Audrey Jane Jensen

Audrey Jane Petersen was born on December 9, 1934, in Irene, South Dakota to Marius and Hazel Petersen. She was the third child with a brother, Morris and sister, Delilah.

She married Keith Jensen on November 25, 1954, at Irene Lutheran Church by Pastor I.J. Loveseth. Keith and Audrey had 6 boys.

Kaj Alan (Elizabeth) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and grandchildren Katrina (Micah) Graf, Richmond, VA and Jared, San Francisco. Also great grandchildren Leo and Ray of Richmond, VA

Lee Dana of Sioux Falls

Jay Elliot (Thuy) of Sioux Falls and grandchildren Nik, Greer, SC; and Beth, Brandon, SD and great-grandchildren Ember Ellwein, and Marius

Mitchell Lynn (Jodie) of Rapid City, Jillian (Mark) Anderson-Kahl, Sioux Falls and Rachel, Rapid City

Stuart (Skip) Keith of Brandon, SD

Chad Christian of Ely, Iowa and grandchild Jhenei and great grandchildren Audrey and Aloysius “Wysh” Jensen-Feldman, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Audrey graduated from Augustana College (Sioux Falls) in the spring of 1954. She taught First and Second grade for two years in Herman, NE. While teaching there she noticed that there wasn’t a Glee Club, so she approached the Administration and she was asked to form one. For her work she was paid an additional $25.00 a year. She and Keith moved to Yankton, SD in 1956, then to Worthington, MN in 1960, then LeMars, Iowa in 1967 and Mt. Vernon, Iowa in 1969. They returned to Irene in 1978 and then moved to and eventually retired in Sioux Falls decades later. In addition to raising six rambunctious boys, she was also active in many church activities, including teaching Sunday School and singing in the choirs. Audrey also played the piano, (mostly self-taught) and had a brilliant ability of playing music by ear. She often accompanied choirs and her children at music contests. Audrey made friends easily where ever she lived and was “the Welcome Wagon” Lady for a while in Mt. Vernon. If someone needed help at church, or cookies or bars for a celebration, Audrey always was there to volunteer and help where needed. Not to diminish her importance as a mother, as she kept busy feeding, clothing, doing housework, and being chauffer. Just organizing her family of 8 was a full-time job in itself. Upon moving to Mt. Vernon, she became a Iowa Hawkeye fan for life. After moving to Sioux Falls, she worked at the Good Samaritan Society Administration.

Audrey Jane quietly passed on Valentines Day 2025, surrounded by family.

Audrey leaves a legacy of love and caring for all of the friends and neighbors she met. She was loved by her in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and their children, but equally as important, she loved all of them even more.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, March 1,2025 at 9:30am at Heritage Funeral Home with visitation starting at 8:30am. Burial will take place following the service at Spring Valley Lutheran Cemetery, rural Viborg, SD.