North was born Maxine Olive Guldner on September 10, 1920, in Salem, Oregon,[1][2] but grew up using the family name Woodfield, after her stepfather, who was a telephone line foreman.

She had no background in industry, but became interested in the prospect at the suggestion of a friend and secured funds in part from the Thai government, which held 28.57 percent of shares.

[7] North was known as a glamorous figure in Bangkok's expatriate social scene, and regularly frequented the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand in the 1970s and 1980s.

[19] North, whom a 1957 interview described as "a nonsmoker, nondrinker, nonmeat-eater, nonbread-eater", regularly meditated and practiced yoga (following teachings of the Self-Realization Fellowship); her spiritual beliefs came following her husband's death.

[4] During her career, she lived in a villa in the same compound as North Star's factory in Nonthaburi Province,[9][11] together with her mother-in-law, who had also been with the couple in the country before Robert's death.

[7] In her retirement, having stepped back from active business roles in 1985,[15] she relocated to Pattaya, living next door to her friend Vera Cykman (owner of Star of Siam, a leading tailor of Thai silk).