Mavis B. Saxton
October 17, 1932 — June 13, 2016
Mavis B. Saxton
Mavis Harriet Backer (Rossow) Saxton, age 83, of North Mankato, passed peacefully after an extended illness on Monday, June 13, 2016, at Pathstone Living in Mankato.
A Memorial Service Celebrating her Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, 2016, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato with Pastor Collette Broady Grund and Pastor Al Girtz, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, and will continue one hour before service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.
Mavis was born October 17, 1932, to Leslie Lewis and Hertha Louisa (Lambrecht) Backer at home on the farm in Milford Township, Brown County, Minnesota near New Ulm. Mavis attended rural school during grades one and two and then attended New Ulm Public until grade 5 when the family moved to a farm near Winthrop. She graduated from Winthrop High School and attended Mankato State University until she was married in 1951 to Luther Rossow. Mavis and Luther, worked for National Radio, NY, NY traveling the East Coast and working out of various radio stations selling “canned” programs for advertising. They returned to Mankato and Mavis went to work for Carney Company in the personnel department. They operated the Junction Inn, then Lute’s Grill in Mankato and The Urban in North Mankato. Later Mavis was employed by Michael’s of Mankato as assistant manager. They had four children while living in the Mankato-Lake Crystal area and divorced in 1977.
In 1964 she joined Advertising Unlimited, Inc. (AUI) as Office Manager and later became an officer of that publicly held company. Mavis retired in 1994 after a long and rewarding career.
Mavis remarried in 1979 to the ‘kindest man I’ve ever known’, Glenn E. Saxton.
Mavis was an active volunteer in cancer outreach, a driver for VINE, enjoyed travel, cards (belonging to four bridge clubs and a pfeffer foursome), reading, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a Charter Member of Mankato Zonta, a Sunday school teacher for 12 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Crystal. Mavis was a past President of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she had served at various times on the Personnel Committee, Endowment Board, Budget Committee, and Executive Committee. She enjoyed entertaining and the home that Glenn had so lovingly built for them.
Mavis is survived by her husband, Glenn; children, Cynthia (John Rassieur) Rossow of Owatonna, MN, Dr. Scott (Lisa) Rossow of St. Joseph, MO, Cheryl Haapoja and special friend, Joe Martin of McGregor, MN, Shane (Kristi Johnson) Rossow of Blanchard, OK, Russell (Jessica) Saxton of Westerville, OH, Rebecca Saxton Brown (Cindy Lucas) of Woodsfield, OH; twelve grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and extended family.
Mavis was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Renola Ellig; and infant brother, Oliver.
A Memorial Service Celebrating her Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 17, 2016, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato with Pastor Collette Broady Grund and Pastor Al Girtz, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, and will continue one hour before service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.
Mavis was born October 17, 1932, to Leslie Lewis and Hertha Louisa (Lambrecht) Backer at home on the farm in Milford Township, Brown County, Minnesota near New Ulm. Mavis attended rural school during grades one and two and then attended New Ulm Public until grade 5 when the family moved to a farm near Winthrop. She graduated from Winthrop High School and attended Mankato State University until she was married in 1951 to Luther Rossow. Mavis and Luther, worked for National Radio, NY, NY traveling the East Coast and working out of various radio stations selling “canned” programs for advertising. They returned to Mankato and Mavis went to work for Carney Company in the personnel department. They operated the Junction Inn, then Lute’s Grill in Mankato and The Urban in North Mankato. Later Mavis was employed by Michael’s of Mankato as assistant manager. They had four children while living in the Mankato-Lake Crystal area and divorced in 1977.
In 1964 she joined Advertising Unlimited, Inc. (AUI) as Office Manager and later became an officer of that publicly held company. Mavis retired in 1994 after a long and rewarding career.
Mavis remarried in 1979 to the ‘kindest man I’ve ever known’, Glenn E. Saxton.
Mavis was an active volunteer in cancer outreach, a driver for VINE, enjoyed travel, cards (belonging to four bridge clubs and a pfeffer foursome), reading, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was a Charter Member of Mankato Zonta, a Sunday school teacher for 12 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Crystal. Mavis was a past President of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where she had served at various times on the Personnel Committee, Endowment Board, Budget Committee, and Executive Committee. She enjoyed entertaining and the home that Glenn had so lovingly built for them.
Mavis is survived by her husband, Glenn; children, Cynthia (John Rassieur) Rossow of Owatonna, MN, Dr. Scott (Lisa) Rossow of St. Joseph, MO, Cheryl Haapoja and special friend, Joe Martin of McGregor, MN, Shane (Kristi Johnson) Rossow of Blanchard, OK, Russell (Jessica) Saxton of Westerville, OH, Rebecca Saxton Brown (Cindy Lucas) of Woodsfield, OH; twelve grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and extended family.
Mavis was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Renola Ellig; and infant brother, Oliver.
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