Edward Joseph Axtman

Feb. 13, 1931 – Feb. 11, 2021

Edward Joseph Axtman,

89, Rugby, died at the

Heart of America Medical

Center in Rugby on

Thursday, February 11,

2021, just 2 days short of

his 90th birthday. Ed was

born on February 13, 1931

in Rugby, North Dakota to

Rochus Roy and Anna

Marie Scherr Axtman. He

was raised in the Balta

area and went to school

there. He entered the

United States Army in

January 1955 and was

honorably discharged in

January 1957. He was

once married to Alice Bet-

ty Koble, who he married

on October 1, 1957 in Or-

rin. They farmed in Balta

Township until they

moved into Balta in 1966

and operated the South

Balta Bar for a short time.

Ed worked on the road

building crew for Pierce

County for several years.

Mr. Axtman worked at

Rugby Manufacturing for

a while until he started

his best loved work as a

custodian for the Rugby

School District at Ely Ele-

mentary School. It was a

mutual enjoyment

between him and the stu-

dents. He retired in

1996. He had been a

member of the Fraternal

Order of Eagles Aerie #

3834 and the Knights of

Columbus Council # 4136

in addition the Little

Flower Catholic Church

in Rugby. Always tinker-

ing with engines and

machines he was the own-

er of over 60 vehicles and

documented each one of

them. In in his retire-

ment years he enjoyed

making items of wood and

assembling picture puz-

zles. He had a great

fondness for his grand

and great grandchildren

and even youngsters that

were not even related to

him. His friends will also

remember his talent on

the accordion and organ.

Mr. Axtman is survived

by his children, Richard

– Deerfield, Wisconsin

and Peggy and her hus-

band Kirby Harmel – Rug-

by. In addition he leaves

8 grandchildren and 3

great-grandchildren.

Brothers David – Fair-

view, Montana, Ronald –

Moorhead, Minnesota,

and Timothy – Franklin,

Wisconsin will miss their

brother. He was preced-

ed in death by his

parents, a son, Mark in

2017, a grand-daughter,

Sierra in 2002 and a

daughter-in-law, Lynn

Larson in 2017, in addi-

tion to brothers, Adam,

Daniel, Leo and sisters,

Ada Black, Caroline Ebach

and Francis Schmaltz.

Funeral Services were

held at the Niewoehner

Funeral Home on Tues-

day, February 16. 2021 at

2:00 P.M. Friends could

call after 11:00 Tuesday

until the time of the ser-

vice. Burial will take

place in the spring at the

Little Flower Catholic

Cemetery with military

honors provided by the

Clarence Larson Post #

23 American Legion and

the North Dakota Military

Honors Detail.

Guests are reminded

that some restrictions still

exist for Covid – 19 and

should be aware of these

restrictions.

Online tributes at

www.niewoehnerfh.com

Niewoehner Funeral

Home – Rugby

701- 776-6222