Ruth Maxine Thomas

Ruth Maxine Thomas, 94, of Scottsbluff, died Thursday, June 11, 2009 at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2009 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Nancy Tomlinson officiating. Interment will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, Nebraska. Memorials have been established to Panhandle Humane Society or to the donor’s choice. Friends may call at the funeral home between 1-6:00 p.m. Sunday. Maxine was born October 19, 1914 in Exeter, NE to Earl and Hazel (White) Chrestensen. She grew up and attended school in Exeter and attended Doane College for one year. Her father died during the flu epidemic during WW I and she moved with her mother and brother to Lincoln where Maxine attended the University of Nebraska. She met and married C. A. “Tommy” Thomas September 4, 1938 in Lincoln. They lived in Lincoln and Grand Island before coming to Scottsbluff in 1945. Maxine was an avid golfer, playing well into her 80’s, an avid reader and Bridge player. She was a member of First United Methodist Church. The family would like to thank the caregivers of The Village at Regional West and Heritage Estates in Gering for their wonderful care. Survivors include her son Gary Thomas of Sacramento, CA; daughter Shelley Thomas of Scottsbluff, NE; granddaughters Traci Peterson, Folsom, CA and Robyn Hudson, Sacramento, CA and 5 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brother.