Audrey Elaine Brendsel, 87, Minot formerly of Maxbass, was called home peacefully by her Lord on April 29, 2016 in Minot, ND after a brief time of medical care.

Audrey was born on March 31, 1929 an only child to Leonard and Olga (Alm) Spidahl in Benson County, ND. She graduated from Minot High School, went on to further education at the Minot Business College and was soon employed in the business office of the Maytag Electric Co. in Minot. It was during this time that she met her future husband Norman a farmer from Maxbass. Norman and Audrey were married on June 8, 1950 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. After a honeymoon to the Black Hills of SD they started their life together on Norman's farm north of Maxbass. Audrey was a city girl but soon came to love her life on the farm as Norman's wife, partner, and mother to their 4 children David, Yvonne, Donald and Douglas.

In addition to all her loved responsibilities in caring for her family, Audrey was very active in the Maxbass English Lutheran Church, the community of Maxbass and the best hostess to all who came to her home. All were treated to a lunch or a full course meal! Family was very important and together they traveled to visit family wherever they lived even to family relatives in our heritage homeland of Norway.

In the Spring of 2006 during a busy week on the farm and community Audrey was involved in a near fatal single vehicle accident north of Maxbass. By the grace of God Audrey recovered after several months of medical care. It was at this point Norman and Audrey retired from the farm and moved to the Wellington Assisted Living facility in Minot. Norman and Audrey made many new friends at the Wellington and also kept contact with the folks in Maxbass. Norman passed away on September 20, 2009 and Audrey continued to live at the Wellington until her passing. Norman and Audrey spent many wonderful years together raising their family, watching them grow in life and raising their children and working the farm together. Audrey also spent many years as a special care giver to her mother Olga and mother-in-law Christine Brendsel.

Our family is blessed by her example, values, unconditional love and the love of her Lord. May her soul rest in the loving arms of Christ!

Audrey is survived by her children and families, David and Sandy, Tracy (Jim) Brunkhorst, Brin and Pierce; Yvonne & Rex Bell, Norman (Crystal), Christopher, Harmony; Audrey Bell; Donald & Pat, Donnette (Aaron) Malakowski, Pearl, Ella & Claire; Chris (Willie) Walski, Luke, Brady & Casey, and Jessica Brendsel; Douglas (Dianne) Gretchen, Naomi, Emily and Matthew; sister in laws and families, Nora Roen and Ila Brendsel.

She was preceded in death by her husband Norman, parents, in laws, brothers and sister in laws.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in English Lutheran Church, Maxbass, ND.
Visitation: Tuesday, May 3, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: Graceland Cemetery, Maxbass, ND.
Memorials are preferred to English Lutheran Church in Maxbass.