Donor Spotlight: Dwane & Maxine Boxdorfer

Donor Spotlight Series: Generosity Rooted in Faith

This is the second story in a new donor spotlight series highlighting the impact generous supporters have on students, families, faculty, and the mission of Sioux Falls Lutheran School. These stories reflect how generosity—grounded in faith—continues to shape lives and strengthen our Christ-centered community.

A Conversation with Dwane & Maxine Boxdorfer

For Dwane Boxdorfer, life has always come back to one simple truth.

“The Lord,” he said without hesitation.

At 90 years old, sitting in his office at North Central Insurance, Dwane was asked what keeps him going. His answer came quickly, clearly, and with the kind of certainty that only comes from a lifetime of quiet faith.

“The Lord. I talk to Him quite a bit, and it seems He’s always listening.”

That steady faith has shaped every part of Dwane and Maxine Boxdorfer’s life—their family, their businesses, their church, and their extraordinary generosity to Sioux Falls Lutheran School.

For nearly 66 years, they have lived what Dwane calls being a “quiet Christian”—serving faithfully, doing what is right, helping where they can, and letting their actions speak louder than words.

And those actions have left a lasting impact.

Rooted in Faith

Both Dwane and Maxine grew up in families where faith was not simply something discussed—it was lived.

Dwane was born and raised in Sioux Falls. His parents were among the original charter members of Memorial Lutheran Church, helping establish a congregation that would shape his life for more than eight decades. Today, he remains Memorial’s longest-standing member.

“I was eight,” he recalled. “And I’m still the oldest long-term member there.”

His childhood was marked by country schools, hard work, and lessons learned from parents who modeled faithfulness and responsibility. Whether helping where needed or walking to school in an era before many of life’s conveniences, Dwane learned early that a good life was built on faith, work, and integrity.

Maxine’s story began just a few miles away.

Born in Sioux Falls and raised in Crooks, she grew up surrounded by family, faith, and hard work. Her grandfather owned the town’s general store, while her father farmed the surrounding land. Her mother, a registered nurse, became one of the greatest influences in her life.

When asked how she has remained so faithful throughout the years, Maxine’s answer was simple.

“I just grew up that way.”

Faith wasn’t something she discovered later in life. It was woven into everyday life from the very beginning. It shaped how she viewed family, work, generosity, and service to others.

Though their childhoods were different, the foundation was remarkably similar—and it would become the cornerstone of a marriage that has now lasted more than six decades.

A Life Built Together

Their story began at a high school basketball game.

Maxine was a sophomore at Lyons High School, and Dwane was a senior at Hartford. She had gone to watch a friend cheer. Dwane was on the court playing basketball.

Neither could have imagined that simple introduction would lead to a lifetime together.

After graduating from high school, Maxine attended airline school and eventually moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Navy Department. But Dwane wasn’t ready to let distance stand in the way.

“He begged me to come back,” Maxine recalled with a smile.

She returned home, and after a year-long engagement—which included Dwane’s insistence that the car and furniture be paid for before the wedding—they married in October 1960.

This October, they will celebrate 66 years together.

Over the years they built three homes, raised their daughter Lori, who now works alongside Dwane in the family business and is a licensed attorney, welcomed grandchildren they cherish, traveled the world, built successful businesses, and created a life rooted in faith, family, and service.

Learning from the Best

After high school, Dwane attended Augustana College for a year before deciding another path was calling.

“I thought girls and cars were more fun,” he laughed.

He went to work in printing, eventually becoming a journeyman offset pressman while also serving nine years in the Air National Guard.

Then, in 1960, a man named Wayne Dornberger changed the course of his life.

What began as a part-time printing opportunity eventually became an invitation into the insurance industry.

At the time, Dwane admits he knew very little about insurance.

“I was 24… just a pup. Didn’t know diddley about insurance.”

But Wayne saw something in him.

More importantly, Wayne taught him lessons that extended far beyond business.

To this day, two simple rules remain displayed prominently in Dwane’s office.

Rule #1: Never insure the loss of which you could afford to pay yourself.

Rule #2: Refer to Rule #1.

The rules may sound simple, but they reflect something deeper—stewardship, wisdom, and responsibility.

Every employee learns them. Every new generation hears them. Decades later, they continue shaping the culture of the company Dwane built.

When the opportunity came to purchase the business from Wayne, Dwane remembered one of the lessons his mentor had taught him.

“You taught me not to sign contracts like that,” he recalled telling him.

Instead, Dwane stepped into entrepreneurship.

In 1970, he became a partner in Boen & Boxdorfer Insurance. In 1983, he founded North Central Insurance, building a company centered on trust, service, and doing what was right for every client.

His philosophy was simple.

“If you do things well, and you do them right, it works.”

Over 67 years in the insurance business, Dwane has never been sued for a professional mistake—a fact he attributes not to luck, but to consistently doing things the right way.

