Vickie V. Axtman

Vickie V. Axtman was

born to Joseph and Agnes

(Wolf) Grossman on Janu-

ary 25, 1942, on the fami-

ly farm in Alexander

township, Benson County,

ND. Raised and educated

in this community, Vickie

was the second oldest of

six children, the only

daughter, and spoke Ger-

man before learning En-

glish. She married Ken-

neth Axtman on July 3,

1961, at the St. Boniface

Catholic Church in Es-

mond, ND. After they

married, they farmed in

Broe Township (near Bak-

er, ND) and eventually

purchased the farm from

Kenneth’s family. Over

the years, Kenneth and

Vickie had five sons: Ter-

ry, Steve, Kenny, Tim and

Kevin.

Throughout her mar-

riage, Vickie was involved

in the cattle and farming

operations with her hus-

band and eldest son, Ter-

ry. She took pride in her

cooking, canning, cleanli-

ness, and robust vegetable

and flower gardens. She

also took great pleasure in

keeping the yard beauti-

ful. In 1993, she went to

work at the Maddock

Memorial Home in Mad-

dock, ND, where she

worked in different ancil-

lary positions. She will be

remembered for the meals

she provided to the

residents and for the rela-

tionships she established

with both residents and

colleagues. Vickie retired

from the Maddock

Memorial Home in Oc-

tober 2010, after 17 years

of dedicated service.

Over the years, and pri-

marily in retirement,

Vickie took pleasure in a

variety of weekly staple

activities, from getting her

hair done to eating out

(Esmond Cafe) and at-

tending Mass with Ken-

neth. They especially en-

joyed watching the Big Joe

Polka Show.

Vickie was a devoted

wife, mother and grand-

mother, who gave with

her whole heart and loved

her family unconditional-

ly. She had a special rela-

tionship with each of her

sons and was a pillar of

support in their lives.

After the unexpected

passing of her eldest son,

Terry, Vickie continued to

forge onward. Terry’s un-

timely passing altered the

family dynamic, and she

never truly recovered.

Vickie especially enjoyed

watching her grandchil-

dren grow and mature

into young adults. Grow-

ing up with five brothers

and then eventually mov-

ing on to raise five sons,

Vickie took special enjoy-

ment and interest in the

Axtman granddaughters:

Astrid, Linnea and Elsa.

Vickie was an excellent

cook and hostess to family

and friends. She frequent-

ly entertained in the

Axtman/Grossman house-

hold and took pride in her

hospitality skills. Vickie

always provided an ample

amount of food for all in

attendance. She will be

greatly missed for her

German potato salad, cab-

bage rolls and other amaz-

ing dishes she perfected

throughout the years.

Vickie also had the pro-

pensity to impart sayings

that were, at times, in-

sightful or sarcastic

(depending on her mood)

but could bring a chuckle

to a moment of extreme

seriousness. Throughout

her illness, her sense of

humor remained intact,

complemented with a

smile on her face and a

twinkle in her eye.

After Kenneth died in

July 2015, Vickie moved

to Fargo, ND, where she

resided at Pioneer House

(assisted living communi-

ty), and then later moved

to Kind-er Care (assisted

living community) in

West Fargo, ND, until the

time of her death. She

was an active parishioner

of St. Boniface Catholic

Church in Esmond, ND,

and a faithful member of

Christian Mothers.

Vickie was an incredi-

bly kind, loving, forgiving

and generous person. She

was faithful to God, had

an amazing work ethic

and exhibited a sense of

decorum. Her legacy will

live on through her sons

and grandchildren, who

will integrate her wisdom

and guidance into the rest

of their lives.

Vickie’s loving family

includes her four sons,

Steve (Janet) Axtman,

Charlotte, NC; Kenny

(Deneen) Axtman, Fargo,

ND; Tim (Rita) Axtman,

Minot, ND; and Kevin

Axtman, Oakdale, MN;

grandchildren, Tanner,

Astrid, Linnea, Taiton,

Elsa, Alex and Brady Axt-

man; step-grandson, Alex

Holte; brothers, Ron

Grossman, Esmond, ND,

and Bryan Grossman,

Grand Forks, ND;

sisters-in-law, Clara Axt-

man, West Fargo, ND, and

Judy Wiest, Jamestown,

ND; and many nieces,

nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in

death by her husband of

54 years, Kenneth; eldest

son, Terry; parents, Joe

and Agnes Grossman;

brothers, Marvin, Dan and

Gary Grossman; and

in-laws, Ellen Grossman,

Sharon Grossman, Jacob

(Rose) Axtman, Dr. Larry

and Sheila Kokkeler, Clif-

ford Axtman and J.P. Wi-

est.

Funeral services will be

held as follows:

Visitation from 4:00

P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on

Thursday, March 10th, at

West Funeral Home & Life

Tribute Center, West Far-

go, ND.

Visitation from 4:00

P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Fri-

day, March 11th, followed

by a prayer service at

7:00 P.M. at St. Boniface

Catholic Church, Esmond,

ND.

Visitation from 9:00

A.M. to 10:00 A.M. on Sa-

turday, March 12th, fol-

lowed by the Mass of

Christian Burial at 10:00

A.M., with Fr. Brian

Bachmeier presiding.

Burial will take place in

the St. Boniface Catholic

Cemetery following the

Mass.

Arrangements have

been made by West Fun-

eral Home & Life Tribute

Center, West Fargo, ND.

Floral shops that deliver

to St. Boniface Catholic

Church, Esmond, ND:

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US-52 Fessenden, ND

58438

P: (701) 341-1327 or

visit the website at https:

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Perfect Petals 800 Lin-

coln Ave. Harvey, ND

58341

P: (701) 324-4262 or

visit the website at

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Town & Country Floral

125 Main St. W Leeds, ND

58346

P: (701) 466-2782 or

(701) 381-2553 Email:

townandcountryfloral

@yahoo.com