CROSSLAKE - Maxine (Omvig) Riches passed away peacefully on October 21, 2026, at NC Little Hospice Care in Edina, Minnesota, following a severe fall earlier in the month.

No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The Sinn Family Celebration of Life Center of Trimont, Sherburn, and Welcome, is assisting Maxine's family with her arrangements.

Born on August 12, 1942, in Story City, Iowa, to Burnett and Ethel (Frette) Omvig, Maxine grew up in Fairmont, Minnesota, and graduated from Fairmont High School in 1960. She went on to earn her teaching degree from Mankato State University.

With a new 1964 Chevy Impala convertible and a few friends along for the ride, Maxine set off for California to begin her teaching career. A few years later, her love of skiing took her to Stowe, Vermont, where she worked as a waitress to earn enough money to spend her days on the slopes. Eventually returning to Minnesota, she joined the staff at Robbinsdale High School as a physical education instructor.

An accomplished athlete, Maxine was a pioneer in women’s sports. In the early 1970s, she played on a national championship women’s fast-pitch softball team, helping pave the way for future generations of female athletes.

Fittingly, Maxine met George Riches on a ski trip. They married in 1975 in Mason City, Iowa, beginning a partnership filled with shared interests, travel, and memorable experiences. Together, they sailed along the East Coast, owned a condominium on a ski slope in British Columbia, and trailered their horses to Montana for riding adventures. Over the years, they also made homes in Englewood, Florida, and Crosslake, Minnesota.

Maxine was never one to shy away from a new challenge. Early in their marriage, George came home and announced that they were playing in a golf event that weekend. There was just one small problem: Maxine had never played golf. Undeterred, she found an instructor, took a couple of lessons, and spent hours on the practice range. By the weekend, she was ready.

What began as a crash course became a lifelong passion. Maxine developed into an accomplished golfer, winning several tournaments and earning the affectionate nickname “Steady Eddie.” More importantly, the game brought her treasured friendships, many of which endured throughout her life. Those friends remained a source of support in her final days.

Whether on a ski slope, a softball field, a sailboat, or a golf course, Maxine brought the same determination, enthusiasm, and zest for life. She was independent, spirited, and always willing to embrace whatever came next. Above all, she will be remembered for the life she lived so fully and the friendships she made along the way.

Maxine is survived by her husband, George Riches; stepson, Tom Riches; stepdaughter, Anne (Ted) Gladhill; grandchildren, Austin Riches, Brooke Riches, Connor Riches, Gage Gladhill, and Jaclyn Gladhill; sisters, Marilyn (Terry) Bohler, Genevieve (Rich) Range, and Ann (Allan) Johnson; and brothers, Chuck (Valerie) Omvig, George (Sheila) Omvig, and Jon (Karen) Omvig. She will also be lovingly remembered by her many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.