Highway Maintenance Department. Her picture is in the lobby of the highway building on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds as she was the first woman to be inducted into the State Highway Hall of Fame. Maxine was a Methodist and later a United Methodist all her life. She was always active in her church and was a member of McCabe United Methodist Church for seventy years. She was recognized for her precise and accurate minutes as Secretary of the Administrative Board of McCabe Church for many years. Following her retirement from the Highway Department, Maxine was office secretary at McCabe. After retiring as church secretary she volunteered as membership secretary until her failing eyesight prevented it. Maxine was recognized as Outstanding Lay Person of the North Dakota Western District of the United Methodist Church in 1993. During her retirement, she also traveled to the Holy Land and in another trip she toured the historic sights of the start of the Methodist church in England. She was a life member of the Order of Eastern Star and P.E.O. During her retirement she was a member of the Golden K Kiwanis in Bismarck. Maxine enjoyed other people and her relationships with them were important to her. Family members were among the most important people in her life. She lived with her mother and cared for her until her death in her nineties. She was close to her brother, Mark, and his family and kept in contact with their cousins in Ohio and their families. She also had very close and caring relationships with those who worked with and for her. Those relationships continued long after her retirement. When Maxine was working at the church she especially enjoyed visiting with the children of parents who would come in to the church office. Those relationships often continued as the children grew into adulthood. Maxine formed strong and lasting friendships with neighbors, and those people she came to know in the various organizations to which she belonged. Maxine was always very faithful about visiting those in the hospital and nursing homes. Still living are her sister-in-law, Janet Scarff of Bismarck, two nephews, Mark E. Scarff and his wife, Annie, of Helena, Montana, David of Bismarck, one niece, Nancy, of Bismarck, four grandnephews, Mark D., Dennis, Dana and Cetan; and Cathy Scarff in Butte, Montana. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to McCabe United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice.

Maxine Scarff

May 30, 1910 - March 16, 2006