1919
Ralph
2014
Ralph Maxwell
November 26, 1919 — September 28, 2014
Ralph Maxwell, 94, of Richville, MN, died on Sunday, September 28, 2014, at his residence, surrounded by family.
Ralph (Buzzy) Bernard Borden Maxwell was born November 26, 1919 in Devils Lake, ND to William Maxwell, Jr., Conway ND and Mary (Emma) Borden Maxwell, Merrifield, MN. He married Martha Elizabeth (Liz) Fargusson February 14, 1948. He received a B.S. from UND and, during his college years, served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He graduated from UND School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1947. He was Rolette County State's Attorney, 1949-1953; Assistant and US Attorney for ND, 1953-1958, private practice attorney, 1958-1967, district court judge, 1967-1978, and US administrative law judge, 1978-1985. He opened the Maxwell Law Offices in Fargo with his wife, Liz and son, William in 1988. In 1991, he retired from the practice of law.
He was active with the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre as an actor and playwright. At the age of 72, he began to compete in track and field events in the Senior Olympics and the USA Track and Field Association, which named him the 2010 Master Athlete of the Year. He holds the world record for the decathlon, age 90-95. Ralph's myriad interests included playing the trombone, ukulele and harmonica, skydiving, and wood carving. He and his wife enjoyed their time spent in Nosara, Costa Rica; Alamo, Texas; and at their current residence in Longboat Key, FL. He spent his last days at his favorite spot: his summer lake home of 37 years, near Richville, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marjorie Hammer.
Ralph will be remembered with great love by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth, and his six adoring children, Susan Fitzgerald, Fergus Falls, MN, Nancy Maxwell, Topeka, KS and Sarasota, FL, Peggy Maxwell, Richville, MN and Tempe, AZ, William Maxwell (Debra Taylor), Britt, MN, Janice Maxwell (Robert Lunney), Richard Maxwell (Victoria Vazquez), and 11 grandchildren, Robert Fitzgerald, Chanomi Maxwell-Parish, Kea Mwania, Jeremy Maxwell-Parish, Michael Fitzgerald, Maxwell Frederickson, Andrew Maxwell-Parish, Benjamin Maxwell, William Maxwell-Lunney, Dolores Maxwell and Shane Maxwell, and one great-grandson, Jalen Naverette, in addition to his brother, Francis (Frank) Maxwell (Kathleen) and the Ethiopian Wakeyo family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people "pay it forward" in Buzzy's name.
Services are Friday 1:30 pm with a memorial gathering at 1:00 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.
Ralph (Buzzy) Bernard Borden Maxwell was born November 26, 1919 in Devils Lake, ND to William Maxwell, Jr., Conway ND and Mary (Emma) Borden Maxwell, Merrifield, MN. He married Martha Elizabeth (Liz) Fargusson February 14, 1948. He received a B.S. from UND and, during his college years, served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He graduated from UND School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1947. He was Rolette County State's Attorney, 1949-1953; Assistant and US Attorney for ND, 1953-1958, private practice attorney, 1958-1967, district court judge, 1967-1978, and US administrative law judge, 1978-1985. He opened the Maxwell Law Offices in Fargo with his wife, Liz and son, William in 1988. In 1991, he retired from the practice of law.
He was active with the Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre as an actor and playwright. At the age of 72, he began to compete in track and field events in the Senior Olympics and the USA Track and Field Association, which named him the 2010 Master Athlete of the Year. He holds the world record for the decathlon, age 90-95. Ralph's myriad interests included playing the trombone, ukulele and harmonica, skydiving, and wood carving. He and his wife enjoyed their time spent in Nosara, Costa Rica; Alamo, Texas; and at their current residence in Longboat Key, FL. He spent his last days at his favorite spot: his summer lake home of 37 years, near Richville, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Marjorie Hammer.
Ralph will be remembered with great love by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth, and his six adoring children, Susan Fitzgerald, Fergus Falls, MN, Nancy Maxwell, Topeka, KS and Sarasota, FL, Peggy Maxwell, Richville, MN and Tempe, AZ, William Maxwell (Debra Taylor), Britt, MN, Janice Maxwell (Robert Lunney), Richard Maxwell (Victoria Vazquez), and 11 grandchildren, Robert Fitzgerald, Chanomi Maxwell-Parish, Kea Mwania, Jeremy Maxwell-Parish, Michael Fitzgerald, Maxwell Frederickson, Andrew Maxwell-Parish, Benjamin Maxwell, William Maxwell-Lunney, Dolores Maxwell and Shane Maxwell, and one great-grandson, Jalen Naverette, in addition to his brother, Francis (Frank) Maxwell (Kathleen) and the Ethiopian Wakeyo family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people "pay it forward" in Buzzy's name.
Services are Friday 1:30 pm with a memorial gathering at 1:00 pm at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.
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