Magdalena Steffina “Lena” (Hoffart) Axtman, the daughter of Elias and Magdalena (Kraft) Hoffart was born in the rural Silva, North Dakota home of her parents on October 24, 1920.  She died at the age of 93 years on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Lena was raised in the home of her parents and educated in the Silva School, graduating as Salutatorian of her class in 1938.  She was an active basketball player while in school and afterwards on independent teams.  On September 21, 1939, she was united in marriage to Wendolyn Axtman at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Balta, North Dakota.  Following their marriage the couple made their home on the Axtman family farm where they farmed and raised their three children.  In the 1950’s, she was a 4-H Leader and active in school and community events.  In 1969, after farming for thirty years, the couple retired to Rugby.

Lena was a former member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and a current member of Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby and enjoyed membership in  Mount Carmel’s and Little Flower’s Christian Mothers and a former member of Catholic Daughters.  She loved to dance, play cards, visit with friends, bake, cook, sew and being with family and the grandchildren.  While on the farm, she enjoyed helping with the chores and other farm work.  Wendolyn died December 4, 1980.  Lena remained in her home following his death until moving to the Heart of America Care Center in January of this year.

Survivors include one son, Cletus (Bernice) of Balta; two daughters, Gwendolyn Drewniak and Renee Laframboise, both of Rugby; 14 grandchildren, Brian, Randy, Brad & Glenn Axtman, Karleen Blessum, Roxanne Muffenbier, Leslie Harilstad, Reggie, Fr. Ross, Ryan and Reed Laframboise, Rhonda Livedalen, Rachel and Ricca Laframboise; 24 great grandchildren; one brother, Michael Hoffart of Mineral Bluffs, Georgia; a sister, Evangeline (Wayne) Gerig of Rugby; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; three brothers, Andrew, Alex and John Axtman; three sisters, Katherine Modahl, Margaret Haverstraw and Elizabeth Hager; a great grandson, Dean Muffenbier; a son-in-law, Roy Laframboise; and her parents

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 18^th at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial in the church cemetery.  Fr. Ross Laframboise, Celebrant & Fr. Thanaiah Marneni & Fr. Tom Graner, Concelebrants.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby.  There will be no reviewal in the church.

Rosary & Vigil Prayers will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.