Veronica Marie “Vernice” (Bertsch) Axtmann, the daughter of Adam and Kathryn (Senger) Bertsch was born on December 28, 1923 in Alsen, North Dakota.  She died at the age of 89 years on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at the Heart of America Care Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Vernice was raised in Alsen and began her schooling there.  At the age of 3 her mother died and at the age of 10, her father died too.  At this time, she moved to her grandparents, Tony and Lena Bertsch in Devils Lake where she completed her education at St. Mary’s Academy.  Sometime after high school, Vernice with her grandparents moved to Balta, North Dakota, where she worked in the local café.  On April 5, 1943, she was united in marriage to Nicholas F. “Nick” Axtmann at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Balta.  The couple made their home, farmed, ranched and where blessed with six children on the Axtmann family farm in Tuscarora Township.  In 1978, the couple retired from the farm and moved to Rugby.  Vernice was a former member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a current member of Little Flower Catholic Church, a 50 year member of Catholic Daughters, a 70 year member of Christian Mothers, a longtime volunteer and auxiliary member of the Heart of America Medical and Care Center, loved to cook and entertain and enjoyed dancing, playing cards, working crossword puzzles, crocheting and was an accomplished seamstress.  Nick died March 21, 2009.

She is survived by her children, Kathy (Ron) Hove of Ft. Meyers, FL., Karen (Haven) Ratcliff of Rotunda West, FL, Dr. Joseph (Kathleen) of Aberdeen, SD, Keith of Rugby, Frank J. (Colette) of Watford City and Nicki (Gordy) Haman of Towner; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one brother, Larry Bertsch of Spokane, WA; one sister, Lena Wissler of Raceda, CA; nieces, nephew, other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband; one granddaughter, Elizabeth Axtmann; one brother, Edward Bertsch; two sisters, Frances Fettig and Marie DeWitt; and her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby with burial in the church cemetery.  Fr. Thanaiah, Celebrant and Msgr. Fr. Joseph Senger and Fr. Michael Schommer, Concelebrants.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home of Rugby.  There will be no Reviewal at the church. 

Rosary and vigil prayers will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.