My Mom
Posted: Dec 21st, '11, 19:45
Marian Haven Minton, known to most as Minxie and to her grandchildren/Elkhorn kids as Mame, was born December 5, 1933 in New York City to Thomas Frederick Davies Haines and Marian Haven Wickes Haines. She died peacefully December 17, 2011 in Bozeman, MT, of complications from breast cancer.
Minxie grew up in New York City and Mount Kisco, NY, along with two younger brothers, Thomas Davies Haines and Alexander Frederick Haines. Roller skating in Central Park and summers on Fisher’s Island were favorite childhood memories. She was educated at Nightingale-Bamford School (New York City, NY), Foxcroft School (Middleburg, VA), and Brillantmont School (Switzerland).
Friendship turned into romance with Dwight Church Minton, whom she married in New York City on August 4, 1956. Courtesy of the United States Army, Minxie and Dwight started married life in Panama, where they enjoyed lots of adventures. Then on to New Haven (1957), where Dwight completed his undergraduate degree at Yale, and Valerie was born. Then to Palo Alto (1959), where Dwight earned his MBA at Stanford, and Daphne was born. When Dwight joined the family firm, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Minxie and Dwight moved to Long Island where Henry Brewster was born. Minxie relished her roles as spouse, mother, and corporate wife. Active in the Garden Club of America, Minxie became a horticulturalist working at Planting Fields Arboretum in the 1970s. Minxie and Dwight moved to Princeton, NJ, (1980) where Minxie hosted weddings for her children and others, gardened, volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels, and played competitive bridge.
After years of coming to the Elkhorn Ranch as guests, Minxie and Dwight purchased the Elkhorn, just before the 1988 fires in Yellowstone Park. Minxie relished every minute of every summer at the ranch – especially when her grandchildren and Elkhorn kids were staying with her. After Dwight’s retirement, Minxie and Dwight made many road trips between Montana and New Jersey, delighting in visiting friends, family, and more than one hundred National Parks. Bozeman, Montana gradually became their home.
Other passions Minxie and Dwight shared were entertaining friends and family, fishing, bridge, and world travel. Able to fit multiple-weeks’ worth of gear in a single suitcase and to stay upbeat regardless of inevitable third world mishaps, Minxie sought adventure. From camel riding in Egypt and donkey riding in Jordon, to Zodiacs in Antarctica, Arctic Svalbard and in between, cruising the Yangtze River, and flying the perimeter of Australia – Minxie and Dwight were privileged to visit all seven continents. When home, Minxie continued to explore peoples, places, and cultures through her voracious reading, PBS specials, and nature films.
Minxie was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brothers and their families; by her husband Dwight Minton; three children – Valerie (Jim Webster) of Bozeman; Daphne (Scott White) of Durango, CO; and H. Brewster Minton of Southampton, NY — her four grandchildren – E. Haven Webster, Cameron S. Webster, Danny M. Webster, Wickes B. Minton, and numerous Elkhorn children all of whom she’s exhorted “to live, live, live!â€
Bozeman friends and relatives are invited to celebrate Minxie’s life at Bozeman United Methodist Church, 121 S. Wilson Ave., on Thursday, December 22nd: Memorial Service at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in BUMC Friendship Room. Baptized mourners are also invited to a service of Holy Communion 10 am in the BUMC chapel. Far-flung friends and relatives will gather at the Elkhorn Ranch in June of 2012 for a Service of Remembrance.
Flowers are welcome and will be distributed to residents of Gallatin Rest Home following the service. Memorial donations may be made in Minxie’s name to Gallatin Valley Food Bank, P.O. Box 1129, Bozeman, MT 59771 (or donate online gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org ). The Minton family extends heartfelt thanks to the capable caregivers at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Cancer Center whose compassion softened her passing.
Dwight Minton
120 West Cleveland St.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-8037 dwight@dcminton.com
Minxie grew up in New York City and Mount Kisco, NY, along with two younger brothers, Thomas Davies Haines and Alexander Frederick Haines. Roller skating in Central Park and summers on Fisher’s Island were favorite childhood memories. She was educated at Nightingale-Bamford School (New York City, NY), Foxcroft School (Middleburg, VA), and Brillantmont School (Switzerland).
Friendship turned into romance with Dwight Church Minton, whom she married in New York City on August 4, 1956. Courtesy of the United States Army, Minxie and Dwight started married life in Panama, where they enjoyed lots of adventures. Then on to New Haven (1957), where Dwight completed his undergraduate degree at Yale, and Valerie was born. Then to Palo Alto (1959), where Dwight earned his MBA at Stanford, and Daphne was born. When Dwight joined the family firm, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Minxie and Dwight moved to Long Island where Henry Brewster was born. Minxie relished her roles as spouse, mother, and corporate wife. Active in the Garden Club of America, Minxie became a horticulturalist working at Planting Fields Arboretum in the 1970s. Minxie and Dwight moved to Princeton, NJ, (1980) where Minxie hosted weddings for her children and others, gardened, volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels, and played competitive bridge.
After years of coming to the Elkhorn Ranch as guests, Minxie and Dwight purchased the Elkhorn, just before the 1988 fires in Yellowstone Park. Minxie relished every minute of every summer at the ranch – especially when her grandchildren and Elkhorn kids were staying with her. After Dwight’s retirement, Minxie and Dwight made many road trips between Montana and New Jersey, delighting in visiting friends, family, and more than one hundred National Parks. Bozeman, Montana gradually became their home.
Other passions Minxie and Dwight shared were entertaining friends and family, fishing, bridge, and world travel. Able to fit multiple-weeks’ worth of gear in a single suitcase and to stay upbeat regardless of inevitable third world mishaps, Minxie sought adventure. From camel riding in Egypt and donkey riding in Jordon, to Zodiacs in Antarctica, Arctic Svalbard and in between, cruising the Yangtze River, and flying the perimeter of Australia – Minxie and Dwight were privileged to visit all seven continents. When home, Minxie continued to explore peoples, places, and cultures through her voracious reading, PBS specials, and nature films.
Minxie was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brothers and their families; by her husband Dwight Minton; three children – Valerie (Jim Webster) of Bozeman; Daphne (Scott White) of Durango, CO; and H. Brewster Minton of Southampton, NY — her four grandchildren – E. Haven Webster, Cameron S. Webster, Danny M. Webster, Wickes B. Minton, and numerous Elkhorn children all of whom she’s exhorted “to live, live, live!â€
Bozeman friends and relatives are invited to celebrate Minxie’s life at Bozeman United Methodist Church, 121 S. Wilson Ave., on Thursday, December 22nd: Memorial Service at 11:00 am, followed by a reception in BUMC Friendship Room. Baptized mourners are also invited to a service of Holy Communion 10 am in the BUMC chapel. Far-flung friends and relatives will gather at the Elkhorn Ranch in June of 2012 for a Service of Remembrance.
Flowers are welcome and will be distributed to residents of Gallatin Rest Home following the service. Memorial donations may be made in Minxie’s name to Gallatin Valley Food Bank, P.O. Box 1129, Bozeman, MT 59771 (or donate online gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org ). The Minton family extends heartfelt thanks to the capable caregivers at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Cancer Center whose compassion softened her passing.
Dwight Minton
120 West Cleveland St.
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 585-8037 dwight@dcminton.com