Obituary of Maxine Lutie Jenkins Krull

Maxine Lutie Jenkins Krull passed away on September 6, 2009. Maxine was born in Newton, Utah, December 10, 1922, in a stone house built by her grandfather, and in the same room in which her father had been born. She attended the lower grades in Newton, where her father, Archie Jenkins, taught and was principal, then graduated to North Cache High School in Logan, Utah. She was expected to help with farm chores both in Newton and on the dry farm in Idaho, where the family spent much of the summer, but both her parents stressed the supreme importance of education. Maxine became not only a strong supporter of teachers and education, but also a life-long learner herself. It was partly her desire to be informed and to openly discuss ideas that later led her to be such an active part of the League of Women Voters. Maxine had completed two years toward her degree in teaching at the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, when she met her husband, Kenneth C. Krull . He was posted as a Marine guard to the naval personnel being trained there. Maxine loved to relate how she had been coming down a staircase at school and suddenly there was a dashing young marine offering to tie her shoe. Maxine and Ken were married in her parents' home in Newton on August 1, 1942. She and Ken moved to Oceanside, California, where to help in the war effort, she became a certified welder. When Ken was sent to the Pacific Theater in World War II, Maxine returned to Newton, where she stayed with her parents and there her first child, Kenneth Craig, was born. Her husband, Ken, returned from Iwo Jima severely wounded, and the young family spent many months living near V.A. hospitals where Ken received medical treatment. Like many young postwar families, resources were scarce. Ken’s parents helped the young family build a cinderblock house near Denver, where they raised rabbits for meat and for sale and had a second child, Judith Ann. Pursuing various jobs, the family moved to Boise, and then Spokane where they lived from 1950 to 1962, and where their third child, Marci was born. Here Maxine was able to indulge her love of gardening. In addition to remodeling the house in which they lived, Max and Ken grew an extensive vegetable garden and Maxine grew gorgeous flowers. They were also able to acquire a piano, so Maxine, a talented pianist, could pursue her passion for music. Ken’s job as a salesman required frequent travel throughout eastern Washington and during the summer the family often camped near his projected sales area, using the tent as his home base. Camping and other outdoor activities became an important part of Maxine’s life, which contributed to her later interest in land use and the environment. In Spokane, Maxine discovered the League of Women Voters. She was taken to a meeting by a friend, where well informed women discussed their views about redistricting from opposing viewpoints and with great intensity, but great civility. After the discussion, all of them had coffee and cake and chatted together as friends. Maxine mentioned many times how “agreeing to disagree,” and being able to remain friends while holding opposing ideas, greatly affected her view of what was possible in the world. She became a very active member of the League and considered her work in the League her greatest accomplishment. When the family moved to Seattle in 1962, Maxine continued her work in the League of Women Voters and also became very involved with voter registration. She also came to know a neighbor, John Spellman, and shortly after the family moved to Olympia in 1966, she became a particularly active supporter of his successful campaign for governor. Maxine worked as the legislative liaison for the Department of Employment Security in Olympia for several years before her retirement. Ken and Maxine found a piece of waterfront they loved and over the course of several years, hand built a house on Gallagher Cove overlooking Steamboat Island. Their home was filled with music, especially jazz. Here she was able to garden, to pursue sewing and craft projects while looking out over the ever-changing Oyster Bay, and to pursue her organizational activities while Ken worked in his “airplane factory” building an ultra-light airplane. Maxine and Ken lived there together until his death in 1987, and Maxine chose to remain living there until her passing. She was a much loved member of her growing family, who felt fortunate to be close enough to see her frequently and facilitate her choice to remain independent. Maxine leaves behind a son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Craig & Sherry Krull; a daughter, Judith K. Henry and her husband David L. Henry; and a daughter, Marci Stroup and her husband Ron Stroup, all of Olympia. She was very proud of her nine grandchildren: Kenneth, Michael, and Elizabeth Krull; Brian, Joslyn (Sasha), Megan, and Catherine Henry; and Karma and Molly Stroup. She had eight great grandchildren and was excited about the imminent arrival of her ninth. Maxine is also survived by her sister, Doris Pike, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Maxine was a strong and independent woman of great personal integrity, whose values will live on in her family and her community. Services will be held Friday, September 25th, at 11:00am, at the L.D.S. Church , 600 Overhulse Road NW in Olympia and will include a reception and lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations could be made in her name to any of her favorite charities which include: The Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Library, American Farmland Trust, American Rivers, KPLU, KCTS, the Evergreen State College Foundation, the League of Women Voters of Washington education fund, and the Olympia YWCA. You may leave memories of Maxine and condolences for the family by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.