Maxine Mirriam McNair (née Hinderaker)

Maxine Mirriam McNair (née Hinderaker)

May 11, 1922 – March 22, 2020
Maxine died peacefully in her home at Becketwood in Minneapolis on March 22nd at the age of 97. She was born on May 11, 1922 to Martin and Ida Mae (Britson) Hinderaker in Kenyon, Minnesota and grew up on their farm. She attended school in Kenyon, walking 2 miles each way year around. She attended Augsburg College (1940-41) and Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis (1942-1945). In 1944, while still in nurse’s training, Maxine joined the U.S. Army Cadet Program. She was a nurse at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis (1945 to 1952), after which she moved to Los Angeles to begin a 30-year career in nursing at Hughes Aircraft. She was a pioneer in the new field of occupational industrial health. Maxine and her husband, Al McNair, lived in Buena Park, CA, where she was active in her Lutheran congregation and with her bridge group. She earned 150 bridge master points in events as far away as Mexico. In 2007, a few years after the death of her husband, Maxine moved to Minnesota to be close to family. There she developed a great many new friends, whom she loved and treasured. Maxine was known at Becketwood for her warmth, wit, bridge skills and beautiful knitting. She was a member of St. Peder’s Lutheran Church. Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Al, her parents Martin and Ida Mae, her sister DeFlorence Jacobson, her brothers Vernon and Victor, a niece and two grand-nieces. She is survived by her stepchildren Jeanine Hiteshen, Jan Svahn, and Daniel McNair, six nieces and nephews, fourteen grand nieces and nephews and a host of great grand nieces and nephews. A program in celebration of Maxine’s life will be held at Becketwood this coming summer. (Published in the Star Tribune on March 25, 2020)