Alfrieda Maxwell

Alfrieda Maxwell, 83, of Cavalier ND passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at Edgewood Memory Care in East Grand Forks, MN. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held on Monday July 8th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier, ND. Visitation at the church for one hour before the time of services on Tuesday. 

 Alfrieda Stegman was born in rural Neche, ND, on October 2, 1940, daughter of Reinhold and Martha Stegman. She enjoyed the simple life of growing up on the farm, playing beneath the willow trees, and watching the family and garden grow year by year. She didn’t care too much for the cooking and babysitting she was often tasked with as an older sibling, but loved her five sisters and three brothers very much. Frieda spoke German until she started school where she learned to read and write English. She attended Bruce school, a one-room country schoolhouse, and would often recall her father giving the children rides by horse and cutter through fields of snow. She had numerous cousins and family from Canada that would gather often. Frieda came from a musically gifted family that was known to sing and play at church functions, in parades, dances, and quite often for area nursing homes. She couldn’t read notes but taught herself to play piano, accordion, and guitar, all by ear. 

 As a teen she met her one true love, Dennis Maxwell, while working at a local café in Cavalier. The two married on June 24, 1960, and made their home there. Together they raised three children: Brenda (Terry) Ault, Robert (Nancy) Maxwell and Angela (Brad) Nordstrom. Frieda and Dennis owned a grocery store for five years. She did home daycare while her kids were young, and owned and operated her own gift store in Cavalier in the 1980s. She loved socializing with others and worked for several area jewelry and gift shops, and the Cavalier school as a cook and bus driver, and in later years as an aide for the after-school program. More than any other, she loved the title of “Grandma” given to her by Derek (Wendy) Ault, Brandon (Kelli) Ault, Gavin (Megan) Ault, Andrew Maxwell, Sarah (Brian) Fish, Brandi Veer (Andrew Anderson), Jennifer Maxwell, Abigail Nordstrom, and Levi Nordstrom. She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren. Frieda was very artistic and loved painting, embroidery, ceramics, and crafts. She was a member of the Red Hats and had many great years and adventures with friends, and treasured the weekly coffee dates that came in the last season of her life.

 Alfrieda passed away on July 2, 2024. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and followed Him all her life. She taught many years of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and participated in Bible study. She prayed often and encouraged others to do the same. Her favorite verse was John 3:16 and believed it was true. Through tears we rejoice knowing that she will live in peace forever, reunited with believers who went before her. She is preceded in life by her husband of 62 years, Dennis, her parents, father and mother-in-law, two brothers, four brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, and many extended family that she loved dearly.