Maxine E. Wilkes

Maxine Wilkes, age 84 of Grafton, ND and formerly of Park River, ND, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2025 at Edgewood Healthcare, Grand Forks, ND.

Maxine Osowski was born November 11, 1941 in Grafton, North Dakota, the daughter of the late Bruno and Stella (Ebertowski) Osowski. She attended school near Warsaw and graduated from Grafton High School. After her schooling she began helping her sister in Park River with her children and working at the bowling alley. Maxine was united in marriage to Paul Wilkes on June 19, 1965 in Grafton. The couple made their home in Park River where they raised their family. She worked at LSTC as a Direct Service Provider and then worked as the secretary at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Park River until her retirement. She moved to Grafton in 2022.

She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Grafton and a former member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Altar Society, Park River. She was a member of the Park River and Grafton American Legion Auxiliary and also served on the Park River Volunteer Ambulance Service. Maxine enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Women’s Bowling League and traveled for tournament bowling. She was also an avid Pinochle player. Maxine was a caregiver to all and was known to be the “neighborhood mom.” Her family was her world; she traveled extensively to see her children and grandchildren, watching their many activities and sporting events.

Maxine is survived by her children: Endora (Jeff Blanchard) Wilkes, Grafton, ND; Patrick (Nikki) Wilkes, Rock Lake, ND; Sandra (Paul Stigaard) Wilkes, Seattle, WA; Sarina (Greg) Hankins, Lucas, TX; grandchildren: Dacotah and Joshua Blanchard, Colten, Carson and Kyleigh Wilkes; great-grandchildren: Carter Wilkes and Krue Lunday; brother, Ernest (Karen) Osowski, Grand Forks, ND. Several nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul, sisters: Sarah Nice, Esther Narlock, Beatrice Houdek, Louise Sevigny, Joanne Babinski and three infant siblings.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, December 12, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Thursday, December 11, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Friends may also call at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Park River in the Spring. Maxine’s funeral will be livestreamed on Tollefson Funeral Home’s website. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are preferred to the Park River Ambulance Service or the Park River Pregnancy Help Center.