Marna Max, 80

Marna (nee Myrna) Ann Johnson was born to Ann (Olsen) and Harold Johnson in Nelson, Minnesota, on January 10, 1929. My father named me and until I was in high school I was called “Marna,” not Merna, so I changed the spelling except for legal papers.

I was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria when I was 14 and graduated from Central High School in Alexandria in 1946.

My first career job was an installment loan assistant at Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis – now called Wells Fargo. I enjoyed my job very fully but I was being called home for two reasons, first of which was taking care of my mother while she had surgery and recovering. Secondly, a good-looking Air Force pilot I had met before going to Minneapolis. We dated another year and in 1948 I married Stan H. Max and we have lived very happily for 60-plus years. Most of them spent in the home we built on Lake L’Homme Dieu. In Alexandria I spent more than 30 years as personnel supervisor at JC Penney.

We have two daughters, Leslie Ann (Robert) Larson of Moorhead and Valerie Kay (Gary) Ebel of Fargo. We have had eight grandchildren, one of whom died from SIDS at 2 months, and eight great-grandchildren. I have been preceded in death by my parents, a sister June (Ron) Hanson; a brother, James (George Ann) Johnson; a grandson Robert D. Larson II; and in-laws Henry and Minnie Max.

I am survived by my loving husband Stan; daughters Leslie Ann (Robert) Larson and Valerie Kay (Gary) Ebel; grandchildren Phillip (Patty) Larson of Alexandria, Brenton Larson of Fargo, Michael (Danielle) Larson of Moorhead, Heather (Ron) Parker of Aberdeen, Chad (LaRene) Ebel of Hudson, CO, Melissa Ebel of Fargo, and Christian Ebel of Fargo. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Brianna, Ryan, Alicia, MacKenzie, Joshua, Grant, Parker and Alexa, as well as my two sisters, Frances Engstrom of Alexandria, and Delores Johnson of Alexandria.

Memorial services were held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minnesota, with Rev. Greg Billberg and Rev. Sherry Billberg officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Phillip Larson, Brenton Larson, Michael Larson, Chad Ebel, Christian Ebel, Michael Nelson and Richard Engstrom. Music was provided by Randy Morken and Julie Joyce.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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