Valeria Jane (Laird) Maxwell

Valeria Jane Maxwell, 83, of Dubois, Idaho, passed away July 21, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Blackfoot.

Valeria was born October 9, 1937, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Royal Melvin Laird and Phyllis Letitia Thomas Laird. She grew up and attended school in Dubois and graduated from Clark County High School. She also attended Idaho State University.

Valeria was lucky to grow up in Dubois, surrounded by a close-knit family filled with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great uncles and great aunts -- all whom she dearly loved.

Dubois was where she learned to work. And there was always work to be done, whether on the family sheep and cattle ranch or at home. Moreover, Valeria always had a job on the side. She babysat, cleaned homes, and worked at the small movie theater in Dubois. This way she always had her own “pocket money.”

With Valeria, work was a family affair. Whether at home or on the ranch, she kept her children at her side while they fenced, tended sheep, rode for cows, or cleaned house. And she knew how to make work fun. There was always time to cool off in a ditch, dance in a field, or simply enjoy being together.

Valeria loved to dance and boy, could she jitterbug! She attended all the area dances in Dubois, Medicine Lodge, Liddy’s Hot Springs, and Island Park. Her maternal grandfather, Papa Henry Thomas, would drive her and her cousins to all the community dances. They had so much fun because everyone attended – grandparents, parents, teenagers, kids, and babies.

Once when she and her cousin, Sydney, were headed to a dance in Island Park, Valeria’s father asked her to tow a sheep camp to a grazing range located between Kilgore and Island Park. Always game, the young teenage girls set out dressed in their best dancing frocks. Just outside of Kilgore, the pickup slid into mud and the sheep camp became solidly stuck in that mud. Undaunted, the two girls stripped down to their underwear and worked freeing the sheep camp. Mission accomplished, they washed off in a nearby ditch, put their dancing clothes back on and continued on their way. They delivered the sheep camp and then had a swell evening dancing.

On December 29, 1956, she married William Ted (Bill) Maxwell in Dubois. The couple made their home in Pocatello. Here she worked as a secretary until their first child, Laird James was born. Laird was soon followed by three more children, Letitia Jane (Tish), William Ted, Jr., and Thomas Alexander.

In the 25 years they were married, Valeria and Bill moved back and forth between Pocatello and Boise, depending on his employment. In both communities, Valeria created beautiful homes on a tight budget. More importantly, she created a beautiful home life for her family.

Valeria was blessed with lifelong friends whom she cherished. She stayed in touch with these dear friends whether they lived in Pocatello, Boise, Dubois, or Washington D.C.

One of her greatest character traits was the way she was able to make anyone feel at ease and “at home” with her. When you were with her, you knew you were important to her and that she valued you for who you were.

When Valeria and Bill divorced in 1982, she moved back to Dubois and continued to raise cattle. Valeria registered her own brand -- the Bench V.

To live in Dubois fulltime meant she needed a home. She purchased a small, abandoned house in Dubois, had it moved onto the ranch property, then directed its renovation. Although it was small, she created a house full of charm! 

Valeria also directed the renovation of an old Forest Service lookout cabin and garage. She had the two structures moved off a mountain and onto summer grazing property in Island Park. Once again, Valeria worked her magic turning two old log cabins into a family retreat! The cabins also served as her base when her cattle were grazing in the Island Park area.

In the winter of 2020, she married her longtime companion, Ronald Lowe in Idaho Falls. The two worked side by side for more than thirty years. When the two retired, they were happy to remain in Dubois and stayed engaged in community events.

Valeria was active in politics all of her life. In fact, when she was a teenager, she became the first female to be a page for the Idaho State Legislature. In 2018, she was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Dubois parade and rodeo.

She enjoyed creating and building – whether it was china painting, home renovations, or yard work! Valeria was an avid reader and took a keen interest in current events. She loved horses and riding. She loved attending the Dubois rodeo. She was a wonderful homemaker and loved spending time with her family and her grandchildren.

She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Valeria was colorful, witty, and generous. Above all, she was classy!

Valeria is survived by her husband, Ronald Lowe of Dubois; children, Laird James Maxwell of Prescott Valley, Arizona, Letitia "Tish" Jane Dahmen of Blackfoot, and William "Ted" Maxwell, Jr. of Ammon; grandchildren, Taylor (Tiffany) Maxwell of Idaho Falls, Max (Rachel) Dahmen of Orem, Utah, Sydney Ellen Dahmen of Blackfoot; four great grandchildren; and sister, Judith Ann Wagoner of Ammon.

She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Alexander Maxwell; parents; and former husband, Bill Maxwell.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on August 21, 2021, at the Dubois Beaver Creek Ward, 471 East 2nd South in Dubois, with Bishop Farr officiating. The family will visit with friends after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Clark County Heritage Hall.

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