Maxine J. Vestre, 79, Minot and Trinity Healthcare's longest serving employee, died Friday, December 26, 2008 at Trinity Hospital.

Maxine was born February 10, 1929 at Bottineau, North Dakota to Nick and Dagny (Moen) Vestre. Her family lived at rural Carbury, before moving to Bottineau, where she was confirmed in 1942 at First Lutheran Church. She graduated from high school there in 1946, and earned her Registered Nurse diploma from Trinity School of Nursing in 1949. She then served as the night supervisor at St. Andrew's Hospital in Bottineau from 1949-50. In 1950, she began working at Trinity Health as supervisor of the surgical ward. In 1959, she began working as instructor for the Operating and Recovery Room student nurses. She worked in that capacity for seven years, and then became full-time medical/surgical instructor at the Trinity School of Nursing, where she taught for 28 years. Maxine had high expectations of her students and a keen eye for details. She especially enjoyed working with the first year students and instilled a special caring attitude in her students for their patients.

Maxine advanced her own education by earning a bachelor of science degree in Medical-Surgical Nursing in 1973, from Montana State University in Bozeman and a Master's of Science degree in Nursing from Texas Woman's University in Dallas in 1980. She also pursued an interest in aging and gerontology, studying at the Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas. In 1985, as a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow, she attended a geriatric seminar at the King's College at Cambridge University in England. Maxine's interest in the special needs of the elderly served her well in her next career move when Trinity's School of Nursing closed. At that time, Trinity's long term care center was struggling to comply with new federal standards, and Maxine eased the transition by becoming the acting director of nursing at the Trinity Nursing Home from 1987-1988. During that time, she launched an extensive in-service program and helped establish the center's first Quality Assurance program for the Social Service and Activities departments in 1987-90.

While at Trinity Nursing Home, she became instructor for a review course for the National League of Nurses for Minot State University and Trinity School of Nursing senior student nurses in 1986. She was also an instructor for certified nursing assistant courses through May of 1988. She taught a course titled "Health and Physiologic Aspects of Aging" for MSU's College of Nursing at Minot State University during 1990-1991. She was instructor for numerous in-service and refresher courses for RN's at Trinity Homes.

After a short term as interim director, Maxine became Liason Nurse at Trinity Nursing Home. She devoted much of her time working one-on-one with residents and their families, informing them of their rights, and getting to know the residents. She implemented the first Patient's Bill of Rights for nursing home residents at Trinity Homes and coordinated all care at the Retirement Center. Maxine was also involved with a program to advance the education of certified nursing assistants, prompting some to advance into professional nursing professions. She helped write a grant that netted $75,000, to start the Career Ladder Program in 1994.

Maxine was a member of a number of nursing and professional organizations at the local, district, state and national levels. At one time, she served as president of the Trinity School of Nursing Alumni Association, and NW District Association. She attended several state, national and international conventions, including the international meeting of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), held in Minneapolis and the International Convention of Nurses held in Montreal. She enjoyed her travels throughout the United States, England, France, Canada and Mexico. Her hobbies included growing flowers, and was well known for her entries winning many "best of show" and blue-ribbons at the ND State Fair and International Peace Garden. Maxine was a former member of the Sons of Norway Thor Lodge and past secretary of the Multiple Sclerosis Support group. She enjoyed going to many activities at Minot State and had served as Curator for the Aviary at Trinity Homes. She had contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours to Trinity Auxiliary and Volunteers. She will be remembered most for her tireless hours that she devoted to the Nursing profession. She retired on March 2, 1999, after nearly 50 years at Trinity Medical Center as Trinity's longest serving employee of record. She was a loyal and true friend to many people.

Maxine is survived by her youngest brother, Donovan (Clareen) Vestre, Bottineau; nieces, Juli (Kyle) Rude, Bottineau, and Lori (Dan) Flaherty, Chandler, AZ; nephew, James (Hilary) Vestre, Dunseith; great-niece, Jennifer Vestre, great-nephews, Ken Rude and his fiance, Mindy, Kory Rude and his special friend, Kelsy, & Nick Vestre; longtime friend of more than fifty years, Rose Morgan, Minot.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Claremont and Dr Norris Vestre.

Funeral service : Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 10:00a.m. in Trinity Homes Chapel, Minot.
Graveside service : Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Creek Cemetery, Bottineau.
Visitation: Tuesday from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Maxine Vestre Scholarship Fund at Trinity Homes for Nursing Education.