Obituary for Maxine Marie Turley
Maxine Marie (Polsak) Turley was born June 19, 1941, and
passed away December 11, 2020 due to severe Covid-19
complications.
Maxine was born to Tena Polsak six months after her father,
Max, was killed in the Roundup Bair/Collins coal mine in
December of 1940. She was raised by her mother, and her
grandparents Teresa (Reza) and Anton (Tony) Hosner. Maxine
also spent a great deal of her early years with her grandparents
Max and Marie Polsak of Klein. Both her grandparents were
Slovenian immigrants and therefore Maxine spoke both
Slovene and English growing up. Maxine’s nearest neighbor was
a Swedish immigrant girl who did not speak English, but Maxine
became very good friends with her also. Klein and Roundup
were coal mining and school sport rivals that captured her
attention. Even though Maxine was raised as an only child by a
single parent, family was important, and she spent joyful
childhood years with her childhood friends, many who
remained friends for life. Maxine and friends explored Roundup
daily and came to know every detail, including where coal ash
was the deepest, who was worth spending time with- and who
was not.
Maxine married James “Mike” Turley in Sept 1958 at the age of
17, did not drive, and could barely boil water. As she left to live
a married life with a Turley 44 miles southeast of Roundup, her
friends wished her well, but did not expect to see her again.
Mike loved to “fight” (box) and Mike and Maxine -and their
little boys- attended an exhibition boxing match in Roundup
High School that featured Mike, Turla, and Francis Turley, in
that order. Smoke filled the gym, with much crowd roaring.
Each Turley won his match and they were well wished as they
left the gym with great admiration, handshakes, cigar smoke,
and a mixture of English and European chatter. As Mike and
Maxine drove the long-distance home, Maxine asked Mike if he
would consider quitting boxing…. He sank deep into the car
seat as this was quite a request, that he leave his love for
boxing behind… several miles further down rode, Maxine
announced that she was pregnant- again. Mike drove home
with deep thought and determination, and six month later twin
girls were added to the Mike and Maxine family.
At 22 years young, Maxine was not a good driver. The Turley
method of training was to put the auto in gear and turn you
loose. Francis found Maxine stranded in a deep ravine crying as
he roared from one field to another in a tractor and plow. He
pulled the car out, showed her the steering wheel and brake,
and chortled as he told her she needed to use them as she
drove. Maxine spoke of this often, as living the rural Turley life,
providing field lunches to hungry men, and raising youngsters
among the hills, timber and rocks, was not what she expected.
Many tribulations were endured throughout Maxine’s rural life.
In doings so, she raised 6 children along the way. Maxine held
deep respect for her husband Mike’s Turley/Stovall
homesteading and ranching experiences. Even though she was
a simple town girl, she was adamant not to give up rural living,
even 20 years after husband Mike’s death. She became an
accomplished driver, and would make the trip to town to see
friends through deplorable conditions, but would return to the
ranch, as it was her home. Family, friends and social events
were dear to Maxine, and she played an important role in
assisting with local events. Was also good friends with Harms
Family.
Maxine is survived by her children: sons Michael Preston Turley
of Musselshell, Gregory (Kathy) Turley of Musselshell, Thomas
Turley of Belgrade, Brian Turley of Musselshell. Daughters
Diane (Guy) Moran of Ohio, Denise (Steve) Douglas of North
Dakota. Grandchildren, Daniel (Kristen) Gilfeather of Billings,
Nicole (Jamie) Dykema of North Dakota, Tyler (Jorden)
Gilfeather of Shepherd, Jessica (Pablo) Fitzen of Virginia, Justin
(Tiffany) Moran of Laurel, Rebecca (Jon) Smith of Warden,
James (Kate) Douglas of Washington. Great-grand children,
Emmett and Ainsley, Oliver and Charleigh, Cara, Bridger and
Addison, and one on the way, also many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her husband James Michael Turley,
Parents Tena and Max Polsak, Step father Frank Harms, uncle
Frank Polsak and son-in-law Charles (Chuck) Gilfeather.
Family Service will be for Family only due to COVID-19.
Christian Mass will be live streamed on Facebook at 11am
Friday, 18 Dec 2020. Celebration of life will held at a later date.
Wier Funeral Home has been entrusted with the
arrangements. To leave online condolences for the family,
visit https://www.wierfuneralhome.com. In Lieu of flowers, she
would like donations to Friends of Musselshell School PO Box
14, Musselshell MT, 59059
Read More
passed away December 11, 2020 due to severe Covid-19
complications.
