The Lord called Audrey C. Lahlum home on November 6, 2024. Audrey Corrine was born on August 2, 1936, at the farm home near Voltaire, North Dakota, to Melvin and Ruth (nee Chilson) Holte. She was the youngest of six children. Audrey attended local schools and was part of the first graduating class at the new Bergen High School. After high school, Audrey attended one year at Minot State Teachers College, after which, she taught in a one-room McHenry County school. Audrey instructed grades 1-8 for one year and then attended North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU). She graduated in 1960 with a degree in Home Economics and served as the Wells County Extension Home Economist until she married Howard Lahlum in April of 1961. After their marriage, Audrey and Howard lived in Minnewaukan, North Dakota, Green Belt, Maryland, and Fargo before purchasing a farm near Marion in LaMoure County, North Dakota. Together they built and operated Green Acre Farms. Audrey enjoyed gardening, and she loved her many flowers on the farm.
Faith and 4-H were important parts of Audrey’s life. Until its recent closure, Audrey was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church (Griswold, North Dakota), where she actively participated in WELCA, circle, Sunday School, and the long-held Trinity German Supper. As a girl, Audrey joined 4-H in McHenry County and was selected as a delegate to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC. She later became a 4-H club leader in Benson County, Cass County, and LaMoure County. Audrey served as president of the North Dakota 4-H Leaders Council.
Audrey also worked tirelessly promoting pork in North Dakota, as well as took on leadership responsibilities in the North Dakota Farm Bureau, as president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau Women’s Board and on the board of directors for the North Dakota Farm Bureau. In 1997, Audrey became the fourth Farm & Ranch Guide Country Woman of the Year.
Audrey is survived by her husband of 63 years, as well as their children: Lori Ann, Mankato, Minnesota; Jeanette (Todd Sagmoe), Mint Hill, North Carolina; Kirsten, Hanover, New Hampshire; and Eric (Suzanne), rural Marion. Grandchildren are Jacob Sagmoe, Charlotte, North Carolina; Ben Sagmoe, New York City; Gregory (Lindsey) Lahlum, Marion; Eva (Blase) Kerekes, Phoenix; Zachary, Mandan; Alexander, Bismarck; Leo, Marion; and Marcus, Marion. Additional survivors include five great-grandchildren (Lucy, Mason, Paisley, Briella, and Charlotte), her sister, Lois Holte Irwin, and her sisters-in-law Arlene Flatlie, Bonnie Lahlum, and Marilyn Lahlum (Mel Olstad), as well as many nieces and nephews. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, sisters (DeLores Ust and Marjorie Larson), and brothers (Harold and Richard).
Audrey died on November 6, 2024, at SMP Health—St. Raphael in Valley City, North Dakota. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 11, at the Marion Lutheran Church in Marion, North Dakota. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. on Sunday (November 10) at the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel in Valley City with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.oliver-nathanchapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the North Dakota 4-H Foundation, the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, or to a charity of your choice.