Audrey Plunkett, 92, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, in Austin, Minnesota, where she lived most of her life.

Audrey was born July 13, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, to Leonard and Gladys Erickson. She attended Austin High School and the University of Minnesota. After graduating, she taught school for two years in Montana before returning to Austin. Soon she met and married the love of her life, Ernest Larson, a Fremont, Nebraska, native who was a rising financial executive at the Hormel Company. Together they had four children, Kristine, Eric, Kathryn and Evan. Life took a tragic turn in 1964 when Ernie died at 41 from colon cancer, leaving Audrey with four kids under the age of 10. She responded with incredible strength, consoling others and exhibiting a level of independence, determination and will that would define her as a person. She married Warren Plunkett, with whom she had her fifth child, Gail. During her life, Audrey extolled hard work and frugality, seeing all of her kids through college with her financial support. She never put herself first and always displayed her Norwegian strength and resolve. She was known to say things are never as bad, or as good, as they appear.

Audrey will be remembered by those who knew her well as someone who loved her family, her many great friends, and her organizations: PEO, Collectors Club and League of Women Voters. But her passions defined her, notably watching every Twins game she could from first pitch to last out regardless of the score, and for her unwavering commitment to the Reagan Republicans. She had an incredible ability to process information and used it to develop informed opinions of politics and the economy that always made her fun to talk to. She loved nothing more than to have a glass of wine and just talk. And she listened. She consistently amazed us with her recall and inquisitiveness about events in our lives and our friends, including things we had discussed months and even years ago. While her body slowly wore out, her mind stayed sharp until nearly the end.

Audrey was preceded in death by parents, Leonard and Gladys; brother, Dean; husband, Ernie; and granddaughter, Sarah. She is survived by her five children; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her brother, Wallace; and some very classy friends who continued to display great efforts to stay in her life as her mobility declined. Pat and Tom Purcell, Barbara Meany, Donna Robbins and Jeannie King deserve special mention in that regard. Heaven has a special place for people like you. We also thank Peggy of Seniors Helping Seniors for her compassionate care in Mom’s last year.

We will miss our Mother and Grandma Audrey. She answered the bell in life and showed us what she thought was important. Thanks Mom. You were amazing.

A private memorial service will be held to celebrate Audrey’s life. Memorials may be made in her name to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.