Though, with a grin, he’ll sometimes call it “sheer dumb luck.”

“I Did Everything”

While Dwane was building an insurance agency, Maxine was building a remarkable business of her own.

After spending fourteen years with Western Airlines, she helped launch what would become Custom Travel, eventually owning and operating the agency for thirty-eight years.

Long before online booking platforms existed, Maxine became the person people trusted to make travel happen.

When asked what she did as a travel agent, her answer came quickly.

“I did everything.”

And she truly did.

Flights. Hotels. Transportation. Excursions. Schedules. International travel. Business travel. Family vacations. Every detail mattered.

She worked with countless individual travelers and commercial clients throughout her career, creating complete travel experiences tailored specifically to their needs.

What stood out most wasn’t simply her expertise—it was the care she showed people.

Sometimes that care meant escorting travel groups herself. She fondly remembers annual trips to Jamaica and the friendships formed along the way.

Her favorite destination, however, was Switzerland.

The mountains, scenery, and beauty left a lasting impression.

Travel may not have been Dwane’s favorite pastime, but Maxine laughs that he came along anyway—and together they experienced places they otherwise never would have seen.

Even after selling Custom Travel, Maxine continued serving clients through All About Travel, only retiring in December of last year.

Or perhaps “retiring” isn’t quite the right word.

“The Lord didn’t make me so I could stop.”

The statement reflects the heart behind her entire life.

Hard Work, Family, and Stewardship

One of the remarkable things about the Boxdorfers is both built successful independent businesses while raising a family.

There were no shortcuts.

Maxine remembers spending long days at work, coming home to care for Lori, and then heading downstairs after bedtime to complete bookkeeping and accounting work for her business.

Dwane was building a company while leading employees, serving clients, and maintaining the high standards he expected from himself and others.

Throughout the interview, Dwane repeatedly returned to the idea of responsibility.

At one point he explained what he believes is the proper order in life.

“The Lord. Job. Family…”

Then he quickly clarified.

It wasn’t that work mattered more than family. Rather, if he failed in his responsibility to provide for his family, they would suffer.

It was another reflection of the stewardship mindset that guided both of their lives.

As Maxine put it while holding out her hands:

“It doesn’t just come like this.”

Everything they built came through discipline, sacrifice, faithfulness, and hard work.

When asked what contributed most to her success, Maxine offered a remarkably simple answer:

“Being nice and being helpful.”

Those few words reveal much about both Maxine and Dwane.

Their success was never built solely on business. It was built on relationships, service, and caring well for people.

Why They Give

Their commitment to Sioux Falls Lutheran School spans every major chapter of the school’s growth.

Dwane and Maxine have been faithful supporters of all six major capital campaigns in the school’s history. Their generosity has helped transform vision into reality, strengthening programs, facilities, and opportunities that continue impacting students and families today.

Combined with their faithful support of the Eagle Fund, their investment in Christian education has helped shape generations of young people who will carry the Gospel into their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities.

When asked why they give, their answers sound remarkably similar.

For Dwane, supporting Sioux Falls Lutheran School is a natural extension of supporting the Church itself.

“It’s part of our institution,” he said. “The city needs another place where kids can learn about Jesus.”

For Maxine, giving is simply another way to continue the Lord’s work.

Different words.

Same heart.

Both view generosity as stewardship. Both see giving as an opportunity to strengthen the mission of Christ. Both believe the blessings they have received are meant to be shared.

Grateful for Everything

Despite a career spanning nearly seven decades, Dwane rarely takes himself too seriously.

At one point he joked tat he used to be a tyrant because he expected high standards from those around him.

Then he smiled.

“I may not be a tyrant anymore. I’m just a nice old fart.”

The humor is genuine, but so is the humility.

When asked what he is most grateful for, Dwane paused only briefly.

“There’s just not enough daytime,” he said. “So I’ll say this—everything.”

That answer reflects the perspective both he and Maxine share.

Their story is not one of flashy recognition or loud declarations.

It is a story of consistency.

Of showing up.

Of doing what is right.

Of serving quietly.

Of trusting God.

Together, Dwane and Maxine Boxdorfer remind us generosity is not simply about giving. It is about faithfully stewarding the blessings God provides and using them to serve others. Their lives have strengthened their family, their church, their community, and Sioux Falls Lutheran School.

Perhaps their story is best summed up in two simple statements.

From Dwane:

“I talk to Him quite a bit… and it seems He’s listening.”

And from Maxine:

“The Lord didn’t make me to stop serving.”

Together, those words tell the story of a couple who have spent nearly 66 years listening for God’s voice—and then faithfully getting to work.

Inspired by stories like this? Your gift helps write the next one.

About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is a family community committed to developing capable Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, our vision is to partner with families in preparing children, as led by the Holy Spirit, for faithful and bold use of their God-given gifts to navigate and serve a complex world with the love of Christ.