Audrey Rose (Lee) Ikast was born November 12, 1928, at Lake Preston, South Dakota, to Selmer and Grace (Crawford) Lee. She attended rural school by Lake Henry and graduated from DeSmet High School. She taught in Kingsbury County at Quinn and Bowes country schools, beginning at age 17. On February 14, 1951 she married the love of her life, Gerry Ikast at Lake Preston. They recently celebrated their 65 th wedding anniversary. Audrey and Gerry lived on their farm north of Arlington for 48 years, except for 2 years spent at Fort Lewis and Yakima, Washington while Gerry served in the Army. They moved to Brookings in the fall of 1999 to enjoy retirement, which included some travel. Audrey also volunteered with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Brookings.

Audrey gave her life to Christ as a young mother at the annual Church of God camp meeting near Volga. Together, Audrey and Gerry dedicated their lives to Christ and have served Him faithfully since.

Audrey had a heart for children and served as Sunday School teacher for more than 25 years at First Church of God, now Abundant Life Church, in Brookings. She also taught Vacation Bible School and was a member of the Women of the Church of God. She served as leader of the Cloverettes 4-H Club in Badger for several years. She returned to the school classroom in 1970 as a teacher's aide in the elementary school in Arlington and later became school secretary and then school librarian. She loved her 10 grandchildren and always planned special activities for them at Christmas and Easter. Even in her last weeks, she brightened whenever she was around children and especially her great-grandchildren.

Audrey spent many hours in her flower gardens and mowing their lawn, as well as being the caretaker of the United Cemetery in the summer. Winter found her sewing, reading, doing needlework and many other hand crafts. She was a member of the extension homemakers club, later known as "knitting club". She also enjoyed babysitting for their little neighbor girl, Lexy Olson, until she started school.

Audrey dearly loved her family and will be greatly missed by her husband, Gerry; daughters, Melanie (Wayne) Fischer of Arlington, Janet (Bryon) Carsrud of Brookings, and Gerelyn (David) Moberg of White; 10 grandchildren: Leslie (Ethan) Dolby, Alison (Riley) Hestermann, Emily (AJ) Munger, Clint (Meggie) Fischer, Brad Carsrud, Erin (Jesse) Ulvestad, Mark Carsrud, Jenna (Scott) Cowan, Carl Moberg and Courtney (Jordan) Carlson; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Roy (Verna) Lee, of Mesa, Arizona, one sister-in-law, Jackie Lee, of DeSmet, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Milton Lee of DeSmet; one sister, Fanchon Harper of Custer; and a infant grandson, Jonathan Moberg.