Axel, 81, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. He was born in a sod house in Hillside, Montana to Nelsine and Chris Christiansen on Jan. 21, 1925. He was the 7th of 12 children and was raised by his father and older siblings after losing his mother when he was nine. Axel graduated from high school in Arlee, Montana where he was valedictorian and a star player on the basketball team. He joined the Navy and served in WWII on ships in the Pacific theater. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946 he moved to Eastern Washington where he married Betty David and raised three children. He enjoyed steelhead fishing and spent many hours with his buddies and his kids fishing. Axel tended bar and was co-owner of the Big Y tavern. After selling the tavern he bought the Flying A service station, whick he ran for several years. Axel was a bus driver at Hanford for awhile and in 1962 he joined the Millwrights and Machine Erectors Local 1699 where he worked on numerous dams up and down the Columbia and Snake rivers, often driving or carpooling home each evening from as far away as Spokane. In 1973 Axel and Betty took their life savings and bought a 12 acre mini-farm and built their dream home, where he enjoyed raising hay and cattle. After retiring in 1986 Axel spent countless hours working around the home, wearing out several riding lawnmowers. Axel loved to sip a cold beer at the Big Y tavern, and really enjoyed it when his children, Bob, Walt and Cindy would join him. Axel was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers, Carl Oscar, Norman, Chell, Tom and Walt. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty; brothers Earl and Ted and sisters Inga Campbell, Francis Poppino, Grace Terry, and Jeannette Avery; daughter CindyGene Norberg of Richland, WA.;sons, Bob TerrieBear of Benton City, WA., and Walt CyndiBear of Pasco, WA.; grandson, Jared Norberg;granddaughter, Lacy NorbergDavidPerez; great grandchildren, Jayd'n and Ethan Axel, who visited frequently and were the lights of his life; step granddaughter Heather Norberg Mitch Hough and step great granddaughters Kayla Norberg and August Hough, and step grandchildren Kyra and Killian Emory. Viewing will be held from 3 to 8p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2006 at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 S. Union in Kennewick and the family will be present from 3-5p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 11:00a.m. Reception immediately following gravesid service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy in Kennewick or the Union Gospel Mission in Pasco.