Delores Marie (Cook) Axtman, 73, passed away Sunday, August 14, 2016, at the Missouri River Medical Center in Fort Benton, with her family at her side.

Delores, known to many as Dede, was born in Havre, MT, on May 30, 1943 to Henry R. and Bertha (Pound) Cook, and was the second of the family's 13 children. She grew up on the family farm located south east of Big Sandy. Growing up on the farm meant chipping in with the daily chores and helping with field work, and it's been said "you had to get up damn early in the morning to out work this girl". She attended the Eagleton County School through the 8th grade, and went to high school in Big Sandy, graduating in 1961.

She met and married Howard Axtman in Fort Benton on December 13, 1969, and they were together 45 years when Howard passed away in March of 2014. Delores worked much of her adult life starting as a nurse's aid at St. Claire Hospital, then as a bookkeeper at Greenline Implement, and later starting a business with Howard in 1986, Axtman Farm Equipment and Axtman Appraisal & Sales. She also worked for the Chouteau County Dist. 1 and 3 repairing and replacing road signs until 2013. Delores was involved with her church and was active in the Altar Society, where she helped with many parish dinners and support functions. She was known for her famous "John Deere Day" dinners and that great ham & baked beans.

One of her favorite activities started in about 1971, was raising one of the biggest gardens in Chouteau County. Both Delores and Howard spent countless hours caring for their wonderful vegetables, making pickles, sauerkraut, ketchup, tomato sauce, cocktail onions, and much more. One of her greatest pleasures was giving away these garden treats to family and friends.

Delores is survived by her three sons, Roger (Deanna) of Fort Benton, Rodney of Raleigh North Carolina, and Russ of Fort Benton; her daughter Ann Marie (Dan) Mills-Low of Huntley; her brothers and sisters, Richard (Marva) Cook, Darlene "Dea" (John) Poindexter, Sue Ann Williams, Dwight "Ike" (Julie) Cook, Betty (Dennis) Cook, Roger (Lynn) Cook, Sid Cook, Karen Pearson, Wade (Nyla) Cook, Calvin (Patti) Cook, Colleen (Jeroma) Imberi, and Sharon Cook; her 12 grandchildren; her 10 ½ great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Bertha, her husband Howard, and infant son Michael John.

Delores was a truly generous and caring individual not only to her family, but to everyone she met. We will miss her dearly, however, we know that she is back together with Howard and they'll be making pickles soon.