Mary Axt, 92, died peacefully on August 10, 2026.

A funeral will be held at 11:00 am, on Monday, August 17, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 3117 E Century Ave, Bismarck. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Burial will immediately follow the service at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

Mary was born November 7, 1933, in McClusky, ND, the daughter of Michael and Christina (Gienger) Dockter. She grew up on a farm northeast of McClusky. They had 13 children. Mary and her identical twin sister Martha were the tenth and eleventh. “When I was born, God gave me a special gift – a twin. She is my mentor and encourager and a true leader. I always feel safe letting her go ahead. People always said, instead of seeing one, they saw two. We are so much a part of each other,” said Mary. What a blessing that they were roommates for two-and-a-half years at Prairie Pointe in Bismarck.

Mary married LaVern on September 28, 1952, at McClusky Baptist Church. They loved each other dearly and were a wonderful example of a faithful marriage for 70 years. The couple was blessed with three children, Laurell, Michael and Lynn, who they raised on a farm one mile east of LaVern’s family’s farmstead northwest of McClusky. They spent 60 plus years side by side working on the farm.

Prayer was a cornerstone of Mary’s life from a young age. Her parents shared their faith daily with their children by gathering together to read the Bible. “Then we would all kneel and my parents prayed. After we prayed, my mother would sit in a chair and she gathered us five younger ones around her. She would put her hand in her lap and we would put our hands in hers. She taught us a little German prayer.” Mary faithfully kneeled by her bed to pray every night of her life.

After becoming a believer at age 11, Mary lived out her love for the Lord by serving as a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, secretary for the North American Baptist women’s group and treasurer at McClusky Baptist Church. She was the president of Naomi’s Circle, a women’s ministry fellowship. At Century Baptist Church in Bismarck, she was a greeter and in the Joy group. Mary had a passion for rolling bandages for the White Cross ministry at Century that serves medical clinics and hospitals in Cameroon, West Africa. She went on mission trips to Chain of Love in Brazil. She volunteered at Crystal Springs Baptist Camp near Medina, ND. A part of the Gideon Auxiliary, Mary handed out Bibles and attended meetings and conferences.

Wherever she lived, Mary enjoyed cultivating beautiful flower gardens. Gardening was such a passion of hers that she and LaVern helped with weeding and harvesting at their grandchildren’s gardens.

Mary valued hospitality and welcomed missionaries, pastors, family and friends into her home. Nearly every Sunday, guests joined her family to enjoy the feasts she prepared.

Before the Walmart in north Bismarck was completed, Mary was hired to be a greeter. When she started, she was in her 70s and she worked there for a decade offering smiles to all their patrons and her fellow employees.

Mary was blessed with nine grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She prayed for each one and hoped they would trust Jesus as their savior.

Mary is survived by her siblings, Christine Kulk, Martha Felchle, Bennie Dockter and Kathy Seibel; her children, Laurell (Harry) Brown, Michael (Marjorie) and Lynn (Paul) Singer; her grandchildren, Joshua (Jenni) Brown, Jason (Cindy) Axt, David (Carrie) Axt, Jessica (Billy) Streu, Carissa (Darin) Spelhaug, Jordan (Kimberly) Singer, Todd (Kamaya) Singer, Katie (Nate) Sgrignoli and Grant (Jordyn) Singer; 23 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and eight siblings, Adam, Mike, Emily, Esther, Art, Jonathan, Freida, and Jacob.

We want to thank Prairie Pointe, Cornerstone Caregivers, and HIA Hospice for the excellent care they gave Mary.

Memorials can be made to Crystal Springs Baptist Camp or White Cross USA.