Background
Pihlaja, Maxine Muriel Mead was born on July 19, 1935 in Windom, Minnesota, United States. Daughter of Julian Wright and Mildred Eleanor (Ray) Mead.
Pihlaja, Maxine Muriel Mead was born on July 19, 1935 in Windom, Minnesota, United States. Daughter of Julian Wright and Mildred Eleanor (Ray) Mead.
Bachelor, Hamline University, 1957. Postgraduate, Columbia University, 1958.
Group worker, Federation of Churches, Los Angeles, 1956; case worker, St. John's Guild Floating Hospital Ship, New York City, 1957-1959; Y-Teen program director, Young Women’s Christian Association, Elizabeth, New Jersey, 1957-1960; Y-Teen program director, Young Women’s Christian Association, Boulder, Colorado, 1964-1965; special services program and club director, United States Army, Ingrandes and Nancy, France, 1960-1962; music buyer, salesperson, Guinn's Music, Billings, Montana, 1977-1978; music buyer, salesperson, N.W. Music, Billings, 1978-1979; office administrator, American Lutheran Church, Billings, 1979-1984; general manager, Billings Symphony Orchestra, since 1984. Substitute teacher Community Day Care and Enrichment Center, Billings, 1971-1976.
Director Handbell choir 1st Presybn. Church, Billings, since 1973, American Lutheran Church, 1981-1984, 1st English Lutheran Church, since 1982. Member Billings Symphony Chorale, 1965-1991, Bellissimo!, 1983-1993, Community Concerts Board, 1967-1996.
Member Montana Association Female Executives (member membership committee 1994-1996, retreat committee since 1996, board directors since 1996), American Guild English Handbell Ringers (state chairman 1988-1989, treasurer Area X board directors 1990-1994, Montana membership chairman 1994-1996), Association Symphony Orchestras (treasurer 1987-1992, secretary 1995-1996).
Married Donald Francis Pihlaja, January 4, 1963. Children: Geoffrey Blake, Kirsten Louise, Jocelyn Erika.