Maxine was born to Tena Polsak six months after her father,
Max, was killed in the Roundup Bair/Collins coal mine in
December of 1940. She was raised by her mother, and her
grandparents Teresa (Reza) and Anton (Tony) Hosner. Maxine
also spent a great deal of her early years with her grandparents
Max and Marie Polsak of Klein. Both her grandparents were
Slovenian immigrants and therefore Maxine spoke both
Slovene and English growing up. Maxine’s nearest neighbor was
a Swedish immigrant girl who did not speak English, but Maxine
became very good friends with her also. Klein and Roundup
were coal mining and school sport rivals that captured her
attention. Even though Maxine was raised as an only child by a
single parent, family was important, and she spent joyful
childhood years with her childhood friends, many who
remained friends for life. Maxine and friends explored Roundup
daily and came to know every detail, including where coal ash
was the deepest, who was worth spending time with- and who
was not.
Maxine married James “Mike” Turley in Sept 1958 at the age of
17, did not drive, and could barely boil water. As she left to live
a married life with a Turley 44 miles southeast of Roundup, her
friends wished her well, but did not expect to see her again.
Mike loved to “fight” (box) and Mike and Maxine -and their
little boys- attended an exhibition boxing match in Roundup
High School that featured Mike, Turla, and Francis Turley, in
that order. Smoke filled the gym, with much crowd roaring.
Each Turley won his match and they were well wished as they
left the gym with great admiration, handshakes, cigar smoke,
and a mixture of English and European chatter. As Mike and
Maxine drove the long-distance home, Maxine asked Mike if he
would consider quitting boxing…. He sank deep into the car
seat as this was quite a request, that he leave his love for
boxing behind… several miles further down rode, Maxine
announced that she was pregnant- again. Mike drove home
with deep thought and determination, and six month later twin
girls were added to the Mike and Maxine family.
At 22 years young, Maxine was not a good driver. The Turley
method of training was to put the auto in gear and turn you
loose. Francis found Maxine stranded in a deep ravine crying as
he roared from one field to another in a tractor and plow. He
pulled the car out, showed her the steering wheel and brake,
and chortled as he told her she needed to use them as she
drove. Maxine spoke of this often, as living the rural Turley life,
providing field lunches to hungry men, and raising youngsters
among the hills, timber and rocks, was not what she expected.
Many tribulations were endured throughout Maxine’s rural life.
In doings so, she raised 6 children along the way. Maxine held
deep respect for her husband Mike’s Turley/Stovall
homesteading and ranching experiences. Even though she was
a simple town girl, she was adamant not to give up rural living,
even 20 years after husband Mike’s death. She became an
accomplished driver, and would make the trip to town to see
friends through deplorable conditions, but would return to the
ranch, as it was her home. Family, friends and social events
were dear to Maxine, and she played an important role in
assisting with local events. Was also good friends with Harms
Family.
Maxine is survived by her children: sons Michael Preston Turley
of Musselshell, Gregory (Kathy) Turley of Musselshell, Thomas
Turley of Belgrade, Brian Turley of Musselshell. Daughters
Diane (Guy) Moran of Ohio, Denise (Steve) Douglas of North
Dakota. Grandchildren, Daniel (Kristen) Gilfeather of Billings,
Nicole (Jamie) Dykema of North Dakota, Tyler (Jorden)
Gilfeather of Shepherd, Jessica (Pablo) Fitzen of Virginia, Justin
(Tiffany) Moran of Laurel, Rebecca (Jon) Smith of Warden,
James (Kate) Douglas of Washington. Great-grand children,
Emmett and Ainsley, Oliver and Charleigh, Cara, Bridger and
Addison, and one on the way, also many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her husband James Michael Turley,
Parents Tena and Max Polsak, Step father Frank Harms, uncle
Frank Polsak and son-in-law Charles (Chuck) Gilfeather.
Family Service will be for Family only due to COVID-19.
Christian Mass will be live streamed on Facebook at 11am
Friday, 18 Dec 2020. Celebration of life will held at a later date.
Wier Funeral Home has been entrusted with the
arrangements. To leave online condolences for the family,
visit https://www.wierfuneralhome.com. In Lieu of flowers, she
would like donations to Friends of Musselshell School PO Box
14, Musselshell MT, 59059
To plant a tree in memory of Maxine Marie Turley, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Vigil/Rosary Service
Thursday
17
Dec
6:00 PM
St. Benedict's Catholic Church
503 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
Service
Friday
18
Dec
11:00 AM
St. Benedict's Catholic Church
503 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
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