Arlene Audus

Arlene Audus, age 86, Watertown, the widow of Walt Audus, died Thursday evening, May 25, 2017 in the Jenkins Living Center at Watertown where she had resided the past 10 days.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 29, 2017 from 4-6PM with a Liturgical Wake Service at 6PM led by The Reverend Daniel Smith, at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:30 AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with visitation one hour prior.  The celebrant will be The Reverend Daniel Smith.  The Casketbearers will be her grandchildren and their spouses: Ryan (Sarah) Audus, Carly Audus, Dawn (Keith) Krier, Wendy (Al) Resmen, Shelly (Jason) Rogers, Hannah Audus, Amber (Cody) Hansen, Nick (Trina) Lien, Kerrie (Chris) Lynch, Tressa (David) Lukes, and Tristan Audus. The honorary casketbearers will be her great-grandchildren, Lucas and Mae Audus, Cody, Cassidy, and Ciara Resmen, Cooper Rogers, Jasper, Trent, Jolie, and Triggvie Lien, and Gavin, Cheyenne, Kaitlyn, Piper, and Bella Lynch. Burial will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery at Clark.

She was born Marie Arlene Smith on August 27, 1930 at Webster, the daughter of Elmer and Nellie (Karrigan) Smith. Marie Arlene, on her own doings, later changed her name to Arlene Marie. She attended school thru the 8th grade at Webster, then moved with her family to Clark and attended high school, graduating from Clark High School in 1949.

She went to work at Farmers & Merchants Bank and Trust at Watertown for a few years, then worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone as an operator for 3 years. On November 21, 1953 she was united in marriage to Walter M. Audus in St. Michael's Church at Clark. After her marriage, she became a homemaker and a stay at home mom to the children born of this marriage, Patricia, Kenneth, Robert, and Jeffery. The couple lived in DeSmet for a year prior to moving to Gettysburg. In 1962, Walter was transferred to Clark where they lived until moving to Watertown in 2000. Walter died in 2008.

Being a stay at home mom, she also baby sat children in her home for a few area families for several years. Those children even became extended family and she kept in contact with them for the remainder of her life.

She and Walter enjoyed several trips to Branson, MO and also several trips to visit their children in their various homes over the years. Arlene thoroughly loved her family gatherings, being all together, especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of St. Michael's Parish until moving to Watertown where they were members and worshiped at Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown. Other things she enjoyed were collecting dolls, glass eggs, and shopping, especially for a bargain!

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Walter, grandson, John Audus, and siblings, LaVerda (Roger) Peterson, Catherine Smith in infancy, Leo (Lois) Smith, Kenneth Smith, and James (Shirley) Smith.

Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Patricia (Bruce) Lien of Watertown, Dr. Kenneth (Cheryl) Audus of Lawrence, KS, Robert (Jodi) Audus of White, and Jeffrey (Sharon) Audus of LeSeuer, MN. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and a sister, Lorraine (Paul) Wagner of Roseville, CA.

Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com