Robert "Bob" Lewis Maxwell, age 89, passed away on June 16, 2025 at Sunset Manor Avera in Irene, South Dakota. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church (26214 484th Ave., Valley Springs, SD). Family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday June 19, 2025 at Miller Funeral Home – Downtown Chapel (507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls, SD).

Bob was born on December 10, 1935 as the eldest son of Clarence and Ruth (Cahoon) Maxwell of rural Devils Lake, North Dakota where he grew up and worked on his parents' farm. He attended his first five years of grade school at Morris Independent #2 in Morris Township, Ramsey County, North Dakota, which was a rural, single classroom building which later became the model for the United States Postal Service Commemorative 30 cent stamp issued in 1979. Bob continued his grade school education at Webster Public School before attending Devils Lake Central High School, graduating in 1954. During grade and high school, he studied piano and was a member of the Webster 4-H Farmers where he won various beef and dairy livestock judging contests in addition to working on the family farm.

While attending high school and college, Bob was a member of the Future Farmers of America serving in leadership positions as a chapter and state officer and earned Chapter and State Farmer Degree. He sang in the State FFA Convention Chorus for four years and the National FFA Silver Anniversary Convention Chorus in 1953. He also played piano with the high school concert orchestra and accompanied instrumentalists during their solo performances as well as the Ramsey County Men's Farm Bureau Chorus.

After graduating from high school, Bob attended the Ralston-Purina Youth Training Camp near Shelby, Michigan on a FFA Scholarship. Later that fall, he went on to attend North Dakota Agriculture College (now North Dakota State University) in Fargo majoring in education with a minor in animal science.

While living in Fargo, Bob learned to fly as a civilian. He joined the North Dakota Air National Guard and the United States Air Force where he was trained in electronics, communications, and aviation. He was employed by KXJB-TV Channel 4 Valley City–Fargo as a television cameraman and production specialist where he developed a technique of one camera coverage of sporting events using a manually operated Zoomar lens. As a member of the station news staff, Bob would fly to various locations to cover news stories and served as a counselor at several North Dakota Boys State gatherings.

In 1960, Bob moved to Sioux Falls where he was employed as one of the original staff engineers at KSOO-TV, Channel 13 (now, KSFY -TV). Within the scope of TV production, he would, on occasion, fly to various sites. Bob was also a vocational instructor at the Comprehensive Facility, a vocational-technical evaluation center.

Bob married Beverly Ann Norheim of Willmar, Minnesota on December 7, 1968 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Of that union, two sons were born, Scott and Paul.

While working full-time evenings and weekends, he commuted five days a week for three and a half years to South Dakota State University in Brookings to earn his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Social Studies and Education qualifying him for a teaching certificate. After graduating in December 1972, Bob took advanced studies at the University of South Dakota, Augustana College, Sioux Falls College (now USF), and Dakota State University in Madison, SD to earn his certification as a vocation instructor. Later, Bob taught Psychology and Sociology at the National College of Business (now National American University) in Sioux Falls. He also taught at Brandon Valley High School. He managed a mobile home sales and service center, sold insurance, and was employed by Midwest Coast Transport as a dispatcher and personnel manager. He also worked at Warner Transportation of Sioux Falls as a Personnel and Safety Director and also served as an occasional long-haul semi-truckdriver. Most recently, Bob was a contract tractor-trailer driver for 7-Up Bottling Company.

Bob began his 31 years as a member of the Civil Air Patrol while serving in the military. He became a qualified Mission Pilot, a Command Pilot, and a Mission Coordinator while earning the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. He also served on the South Dakota Wing Staff as Director of Operations and Director of Senior Training where he developed and initiated flight safety programs. Bob was a recipient of the Meritorious Service Award by USAF-CAP National Headquarters on two occasions. Bob was one of the original members of the Sioux Falls Sky Diving Club and participated both as a pilot and a sky diver with fifty-five jumps to his credit. Flying was his passion and he flew whenever he could.

Bob was an active member of Beaver Valley Lutheran Church of rural Valley Springs, South Dakota. He played piano with the 4th Sunday Contemporary Service Band. Bob would often provide special music of outlying churches.

Grateful to have shared Bob's life with him are his wife, Beverly Ann Maxwell; and his son, Paul (Melodi Fredrickson) Maxwell. He is preceded in death by his son, Scott Maxwell; his parents, Clarence and Ruth Maxwell; his brother, Jerry Maxwell; and his sister-in-law, Jan Maxwell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the El Riad Shrine Transportation Fund.
510 S Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104