Maxine Aleba

Maxine M Heller Distad 85 of Great Falls and formerly of Lewistown, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 11, 2019 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, after fighting a valiant battle with lymphoma cancer for about one year.

Maxine was born on September 26, 1934 to Albert and Mary (Holdgrafer) Heller in Hunter, ND. She lived in San Francisco, CA and at Fort Peck Dam while her father worked on the construction of the dam. The family moved back to Lewistown and she attended St. Leo's School graduating in 1953. In 1954, Maxine married Gene Distad and they made their home in Lewistown. From this union one son was born, Gary Lee. They divorced after 11 years of marriage. In 1969 she was united in marriage to Don Headlee in Bozeman and the family moved back to Lewistown. They divorced in 1978. Maxine was united in marriage to Joe Aleba in 1980 and they settled in Lewistown for a time and later traveled working in California and Nevada. They divorced in 1987.

During her years in Lewistown, Maxine worked at the Skyline Grocery, 15 years at Safeway and Coast-To-Coast. In 1988, Maxine moved to Walla Walla, WA and enrolled into Walla Walla Community College earning a Degree in Respiratory Therapy. Following her graduation in 1991, Maxine worked with Providence Hospital in Yakima, WA. After Maxine retired from the hospital, she lived in Idaho and Oregon until she moved to the Portage Senior Apartment Complex in Great Falls, in 2013. Maxine made many good friends while living at the Portage Senior Complex.

Maxine was a loving Mom, Grandma and Daughter and will be missed by all who knew her. Maxine's family would like to thank everyone for the prayers, visits and well wishes during Maxine's illness and her friends at the Portage Senior Complex for helping Maxine get to and from appointments.

She is survived by her son Gary (Esther) Distad of Lewistown; three grandchildren Jason, Bray of Billings, Nicole Distad (Layne Bull) and Danielle Distad all of the Dallas, OR; six great grandchildren Brandon Lane and Charlie Bray of Lewistown, Daniel and Jaeda Bray of Billings, MT and Keaton and Rylin Bull of Dallas, OR.

She was preceded in death by her parents

Memorial Graveside Services for Maxine M Heller Distad will be Tuesday, August 10^th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Calvary Cemetery, at her request cremation has taken place. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Friends are asked to make memorials to the charity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.