Retta May (Cameron) Maxwell

Retta Maxwell passed from this life on June 15, 2025 at the Red River Lodge in Morris, MB.  Hers was a long and blessed life that ended at the age of 100 years.  She was born Retta May Cameron on January 20, 1925 in Roblin, MB. To parents Percival and Littie Cameron (nee Van Sickle).  She was the second born to the family of four girls and two boys.  Retta spent her childhood in the Roblin area attending school there until grade 10.  In 1941, she moved to Belmont to live with her great aunt Eliza Brown.  Two years later upon graduating grade 12 from Belmont High School, she obtained employment at the Royal Bank in Baldur, MB.  This career ended with her marriage to Ronald John Maxwell in June of 1944.  The newlyweds took up residence on the former Bill Money farm about a mile south of the village of Belmont.  Here, they spent the next 35 years growing cereal crops as well as pigs and cattle.  Their first child came along in 1946 and the fourth to complete the family arrived 10 years later.  An addition to the house was built in the mid 1950’s.  For many years Retta took on the role of farm wife, doing the house work, rearing the children, milking the cows, raising the chickens, tending the garden, as well as a myriad of other tasks typical to a rural Manitoba farm wife.  However, she must have thought she needed more to do, so in 1967 at the age of 42 she decided to return to the workforce by joining the staff at the Pelican Lake Training Centre in Ninette, MB.  This job turned into a passion for her as she became well studied and adept at matters pertaining to persons with mental health and mental health issues.

In 1979, Retta and Ronnie, who by now was retiring from farming, moved to a new house on fifth street in Belmont.  They lived quite happily there as she continued to commute to Ninette for her job at PLTC.  She retired in the mid eighties and for the next several years they travelled to places in western Canada and the United States to visit friends or just enjoy vacationing.  By now their 10 grandchildren were growing up and becoming a big part of their lives.  There were lots of hockey, baseball, and other events to attend.  There would be many family gatherings for birthdays, as well as Easters, Thanksgivings and Christmas every year.  Upon the untimely passing of husband Ronnie in 1991, she became the matriarch of a family that would eventually number about 45 persons.  Retta continued to host family gatherings and travel to important events in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Then, in 2011 as her house in Belmont with its large lot became a challenge for her to look after, she sold it and moved to Morris.  At Morris, her family helped her find a very comfortable apartment where she would continue to live by herself and turned down all offers of homecare.  She was, right to the end, a fiercely independent person.  But at the same time her apartment was always a welcoming place and she gladly had lots of company call in.  Many meals and coffee breaks were served over the years.  At times when there were no visitors, Retta would put together jigsaw puzzles and did a lot of reading.  Also, she had a small garden plot just beside the outdoor entrance so she grew a few vegetables there and set up an impressive display of flowers.  However, this little garden led to her demise as one day in September of 2023 while carrying water out to the plants, she suffered a fall causing injuries which put her in hospitals for several months.  Thereafter she was paneled for personal care and in February of 2024 she moved into the Red River Valley Lodge.  She settled in to her new reality and after a year of living there on January 20th of 2025, she was feted by about 40 family members on the occasion of her 100th birthday.  Sadly, it was to be the last time the family would all gather to celebrate a special occasion. 

Retta Maxwell is survived by her son Brian Maxwell (Joanne), son Kerry Maxwell, daughter Margaret Johnson (Shane), as well as 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Mary Maxwell and Joan Cameron.  She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ronnie, daughter Jean Johnson (Matt), daughter-in-law Betty Maxwell, sisters Erma Halldorson and husband Percy, Addie Nolan and Husband Percy, brother Archie Cameron, and two siblings who died as children.  She was also predeceased by 4 brothers-in-law and 4 sisters-in-law.

Retta lived a good and long life.  She was a devoted daughter, a loving wife and mother, a partner in farming, a valued employee, a Sunday school teacher, a community volunteer, and a wonderful grandmother and auntie to scores of young people.  Hers was a life well lived. 

A graveside memorial service will be held at the Belmont Hillside Cemetery at 11:00 am on Monday, June 23rd, 2025, with Sharon Hamilton officiating. A reception to follow in the Belmont Community Hall. 

Memorial donations can be made in Retta’s memory to the Belmont Hillside Cemetery (cheques made payable to the R.M. of Prairie Lakes), Box 100, Belmont, MB. R0K 0C0, or the Belmont & District Historical Society, Box 212, Belmont, MB. R0K 0C0.

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