Betty Axtmann

Betty Axtmann, 84, of Mandan, passed away January 3, 2022, at Edgewood Mandan.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mandan, ND. Burial will be at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 6:00-7:00 PM at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a Rosary/Parish Vigil at 7:00 PM.

B etty was born on the family farm near Balta, ND on December 4, 1937, to Andrew and Anna (Garman) Bohl.  She was loved by her late husband of 57 years Edward and their five children, Thomas, Dickinson, ND, Carol Hanson (Mike), White Bear Lake, MN, Ken (Robin), Huron, SD, Lisa Froelich, Mandan, ND, and Donavan (Amy), Buffalo, MN; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  She was loved by her brother, John (Alice), Rugby, ND; two sisters, Amy Meade (Mike), Lead, SD; and Eleanor Koch, Bismarck, ND; many brothers and sisters in law and a great many nieces and nephews.

E ducated in rural schools until high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Minot, ND.  Later Betty attended Minot State College for one year and achieved her rural teaching certificate.  She returned to her same rural schools as a teacher in grades 1-8 for four years.

T ruly loved teaching, but after she married her sweetheart Ed on June 23, 1960, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Balta, ND, they both decided it was time to start a family.  Most of Betty’s time was spent in caring for five children and any pets that were dragged home.  Her gift from God was caring for others and when her youngest started school, she began a career of caregiving at the Mandan Villa Nursing Home where she worked for 20 years.

T hankful for her talent when Ed had a cerebral aneurysm in 1990, she lovingly cared for him until his death in 2017.  Betty was quiet and found laughter and fun beside her husband during his years in the Knights of Columbus, and many polka and waltzes danced in the kitchen of their home.  But she also had her own involvements in Catholic Daughters and St. Joseph Church.  Her faith was everything to her and she prayed the rosary and listened to mass every day.  The rosary was her favorite because as she prayed each decade, she dedicated one for each of herfive children and their families.  As Betty aged and her eyesight worsened, she found much joy in listening to music and books on tape.  She could do a lively polka while sitting in her chair!

Y ou are in Heaven now where you can see clearly for the first time and are experiencing JOY beyond our comprehension!!  Betty was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Magdalena; husband, Ed; son-in-law, Tom Froelich; great grandchild, Oliver Baranko; her in laws, Nick and Christine Axtmann; brothers-in-law, Ferdinand, Anthony, Conrad Schuster, Budd Henderschied; sisters-in-law, Gwen and Jane Axtmann; and nephews, Eric Axtmann and Curtis Bohl.

Memorials may be given to St. Joseph Church.