Audrey Hermes

Audrey Hermes, 92, Wahpeton, ND, formerly Mooreton, ND passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. The Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, June 4, at 2:00 PM at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, ND with Rev. Dale Lagodinski officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 4 PM to 7 PM with a 5 PM prayer vigil at the Bagg Bonanza Farm, rural Mooreton, ND. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday with a Christian Mother's Rosary at 1 PM. Interment will be at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, Mooreton. In lieu of flowers, Audrey's family requests memorials be given to either CHI-Health at Home-Hospice or the Bagg Bonanza Farm. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Audrey was born on August 23, 1923 in Breckenridge, MN to Alfred and Hattie (Bagg) Thiel. As a young girl she grew up on the Bagg Bonanza Farm about 1 mile SW of Mooreton, ND. She often said, "Life on the Bagg Farm was about togetherness. We were one big, happy family". That's where Audrey learned that everyone deserves to be treated with loving kindness and respect. Her grandparents, parents, her brother, Russell, many uncles, aunts, cousins, all the cooks and hired help were considered part of that big happy family. Some of her fondest memories as a school girl were singing in glee club, going to dances at Mooreton Hall with her parents and learning to tap dance.
Audrey married her high school sweetheart, Donald Hermes, on November 27, 1942 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls, MN. They made their life and family together in the small thriving community of Mooreton, ND. Many may remember Hermes Hardware. Don passed away on September 12, 1993.
While living in Mooreton, Audrey was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church where she was active in Christian Mother's, St. Anthony's Guild and taught Catechism. She became a member of St. John's Catholic Church after she moved to Wahpeton, ND in 2007. When asked what she valued most in life she answered without hesitation, "My family and my faith."
Raising her 8 children was the center of Audrey's life. In addition, she also enjoyed volunteering at St. Francis Home in Breckenridge. She felt it was important to take time to listen to the elderly who had no one with whom to share their troubles. She also delivered many warm hugs and home baked goodies to the residents. Audrey loved playing tennis, bowling, watching Mooreton baseball games, flower gardening, dancing, bike riding, ice skating, cross-stitching, playing cards, sewing, baking and crafts.
In later years, what she loved most was spending time with her family and grandchildren. Audrey lit up when children were around. She enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles, visiting the Bagg Farm, singing with friends and dancing when the music played. Audrey will be deeply missed by her loving family and many friends.
Audrey's family is thankful for the kindness, care and support of her in-home caregivers Natasha Paulson and Tacita Splonskowski, CHI Hospice and St. John's Catholic Church.
Left to mourn her passing are her children, Jeffrey (Barbra) Hermes, Mesa, AZ, Douglas (Sharry) Hermes, Barney, ND, Guy (Jan) Hermes, Mesa, AZ, Dana (Janelle) Hermes, Nevis, MN, Charlotte Hermes (Andy Scott), Fargo, ND, Mary Jean Hermes, Seattle, WA, Carmen (Terry) Marohl, Mooreton, ND; her grandchildren, Karla, Allen, Jennifer, Emily, Tony, Aunna, Leva, Adam, Alex, and Hattie; her great-grandchildren, Christopher, Jaelynn, Giuliana, Clark, Joseph, Charlie, Philip, Ruby, Laikyn, Addisyn; her son-in-law, Mark Underberg; Sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Church and Rosalind Hermes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Harriet Thiel, her husband, Donald, her daughter Judy Underberg, and Judy's first husband, Jim Halstenson, her grandsons, Bradley Halstenson, Brian Hermes, and Ted Hermes; her great grandson, Max Marohl; her brother, Russell Thiel and his wife, Lillian.