The funeral service for Maxine W. Bowen, of Albert Lea, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. on Wayne Halvorson and Vicar Boyd Longshore will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

She was born on Aug. 31, 1919, in Bath Township in the upper floor of the Bath Store, the daughter of Willie and Mabel Olina (Lee) Bartness. She was also baptized at her home there.

She went to several country schools and later graduated from Freeborn High School in 1937.

She was united in marriage to Elmer J. Bowen on Sept. 2, 1938.

Elmer and Maxine moved several times in their early years as Elmer was in the service. In 1970, they settled in Albert Lea.

Maxine had worked at Wilson&8217;s and then for several years in the kitchen at ThorneCrest before retiring.

She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church.

Maxine died peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2008, at St. John&8217;s Lutheran Home. She was 88. She had been a resident of St. John&8217;s for nearly 10 years and the family is so thankful for all the tender loving care she received from the special caretakers there.

Maxine is survived by by her son Lyle Bowen and his wife Sharon of Albert Lea; granddaughters Kara (Charles) Wayne of Brooklyn Park and their children Alec and Haley, Shelly Schlichter and her son Jacob of Austin; brother Dale (Lynn) Bartness of Walters; and sisters-in-law, Jane Bartness, Margaret Bartness; and several nieces and nephews.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; son Bradley in 1967; husband Elmer in 1982; siblings: Ellsworth Bartness, Corrine Horan, Alvida Derby, Eugene Bartness, Truman Bartness and Sherman Bartness.

Maxine was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be lovingly missed and fondly remembered.