Maynard A. Hemmah

Maynard A. Hemmah, 84, died peacefully on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at the Fargo V.A. Hospital.

Maynard was born on May 17, 1936 in Lakeview Township, rural Detroit Lakes, MN. His parents were Nordahl and Mabel Hemmah. His family was of Norwegian heritage, so his father was especially proud to have a son born on May 17 – Syttende Mai – Norwegian Independence Day.

Maynard and his sister Madeline grew up on the family farm near Detroit Lakes, MN – which required most of his spare time, tending livestock and small grain. Everything was done by hand in those days, including milking cows. He attended a country school until the eighth grade and graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1954.

Maynard served five years in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He attained the rank of Sargent. He then served four years in the U.S. Navy stationed in the Pacific for 38 months, spending time on the islands of Midway, Guam, Kwajalein Islands, Okinawa, Philippines, Japan, and the last two years in Hawaii. He signed up as a draftsman, spending the first two years with the Seabees and the next two with Navy Intelligence.

Following military service, Maynard went on to work in the food service industry, cooking at the FM Hotel in Moorhead, MN where he worked his way to the top position of head chef.

He attended Moorhead State College on the G.l. Bill and in later years was the first person to be certified by the American Culinary Federation as both a Certified Executive Chef and Certified Culinary Educator. He went on to design the program for the Culinary Department at Moorhead Technical College and served as department head. He was one of three original instructors at the opening of the school in 1965, and continued his teaching career for 31 years until retirement. He was honored to have made life-long friendships with many fellow teachers and former students.

Maynard was united in marriage to Karen Quick in 1963. In addition to Karen’s children Jeffrey and Susan, they were blessed with two sons, Christopher and Michael. Michael died in a car accident in ldaho at the age of 20 years while serving in the U.S. Navy. Karen lost her life to cancer in 1994.

Maynard married Patricia Barsgard Lynde on August 23, 1997.

Maynard had a passion for carving. Over the course of his carving career, he carved ice sculptures for special events, small caricature carvings, furniture, totem poles, large logs and trees – you name it, he likely carved it. Much of his work can still be spotted around the community. Woodcarving was a large part of his life – he taught many classes in a wide variety of carving styles and cherished his many woodcarving friends.

Many winters during his retirement years were spent enjoying the warm weather in Lady Lake, FL. He always said, “It’s been a wonderful life!”

He is survived by his wife, Pat, his son, Christopher, grandson Andrew (Christine), great-grandson Leif and great-granddaughter Elsie. Maynard is also survived by step-son Jeffrey Case and step-daughter Susan (Rodney) Kiehl, step-granddaughter Tracey Kiehl, step-grandson Shawn Kiehl and step-great-grandchildren Vanessa, Benjamin and Alyssa. Step-grandson Lucas Halverson preceded Maynard in death in 1994.

Through his marriage to Pat, he gained three step-children, Steve (Lana) Lynde, Kathy (Jim) Tryba and Curt (Kris) Lynde, along with 7 step-grandchildren, Bob (Jessica) Lynde, Travis Lynde, Shannon (Jon) Seefeldt, Michelle Tryba, Jill (Dusty) Cegla, Melissa Lynde, Trevor (Callie) Lynde and 6 step-great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Kylie, Brooklyn, Addison, Koen, Broden, and Weston.

He is also survived by a sister, Madeline (Dale) Schermerhorn, sisters-in-law Jodee (Charles) Erickson and Yvonne Barsgard.

Memorial service will be Thursday, May 13, at 11:00 AM, with visitation one hour prior to the service at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN.