Audrey Gilles

Audrey Gilles, 92, Wahpeton ND, died on June 7, 2024, under the care of hospice and compassionate caregivers at St. Catherine’s Living Center in Wahpeton. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM with family receiving the public from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM with a Catholic Daughters Rosary being said at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton ND.  Fr. Paul Kuhn will officiate the service. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Hankinson, ND.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Audrey Marilyn Theede was born August 15, 1931 to Adolph and Donna (Turbak) Theede, on her grandparent’s farm near Fairmount ND.   

Audrey attended elementary school through the eighth grade in rural schoolhouse De Villo #3.  She graduated in 1949 from the St. Francis Academy in Hankinson. Two weeks after graduation, she enrolled in the summer session at Valley City State Teachers College and after eight weeks of intense study, she graduated with a certificate to teach elementary grades and taught two years at De Villo #2.

On August 21, 1951, Audrey married Pvt Anthony (Tony) Gilles at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Hankinson. After two years living and working at army bases in Maryland, Colorado and Illinois, they purchased a farm in Summit Township where they raised their six children.  Audrey and Tony made that farm their home for fifty-six years until Tony’s death in 2009 when Audrey moved to Wahpeton.

For ten years, Audrey worked as a Teacher’s Aide at what is now the Circle of Nations school in Wahpeton. In 1981 she started a twenty-year run working in various positions for Minn-Dak Farmer’s Cooperative during the harvest at the Tyler Piler. She served as the Summit Township clerk-treasurer, worked as a Census Taker in 1980 and 1990 and was a temp at the 3M plant in Wahpeton for several years.  Audrey was an Amway Distributor for over thirty years and spent many hours baking banana bread to share with friends and neighbors.  

Audrey had a strong Catholic faith and supported the Sisters of St. Francis Academy in Hankinson. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court Cardinal Muench for sixty years, having served as the Regent for two years.

Audrey is survived by her children, Charlyne Gilles, Breckenridge, Reggie (Karen) Gilles, Great Bend, Dale (Lynnette) Gilles, Wahpeton, Katie (Dave) Pauly, Wahpeton, Tami Matejcek, Wahpeton, and Carla (Chip) Swenson, Breckenridge. Grandchildren: Jeremiah (Taija) Bohn, Tracy Styf, Charles (Nancy) Styf, Terry (Tara) Styf, Jon (Krista) Gilles, Tawny (Aaron) Stinton, Dawn Gilles (Dave Berning), Laura (Travis) Iverson, Adam (Courtney) Pauly, Samantha Pauly, Nicholas (Nicole) Matejcek, Dan (Kailee) Matejcek, Brandi (Ryan) Borstelmann, Ryan Swenson and Aaron Swenson and several great-grandchildren. Sisters-in-law Gracia Theede, Theresa Kubela, Floss Peterson and many godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Meeting her in heaven will be her husband, Anthony; parents, Donna and Adolph Theede; siblings, Patricia (James) Kozojed, Lorraine (Bill) Earl, Jerry (Sara) Theede, John Theede; sons-in-law, David Bohn and David Matejcek; and in-laws, John and Theresa Gilles, Francis (Jane) Gilles, Michael (Angeline) Gilles, Lambert (Mary) Gilles, Merrill Gilles and Marion Gilles.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Catherine’s Chapel renovation in memory of Audrey.