Audrey Ruplinger

Audrey was born February 19, 1927 at the family farm near Holloway, Minnesota.  She was baptized in Tara Township at her parent’s home (Carl and Mamie Hoffman) on the 20th of February 1927 by Pastor Jaus.  Her sponsors were Emma Hoffman, Bertha Winkelman, and Henry Hoffman. She was confirmed by Rev. Langhans at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holloway.  Audrey graduated from Holloway High School on May 31st, 1944.  She married Robert L. Ruplinger on May 20th, 1946 in Louisville, KY and they were looking forward to their 73rd Wedding Anniversary.

After Robert was discharged from the Army on January 1947 he came home to Audrey and a baby girl named Janice Marie.  A boy was born on September 7, 1948 whom they named James Ernest.  They farmed near Hancock, MN until the fall of 1983, and then Jim and his wife Lee moved to the family farm to continue the farming operation. Robert and Audrey moved to a home on Lake Victoria in Alexandria, MN.  Audrey worked with the mentally challenged adults at the Douglas County DAC.  She loved them, and they loved her. Audrey was honored by the Douglas County DAC in February 2015 for her 25 years of work.  They stated “she was incredibly compassionate, brought a love to her work with her every day, and will be greatly missed.

They traveled and camped all over the USA including Alaska and Mexico. They also traveled with Jan and her husband Jim to England and all the countries in Western Europe.   Audrey struggled with cancer for several years, and in July 2017 they moved to an apartment at Bethany on the Lake.

Audrey died peacefully at their home on May 13, 2019.  Audrey was preceded in death by her parents and son James.  She is survived by husband Robert, daughter Jan (Jim) Striepe, and daughter-in-law, Lee as well as her siblings Dale (Lorene), Norman (Becky), and Barbara (David) Beyer.  5 Grandchildren: Becky (Todd) Nadgwick, Amy Searle, and John (Amy) Ruplinger, Michelle (Hamish) Patterson, TJ (Jennifer) Striepe.  8 Great grandchildren: Sami Searle, Cody, Nissa, and Jameson Nadgwick, Grace and Maggie Patterson, and Jude and Arly Striepe. Audrey was cherished by her family and friends and she enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren so much.  They as well as many nieces and nephews, including a great-great-great niece, will especially remember her kindness and thoughtfulness to them.  Audrey always made her family and friends feel very special.

In lieu of flower memorials, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Douglas County or Douglas County DAC.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 1:30 PM at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Alexandria with the Reverend Jerry Lanes officiating.

Visitation will take place for one hour prior to the Memorial Service at the church on Saturday.

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.