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Audrey Sophia Vatland

March 13, 1938 - September 11, 2022

Audrey S. Morken was born to Tilford and Hilda Morken at their Blackhammer farm home on March 13, 1938.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Faith Lutheran Church in Blackhammer.  After attending country school in Blackhammer, she graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1955.  She met Lowell Vatland - the love of her life - the year before she graduated.  They married August 31, 1956.  After buying the home place north of Mabel, Susan Kay was born in 1959, followed soon after by Jack Lowell in 1961.  Kristen Kay was born in 1970.

Audrey was a member of the Garness Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was active in Ladies Aid, Circle and the Centennial Committee. She also was the church secretary for many years.  Other activities included Circle A Saddle Club, neighborhood card parties, volunteering at school for eye and hearing testing.

As a farm wife, Audrey drove tractor, fed calves, washed the bulk tank, and made meals for family, friends and hired help.  She sewed and mended clothes for her children, Lowell and herself.  She knit and embroidered, did hardanger and cross stitch, and she was well known for her quilting.

After Lowell passed away in 1989, Audrey built a log home in Mabel.  While in Mabel, she volunteered at Steam Engine Days, hosted a quilting group, helped at the green house and donated innumerable quilts to the Marie Sandvik House.  Most importantly she was blessed with the births of 7 grandchildren.

After moving to Assisted Living in 2016 and the Gunderson Care Center in 2021, she was also blessed with 3 great grandchildren

Audrey passed away peacefully early Sunday morning September 11, 2022 at the Gundersen Care Center in Spring Grove, Minnesota after a 7 year struggle with Alzheimer’s.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lowell and daughter-in-law Susan Swift.

She is survived by her children, Susan and Dag Roppe of Mabel, Jack Vatland of Eden Prairie, Kristen and Keith Hanson of Golden Valley,  grandchildren Kristopher (Annie) Roppe, Quinn Vatland, Morgan Roppe, Kieran Vatland, Tor, Stella, and Haakon Hanson, great grandchildren Lennox, Reygan, and Leander Roppe and her brother Allan (Lois) Morken.

Funeral service for Audrey will be Saturday September, 17 2022 at 11:00 am at the Garness Trinity Lutheran Church.  Visitation will be from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Friday night September 16, 2022, at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel, and 1 hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests giving to the Garness Trinity Church.