Meredith Maytum

A Celebration of Life for Meredith Maytum will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 1:00-3:00pm at the Maser Monarch Lodge in Spirit Lake.

Meredith Ann Mickelson was born on February 27, 1941, in Jackson, Minnesota, to Wilbur B. and Dorothy (Timms) Mickelson. She grew up in Estherville and was the eldest of three sisters. During high school, she worked on the Ho Lo Co class yearbook for several years and was also part of Glee Club, Y Teen, and Rainbow Girls.

After graduating from Estherville High School in 1959, she attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls that summer. On October 16, 1959, she married John R. Maytum at the Presbyterian Church in Estherville, with her sisters and brother in law and sister in law as attendants.

The couple moved to his grandparents’ farm on Francis Sites in the Lakes Area, where Meredith worked in her father in law’s dental office until his retirement.

Later, during the 1960s and 70s, Meredith and John moved to pastureland owned by his grandparents, where they raised quality mink as well as Norwegian Elk Hounds. Alongside this, Meredith and John, together with close family friend Dave Duhn and his family, successfully ran Lakes Tree Service for over 60 years, serving the Lakes Area with dedication and hard work.

Meredith and John adopted two sons, Michael and Aaron, and filled their home with dogs and other rescued pets. They shared a love of nature and especially enjoyed fall camping trips to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Their strong Christian faith took them to many conferences, where they joyfully shared their love of the Lord through word and song.

Left to cherish Meredith’s memory are her husband, John, with whom she shared nearly 66 years; two sons, Michael (Tami) of Nebraska, and Aaron of the Lakes Area; grandchildren Isaac (Ike) and Kali; her sister Francie (Tom) Turner of Minnesota; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.B. (Mike) and Dorothy Mickelson of Estherville; in laws Dr. F.V. and Florence Maytum of the Lakes Area; sisters Noel (Nonie) Jean Amos Wagner and Margaret Kay Wilkinson; and brothers in law James N. and Moreen Maytum and Roger Wilkinson.