Obituary: Maxine B. Hennum

Maxine B. Hennum, 92, of Cloquet passed away Jan. 15, 2023, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. She was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Dickens, Texas, the daughter of Edward and Emma (Westlund) Berset. Maxine graduated from Cloquet High School in 1948 and from the Northwestern Hospital school of nursing in Minneapolis in 1951. She worked at Fond du Lac Reservation Indian Services, Raiter Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital, the northeastern Minnesota Lung Association, and for 17 years as an industrial nurse at the Potlatch Corporation. Maxine was very involved in the Cloquet community and at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Maxine married the love of her life and her best friend, Merton Hennum, in 1952. Max and Mert loved to jitterbug, play bridge, tennis and golf, and go camping with family and friends. Maxine lost Merton all too early in her life at age 52, but surrounded by family and friends she continued to work and enjoy her hobbies. She enjoyed outdoor activities, traveling with her Sunnyside group, Friday night dinners with her special friends, playing bridge and golf, going to water aerobics, and walking her dog, Lucy. Maxine loved her family, especially her grandkids. She set a high standard of family values and love and we appreciate and love her for that gift. The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen Knoll and St. Croix Hospice for making Maxine feel so special and for the excellent care given to her during the last years of her life.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merton F. Hennum; all her siblings; and a grandson, Kyle Hennum. She is survived by her children, Gayle (Brian) Lamb, Beth (Darryl) Solie, Peter (Sandy) Hennum and Kay (Jon) Gerlach; grandchildren Scott (Lily) Lamb, Krista (Tyler) Seiboldt, Paige (Garrett) Losee, Kayla (Tyler Montgomery) Hennum, Zach (Jess Stanslaski) Gerlach, and Mitchell (Morgan Carlson) Gerlach; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 11 a.m. until the 12 p.m. memorial service Saturday, Jan. 21 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet, followed by a luncheon in the fellowship room. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Cloquet Public Library or the Cloquet Educational Foundation are preferred.

Pine Knot News Jan. 20, 2023