Maxine Bye

The funeral service for Maxine Marie (Bonnerup) Bye of Albert Lea will be held August 15th at 10:00 am at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services. Internment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9-10 am before the service.

Maxine died on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 at St. John's/The Woodlands. She was 89 years old. She was born on March 10, 1936 to Russell Haugen and Marie (Mork) Haugen in Montgomery, MN. After her father passed away, she was raised by her mother, Marie Oakland and her step-father, Reuben Oakland. She attended schools in Albert Lea, Winnebago and graduated from Ellendale in 1954.

Maxine was married to Norman Bonnerup on July 14, 1956 at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. She worked at Interstate Power, Land O'Lakes, Nelson's County Market, El's Fine Foods, Super Fair and Agilis. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary, Wa Tan Ye and the Senior Center and a life long member of Salem Lutheran Church. She enjoyed their swimming pool at home along with snowmobiling with her family and friends, many years at the cabin on Beaver Lake in Ellendale and NASCAR racing. Maxine was famous for all of her cookie baking. After Norman's death, Maxine married Orrin Bye on October 15, 2006.

Maxine is survived by her children; JoAnn (Jon) Behle, Douglas (Jodi) Bonnerup, Jean (Duane) Epland and Lori Unger and her friend Bill Larsen. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jolene (Shane) Babcock, Joel Behle, Spencer Bonnerup, Judd (Kiah) Bonnerup, Blair (Ariana) Bonnerup, Brandon (Emilie) Bonnerup, Rachel (Casey) Dressen, Amanda (Tom) Murphy and Mesa (Chris) Robbins: great grandchildren: Maverick (Jasmine) Babcock, Sierra Babcock. Axel, Miles and Graham Bonnerup, Latrell (fiance Morgan) Joy, Gage, Donta, Cora, Hannah, Evan, Hank, Ellie, and Charlie Dressen, Natalie and Bethany Murphy, Ava, Audrey, Marlena and Liam Robbins and one great great granddaughter, Ophelia Babcock: and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her step-son Jim (Jennifer) Bye and step-grandchildren.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husbands Norman and Orrin, her parents and stepfather, her sister and brother in law, her father in law and mother in law and several sisters in law and brothers in law.

The family of Maxine would like to sincerely thank the staff of St John's/The Woodlands and St Croix Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials to St. Croix Hospice.